Amit Shah Launches India Taxi: A Revolutionary Cooperative Platform for Drivers

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched India Taxi, a cooperative platform designed to empower drivers by eliminating commission fees and sudden price hikes. This initiative aims to compete with existing ride-hailing services like Uber and Ola. Shah emphasized the transformative potential of this model, which places drivers at the center of operations and ownership. The service is expected to launch within three years, ensuring safety and respect for female passengers through the 'Saarthi Didi' initiative. With a commitment to zero commission, all payments will be directly transferred to drivers, enhancing convenience for both drivers and passengers. Read on to learn more about this revolutionary step in the transportation sector.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 5, 2026, 17:15 IST

Introduction of India Taxi

On Thursday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated India Taxi, a cooperative-owned platform designed to empower drivers to operate as owners. This initiative eliminates commission fees and addresses sudden price hikes, aiming to compete with popular apps like Uber and Ola. The Ministry of Cooperation has hailed India Taxi as a groundbreaking initiative in the transportation sector, placing drivers—referred to as 'Saarthi'—at the core of ownership, operations, and value creation, liberating them from exploitative aggregator-based models.

Amit Shah's Remarks at the Launch

During the launch event, Amit Shah emphasized that the India Taxi service will significantly benefit taxi drivers, stating that the cooperative model is now entering the taxi sector instead of the government. He noted that every Saarthi driver will own their taxi, which he believes will lead to a transformative economic shift. Drawing a parallel to Gujarat's Amul, he described it as a unique cooperative model globally, where the wheels of your taxi will operate for the benefit of the Saarthi community—reflecting the essence of cooperation.

Features and Future Plans

Shah elaborated that India Taxi is envisioned as an integrated transport platform offering two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers. He highlighted the platform's commitment to ensuring safety, respect, and empowerment for female passengers and drivers through the 'Saarthi Didi' initiative. The taxi service is expected to launch within three years, with the government taking a 20% share of the revenue generated by the platform, while the remaining amount will be transferred to each Saarthi's account.

Elimination of Commission Fees

He further explained that previously, fares were deposited into the company's account, from which commissions were deducted. This system is now being abolished. India Taxi will operate with zero commission—no fees at all. All payments will be directly transferred from customers to the Saarthi's account, eliminating intermediaries and delays. Additionally, the platform will remove booking fees, high platform charges, and hidden commissions from the Saarthi app, making it more convenient for both drivers and passengers.