Amit Shah to Unveil Bharat Taxi: India's First Cooperative Ride-Hailing Service
Launch of Bharat Taxi
New Delhi: Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah is set to launch 'Bharat Taxi', the first ride-hailing platform in India led by cooperatives, on Thursday, following a successful pilot phase that lasted two months, according to an official announcement.
The initiative aims to broaden its reach across all states and cities within a two-year timeframe.
Incorporated under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act of 2002 and established on June 6, 2025, Bharat Taxi operates without commissions and surge pricing, ensuring direct profit sharing with drivers. This makes it a homegrown alternative to foreign-backed services.
Supported by eight prominent cooperative organizations, the platform initiated its pilot operations on December 2 in the Delhi-NCR and Gujarat regions, positioning itself against established competitors like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
The ministry claims that it has become the world's first and largest cooperative-based ride-hailing service, as well as the largest driver-owned mobility platform globally.
Since its inception, over 300,000 drivers have registered, more than 100,000 users have signed up, and the platform has facilitated over 10,000 rides daily in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat.
Approximately ₹10 crore has been distributed directly to drivers thus far. The platform emphasizes social security for its drivers, referred to as 'Sarathis', by offering health insurance, accident coverage, retirement savings, and a dedicated support system.
Support centers are operational at seven locations in Delhi.
The service provides emergency assistance, verified ride data, and allows drivers to work with other platforms without exclusivity agreements. To promote women's empowerment, Bharat Taxi has introduced 'Bike Didi', which has seen over 150 women drivers join the platform.
'In the upcoming years, Bharat Taxi plans to extend its services to all states and cities nationwide within the next two years, establish dedicated support centers in every state, enhance drivers' social security, and create a sustainable, inclusive, cooperative-based mobility ecosystem through deeper integration with national digital public infrastructure,' the statement indicated.
During the launch event on Thursday, the top six performing Sarathis will be recognized for their contributions. Shah will present share certificates to these drivers, reinforcing the 'Sarathi Hi Malik' (the driver is the owner) philosophy.
Each honored Sarathi will receive personal accident insurance of ₹5 lakh and family health insurance of ₹5 lakh. Nine memorandums of understanding will be signed with public and private entities to enhance operational integration, digital empowerment, safety, and service delivery.
Over 1,200 Sarathis from across the nation are anticipated to attend the launch, showcasing the platform's expanding reach and the drivers' trust in the cooperative model.