The Indian government is set to introduce a game-changing alternative in the country's ride-hailing sector. Named Bharat Taxi, this new cooperative-based digital mobility platform aims to empower commercial vehicle drivers by reducing their dependence on private aggregators like Ola and Uber.
Parliamentary Announcement and Key Details
The initiative was formally announced by Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on December 2, 2025. He was responding to a question raised by Lok Sabha MP Rajpalsinh Mahendrasinh Jadav. The minister confirmed that the app will be operated by the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, a multistate cooperative society registered under the MSCS Act 2002 (Registration: MSCS/CRCS/1629/2025 dated June 06, 2025).
This move is positioned as a significant intervention to transform the mobility ecosystem through a transparent and citizen-first approach. The core objective is to create a platform owned and run by drivers themselves, shifting the power dynamics prevalent in the current market dominated by private corporate entities.
Salient Features of the Bharat Taxi Platform
According to the details shared by Minister Shah, the Bharat Taxi app will come packed with user-centric features designed for wide accessibility and trust. The key features include:
- User-friendly mobile ride booking for seamless customer experience.
- A transparent fare structure with no hidden charges.
- Real-time vehicle tracking for passenger safety and convenience.
- Support for multi-lingual interfaces to cater to India's linguistic diversity.
- 24/7 customer service to address queries and issues round the clock.
- Secure and verified onboarding of both drivers and passengers.
- Tech-enabled support and robust safety measures for all users.
Economic Benefits: A Win-Win for Drivers and Riders
The economic model of Bharat Taxi is where it promises to make a substantial impact, especially for driver-partners. The primary benefits highlighted are:
Most notably, the platform will adopt a zero commission model. This means drivers will retain 100% of their earnings from every ride, a stark contrast to the significant commissions charged by existing private apps.
Furthermore, any profits generated by the Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Society will be distributed directly to the driver-members, reinforcing the cooperative principle. The transparent pricing model is also expected to benefit passengers by ensuring fair and upfront fares, eliminating surge pricing ambiguities.
The launch of Bharat Taxi represents a major policy push to formalize and empower the gig economy workforce in the transport sector. By leveraging the cooperative model, the government aims to create a more equitable digital marketplace that prioritizes the welfare of drivers while offering reliable and affordable mobility solutions to citizens across India.
