In a move that could redefine India’s mobility landscape and challenge the dominance of private aggregators like Uber and Ola, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will unveil “Bharat Taxi”, the country’s first cooperative-sector ride-hailing service, today at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
Driven by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” (Prosperity through Cooperation), Bharat Taxi introduces a driver-owned, driver-led model that places power and profits directly in the hands of those who run it — the Sarathis (drivers).
A new ownership paradigm: ‘Sarathi hi Malik’
Unlike conventional aggregator platforms that operate on commission models, Bharat Taxi embodies the principle “Sarathi Hi Malik” — every driver is also a shareholder in the cooperative. This ensures equitable profit-sharing, financial stability, and greater social security for drivers.
During today’s launch, the government will honour the top six performing Sarathis for their contribution since the platform’s soft rollout. Each will receive share certificates symbolising ownership, along with a ₹5 lakh accident cover and a ₹5 lakh family health insurance policy—a first in the Indian ride-hailing space.
Building a fair, surge-free future
Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission, surge-free pricing model, ensuring transparency and fair earnings. Since its inception on June 6, 2025, the platform has already onboarded over 3 lakh drivers, completed 10,000+ daily rides, and distributed ₹10 crore in earnings directly to drivers.
With support centres across Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, Bharat Taxi’s network is rapidly growing. Within two years, it plans a pan-India expansion, setting up cooperative hubs in every state and deepening driver-welfare measures.
Women-led safety and empowerment
Bharat Taxi has also embedded gender inclusion in its operations through initiatives like ‘Sarathi Didi’ and ‘Bike Didi’, empowering over 150 women drivers to join the mobility ecosystem. The cooperative offers health insurance, retirement savings, verified ride data, and a non-exclusive structure allowing drivers to work across platforms.
Partnerships and expansion momentum
Nine strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be exchanged during the launch to enhance digital integration, safety frameworks, and service delivery. Over 1,200 driver-members from across India are expected to participate, underscoring the nationwide enthusiasm for this world’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing initiative.
For India’s startup ecosystem, Bharat Taxi signals a new era — a shift from platform capitalism to cooperative entrepreneurship, where shared ownership and sustainability could become the next big disruption in mobility.
