Bharat Taxi launched as India’s first cooperative ride-hailing app, unveiled by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah, aiming to challenge Uber and Ola.
Zero commission model for drivers, with a low Rs 30 daily access fee, no surge pricing, and fares claimed to be 20 to 30 per cent cheaper for passengers.
Strong focus on driver welfare and safety, offering insurance, pension benefits, verified drivers, SOS features, and help booths at major transit points.
The Union Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah, launched the country’s first cooperative taxi service, Bharat Taxi, on February 5, 2026. This came after a successful two-month pilot project that yielded positive results. With the development of the new Bharat Taxi app, commuters finally have a friendly competitor that seeks to shake the market dominance of current leaders like Uber, Ola, and Rapido, which have long controlled the app-based transport services market. The new app operates on a cooperative platform that seeks to ensure better profits for drivers while providing quality services to commuters. Here’s all you need to know about the new Bharat Taxi app.
SurveyWhat is Bharat Taxi?
Bharat Taxi is a ride-hailing service provided by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, which is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Although it is an independent cooperative, it has strategic support from the Government of India. Unlike other apps that work on the principle of maximising profits for their shareholders, the new service, Bharat Taxi, is a social enterprise that aims to remove high commissions and ensure fair treatment for gig workers.
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Bharat Taxi app launch
The Bharat Taxi app was launched on Thursday, February 5, 2026, by Union Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah. Following a successful pilot programme initiated in December 2025 across Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, the platform has gained early traction. According to official reports, more than 300,000 drivers have already registered on the app.
Pilot data from the government-supported initiative indicates that the platform averaged over 10,000 rides per day, with a significant share comprising airport and railway station transfers. The app is currently fully operational in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat and is scheduled to expand to 25 additional Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities over the next two years.
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How does the Bharat Taxi’s cooperative financial model work?
The platform’s financial model is positioned as its most disruptive feature. Unlike private ride-hailing aggregators that charge commissions of 20–30% per trip, Bharat Taxi does not levy any commission on individual rides. Instead, drivers referred to as Sarathis under the programme become stakeholders by purchasing five shares in the cooperative, valued at Rs 500. Shareholding grants drivers voting rights as well as a share in the cooperative’s annual dividends.
To access the platform and connect with passengers, drivers are required to pay a flat daily access fee of Rs 30. This has been made possible by the removal of the aggregator tax. The model benefits both drivers and passengers, with fares reportedly 20 to 30% lower than prevailing market rates and no surge pricing.
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Driver welfare and social security benefits
As a part of the cooperative’s focus on labour welfare, Bharat Taxi offers a unique set of benefits, which are not common in the gig economy:
- Family health insurance coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh.
- A sum of Rs 5 lakh in personal accident insurance.
- Contributions to a managed pension plan through the cooperative’s treasury.
- A special initiative to empower women drivers, with over 150 already on board in the pilot stage.
Passenger protection under Bharat Taxi
Safety is one of the fundamental components, integrated through the following aspects:
- All drivers are required to undergo police verification and checks through DigiLocker.
- The app has a one-touch SOS button connected to the local police control rooms.
- In Delhi, the service has collaborated with the authorities to set up 35 Sahakar Help Booths at transit points.
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Bhaskar Sharma
Bhaskar is a senior copy editor at Digit India, where he simplifies complex tech topics across iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, and emerging consumer tech. His work has appeared in iGeeksBlog, GuidingTech, and other publications, and he previously served as an assistant editor at TechBloat and TechReloaded. A B.Tech graduate and full-time tech writer, he is known for clear, practical guides and explainers. View Full Profile
