**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Cooperation has established "Bharat Taxi," a multi-state cooperative mobility platform designed to provide an alternative to commission-based aggregator models. Established on June 6, 2025, the platform aims to empower drivers through collective ownership and democratic governance while providing affordable services to citizens. The initiative plans a phased expansion across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to reach tehsil levels over the next three years.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Governance and Ownership Model**
* **Cooperative Structure:** The platform is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, with drivers and vehicle owners participating as members and stakeholders.
* **Democratic Oversight:** Administration is handled by an elected Board of Directors, which includes two elected driver representatives known as “Sarthis.”
* **Founding Members:** The society was established by eight national-level institutions operating within the cooperative sector.
**Financial and Operational Framework**
* **Zero Commission:** Unlike traditional aggregators, Bharat Taxi charges no commission from drivers; the entire fare (minus statutory charges) accrues to the driver.
* **Revenue Model:** Resources are mobilized through member share capital contributions, membership fees, and other permissible cooperative sources.
* **Fare Determination:** Pricing is decided by the cooperative society based on operational costs, distance, and market conditions to ensure transparency and periodic reviews.
* **Independence:** The Government of India has not invested in the platform, expecting it to compete independently with other aggregators.
**Technology and Infrastructure**
* **Digital Integration:** The platform utilizes technology-enabled systems for ride booking, vehicle tracking, digital payments, and customer support.
* **ONDC Interoperability:** Bharat Taxi is interoperable via the ONDC network, making its supply visible on demand brands such as DigiHaat, Bob Rides, and OneTicket.
* **Fintech Partnerships:** The society has entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for banking, digital payment integration, and insurance support.
**Service Reach and Expansion**
* **Current Operations:** Services are currently available in Delhi NCR (including Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad) and Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Somnath, and Dwarka).
* **Future Growth:** A phased expansion is targeted over the next three years to cover Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and tehsil levels across India.
**Impact Analysis**
**Drivers and Vehicle Owners**
**Impact**
Drivers transition from employees of commission-based models to collective owners of the platform. They benefit from higher earnings due to the zero-commission policy and gain access to social security, insurance, and dignified working conditions.
**Action Required**
Drivers must register as members, contribute share capital or membership fees, and participate in the democratic election of "Sarthi" representatives for the Board.
**Citizens and Commuters**
**Impact**
Users gain access to affordable, transparent, and regulated mobility services, with a particular focus on accessibility for low-income and marginalized groups.
**Action Required**
Commuters can access services through the Bharat Taxi digital platform or via ONDC-linked mobility demand applications.
**Cooperative Society and National Institutions**
**Impact**
The eight national-level institutions are responsible for scaling a technology-driven cooperative model that competes on a level playing field with private aggregators.
**Action Required**
The society must manage the phased expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities over the next three years and maintain the digital infrastructure and ONDC permissions.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Taxi: A member-owned digital mobility platform structured as a multi-State cooperative society designed as a commission-free alternative to traditional aggregator models.
Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002: The primary legislation under which the Bharat Taxi cooperative society is registered and regulated.
ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce): The digital network architecture that enables Bharat Taxi's interoperability with various demand platforms like DigiHaat and Bob Rides.
Ministry of Cooperation: The central ministry responsible for the 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' vision and the strengthening of the cooperative sector through initiatives like Bharat Taxi.
Delhi NCR and Gujarat: The primary geographical regions where Bharat Taxi is currently operational, including cities such as Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ahmedabad, and Rajkot.
Ministry of Cooperation
Expansion of Bharat Taxi
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 4:45PM by PIB Delhi
In line with Government of India’s vision of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ efforts have been made by Ministry of
Cooperation to strengthen the cooperative sector and promote inclusive, citizen-centric mobility solutions.
Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, Bharat Taxi was established on 6 June
2025 by 8 national level institutions working in field of cooperatives. The salient features of the platform
are :
i. Cooperative Ownership Model: The platform is structured as a multi-State cooperative society
wherein drivers and vehicle owners participate as members and stakeholders, thereby enabling
collective ownership and participation in governance.
ii. Democratic Governance: The cooperative society is administered through a Board of Directors
elected by the members, ensuring participatory decision-making and democratic oversight of
operations. In order to ensure effective representation of driver’s interests, two elected driver
representatives (“Sarthis”) are included on the Board of Directors.
iii. Driver-Centric Platform: The initiative seeks to create a member-owned digital mobility platform
as an alternative to commission-based aggregator models, with the objective of enabling drivers to
retain their earnings while participating in the ownership of the platform.
iv. Affordable and Transparent Services: The platform aims to provide transparent fare structures
and affordable mobility services for citizens, with particular emphasis on accessibility for low-
income and marginalized groups.
v. Digital Mobility Infrastructure: The platform will leverage technology-enabled systems for ride
booking, vehicle tracking, digital payments and customer support, thereby ensuring efficiency,
transparency and ease of access for users.
vi. Driver Welfare and Livelihood Security: The initiative seeks to promote fair income
opportunities, social security measures, dignified working conditions and cooperative ownership,
thereby strengthening livelihood security for drivers.
The financial and operational framework of the Bharat Taxi platform is based on cooperative principles
with a driver-centric revenue model. The fare determination mechanism is decided by the cooperative
society considering operational costs, distance travelled and prevailing market conditions so as to facilitate
the best possible matching between drivers and riders. The pricing mechanism is designed to ensure
transparent and regulated fares, with periodic review and communication of fare structures to all
stakeholders.No commission is charged by Bharat Taxi from drivers. The cooperative structure ensures
that the entire fare amount, after applicable statutory charges, accrues directly to the driver members,
thereby maximizing their income and promoting a fair and equitable mobility ecosystem. The Society
mobilizes resources through share capital contributions, membership fees and other permissible sources in
accordance with cooperative regulations. Government of India has not made any investment in Bharat
Taxi and expects it to compete on a level playing field with respect to other aggregators.Bharat Taxi is currently operational in Delhi NCR – Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and
in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Somnath & Dwarka of Gujarat. Bharat Taxi targets to expand its service in a
phased manner across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities offering services upto tehsil levels across the country over
the next three years thereby enhancing access to affordable and cooperative-based mobility services across
a wider geographic area.
Bharat Taxi platform has been designed as a technology-enabled mobility system supporting digital
transactions and integrated service delivery. The architecture of the platform allows for future
interoperability with broader mobility ecosystems and digital commerce frameworks where feasible.
Bharat Taxi is interoperable via the ONDC network where the supply of Bharat Taxi is visible in
DigiHaat, Bob Rides, and OneTicket mobility demand brands of ONDC. Technically any demand
platform (mobility) service which is on the ONDC network can plug in on the Bharat Taxi supply after
due permission.
Digital payment options are available through partnership with financial technology providers.
Additionally, the platform has entered into Memoranda of Understanding with multiple institutions for
digital payment integration, banking and financial services and insurance support to drivers to strengthen
operational transparency and driver welfare.
This information was given by Union Minister for Home and Cooperation Shri Amit Shah in a written
reply in Lok Sabha.
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AK/AP
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