**Executive Summary**
Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, was officially launched on February 5, 2026, to provide a sustainable alternative to traditional aggregator models. Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, the platform transitions drivers to a "Sarathi-owner" model featuring zero commissions and profit sharing. Currently operational in Delhi NCR and parts of Gujarat, the initiative aims for phased expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities over the next three years.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Organizational Structure and Governance**
* Established by eight national-level cooperative institutions on June 6, 2025.
* Operates on a "Sarathi-owner" model, allowing drivers to become members of the cooperative society.
* Provides drivers with representation in the Board of Management and a direct share in profits.
**Operational Model and Technology**
* Utilizes a zero-commission model to ensure direct distribution of profits to drivers.
* Features a transparent fare structure and a user-friendly mobile interface.
* Includes multilingual support, real-time vehicle tracking, and 24/7 customer assistance.
* Exploring the addition of a voluntary tipping option within the application for driver welfare.
**Safety and Inclusivity**
* Launched the ‘Sarthi Didi’ feature specifically to encourage female employment and enhance safety for women passengers.
* Integrated safety tools including an SOS button and live location tracking.
* Facilitates women-driven taxi options for female commuters.
**Current Scale and Future Expansion**
* Functional as of March 2026 in Delhi NCR (Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad) and Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Somnath, and Dwarka).
* Records 21.34 lakh registered users and 2.31 lakh registered Sarathis as of March 1, 2026.
* Targeting nationwide expansion to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, reaching down to tehsil levels, within three years.
**Impact Analysis**
**Drivers (Sarathis)**
**Impact**
Drivers transition from "partners" to "owners," gaining management representation and a zero-commission earning structure. This model promotes financial sustainability and dignified employment through direct profit distribution.
**Action Required**
Drivers must register on the platform to transition to the cooperative model and engage with the governance and profit-sharing processes.
**Women Drivers and Passengers**
**Impact**
Women benefit from increased employment opportunities and enhanced transit safety through the ‘Sarthi Didi’ initiative and dedicated safety features like SOS and tracking.
**Action Required**
Women drivers can join the platform via the ‘Sarthi Didi’ feature, while passengers can select women-driven taxi options through the mobile interface.
**Commuters / General Public**
**Impact**
Users gain access to a transparently priced, indigenous ride-hailing alternative with localized support and enhanced tracking.
**Action Required**
Interested users can download the application and register to utilize the ride-booking services across the currently functional regions.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharat Taxi: India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform that operates on a zero-commission, 'Sarathi-owner' model with direct profit distribution to drivers.
Ministry of Cooperation: The primary government ministry responsible for empowering the cooperative sector and overseeing the implementation of the Bharat Taxi initiative.
Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002: The governing legislation under which Bharat Taxi is registered as a cooperative society.
Sahkar se Samriddhi: The guiding national vision of achieving 'Prosperity through Cooperation' that serves as the foundation for this policy initiative.
Delhi NCR and Gujarat: The specific geographical regions where the Bharat Taxi service is currently functional and applicable.
Ministry of Cooperation
Launching of Bharat Taxi
Posted On: 17 MAR 2026 4:40PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Cooperation is committed to empowering cooperatives as instruments of employment
generation, social security and grassroots economic participation. Bharat Taxi is envisaged as a
transformative intervention in the mobility sector by placing drivers—referred to as Sarathis—at the
centre of ownership, governance, and value creation, thereby offering a sustainable and dignified
alternative to aggregator-driven models. “Bharat Taxi” is India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing
platform. This is a major milestone in the Government of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the
cooperative sector and promote inclusive, citizen-centric mobility solutions, in line with the vision of
‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’. 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 and officially
launched on 5th February, 2026. Bharat Taxi is a transition from the conventional “driver-partner” model
to a “Sarathi-owner” model wherein drivers can become owner of the cooperative society, have
representation in Board of Management and participate in profit sharing. The Bharat Taxi platform
operates on zero-commission model, with direct distribution of profits to drivers, offering a homegrown
and indigenous alternative to investment-driven aggregator platforms. Bharat Taxi has transparent fare
structure, a user-friendly mobile ride-booking interface, real-time vehicle tracking, and support for
multilingual interfaces, along with 24/7 customer support to enable sarathis to participate in cooperative
ownership while ensuring sustainable growth of the platform.
Bharat Taxi has launched women-focused ‘Sarthi Didi’ feature to encourage women’s employment as
drivers and enhance safety for women passengers by facilitating women to hire women-driven taxi options
besides incorporating safety features like SOS, live location tracking and dedicated 24*7 customer
support.
As of now the Bharat Taxi service is functional 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.
As on 1st March, 2026, Bharat Taxi has 21.34 lakh registered users and 2.31 lakh registered Sarathis
Bharat Taxi is exploring several passenger engagement features for driver welfare including the possibility
of a voluntary tipping option for Sarathis within the application.
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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