Bharat Taxi is India's first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, established on 6 June 2025 under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. Supported by eight national cooperative institutions, it combines digital mobility with a member-owned model. The platform follows a zero-commission model, enabling Sarathis to retain full fare earnings while participating as member owners. As of 25 July 2026, Bharat Taxi has nearly 8 lakh registered drivers and around 41 lakh registered customers across several cities. It offers transparent pricing, multiple ride categories, women-centric mobility initiatives, digital integration, and social security support. With institutional partnerships, nationwide expansion planned by 2029, and technology-enabled services, Bharat Taxi advances the vision of Sahkar se Samriddhi through inclusive and cooperative urban mobility.

Transforming Urban Mobility Through Cooperation

India’s cities depend on diverse transport systems that keep people connected to workplaces, education, healthcare, and essential services. Public transport forms the backbone of urban mobility, while private vehicles, walking, and cycling provide additional travel options. In recent years, app-based ride-hailing services have become an important part of this ecosystem. They provide convenient, flexible, and last-mile connectivity, complementing existing transport networks and meeting the growing mobility needs of urban India.

As digital mobility services continue to expand, there is a growing emphasis on making them more inclusive, transparent, and beneficial for service providers. The Ministry of Cooperation is advancing this objective by promoting cooperative-based business models in urban mobility. This approach combines technology with democratic ownership, ensuring wider economic participation and equitable growth.

Cooperatives have long played an important role in India’s economic and social development. They operate across agriculture, credit, banking, housing and women’s welfare, and collectively account for more than one-fourth of the world's cooperatives. The Ministry of Cooperation continues to strengthen cooperatives as instruments of employment generation, social security and grassroots economic participation. Within this broader policy framework, Bharat Taxi has emerged as a landmark initiative. It is India's first cooperative led ride hailing platform and reflects the Government's vision of "Sahkar se Samriddhi".

Foundation of Bharat Taxi

Bharat Taxi was registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. The act governs cooperative societies operating across more than one state. It enables voluntary formation, democratic functioning, and institutional autonomy while promoting self-help, mutual assistance, and economic and social welfare of members.

Bharat Taxi was formally established on 6 June 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions. Its founding members include:

• National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)
• Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited (IFFCO)
• National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
• Krishak Bharati Cooperative Limited (KRIBHCO)
• Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (Amul)
• National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Limited (NAFED)
• National Dairy Development Board (NDDB)
• National Cooperative Export Limited (NCEL)

At its core, the platform places drivers, known as "Sarathis", within a cooperative framework as member owners. This initiative promotes transparent earnings, institutional representation, and ethical service standards. It also seeks to provide commuters with reliable and affordable transport services through a system based on accountability and shared value creation.

Against the backdrop of a rapidly expanding platform economy, it combines digital mobility services with cooperative ownership and driver participation. It reflects a new approach to urban transport that aligns technological innovation with the principles of cooperation.

The Cooperative Ownership Model

Bharat Taxi has been structured around a cooperative framework that integrates governance, ownership, and financial participation. The model places Sarathis at the centre of the platform, recognizing them not only as drivers but also as stakeholders in its functioning and growth.

Zero Commission Financial Model

Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission, surge-free pricing model. It has been designed as a cooperative alternative to conventional ride-hailing platforms. The cooperative follows a subscription-based model, enabling drivers to retain full fare earnings.

Riders pay only the applicable trip fare based on distance, time, and market conditions. No additional convenience fees, platform fees, or surge pricing are charged through the application.

Under the Bharat Taxi scheme, 20 percent of the cooperative's earnings are credited to Bharat Taxi as Sarathis' capital. The remaining 80 percent is distributed among Sarathis based on the kilometres travelled by their taxis. A 7 percent service charge is levied only at Bharat Taxi-operated airport prepaid booths to cover operational expenses.

Sarathi Partners as Owners

Bharat Taxi is built on the cooperative principle that those who contribute labour should also share ownership and decision-making, reflecting the vision of "Saarthi Hi Maalik". The model enables Sarathis to participate in governance and benefit from the platform's growth. It promotes transparent participation and shared responsibility in decision-making. By placing Sarathis at the centre of ownership, Bharat Taxi seeks to build a fair, inclusive, and participatory urban mobility ecosystem.

Key features of the ownership and governance structure include:

• Ownership through shareholding: Sarathis become member owners by subscribing to the cooperative's share capital through shares valued at Rs.100 each. A Sarathi who wishes to become a partner can obtain ownership rights by purchasing shares worth Rs.500.
• Driver-centred governance: Shares are held by Sarathis, making them members who can participate in shaping policies and operational decisions.
• Representation in leadership: Reserved seats for Sarathi members in the Board of Directors ensure that drivers’ interests are represented in governance.

By aligning ownership, participation, and earnings, the initiative seeks to create a more equitable and participatory approach to ride-hailing services.

Growing Footprint Across India

As of 25 July 2026, Bharat Taxi has nearly 8 lakh registered sarathis and around 41 lakh registered customers. The service is operational in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Kanpur and Pune. For instance, as of 25 July 2026, more than 30,000 Sarathis and nearly 7 lakh customers have so far joined Bharat Taxi in Jaipur. Furthermore, operations are planned to be launched in Ranchi, Patna, Guwahati, Bhopal, Kolkata, Indore, and Nagpur in the next few months.

The platform is expected to expand progressively through a phase-wise rollout. Bharat Taxi aims to achieve a nationwide presence by 2029, extending cooperative-based ride-hailing services to cities across the country.

Mobility Services at a Glance

Bharat Taxi combines mobility services and social initiatives through a single digital platform. It promotes reliable, transparent, and inclusive transport services. The application offers multiple ride options and user-friendly features for convenient trip booking and management. The platform also supports initiatives that expand participation in the mobility sector and enhance safety for women travellers.

Ride Options for Every Journey

The Bharat Taxi application provides several ride categories designed to cater to different travel requirements. Passengers can select from a range of vehicle types depending on distance, comfort, and passenger capacity.

Available ride categories include:

• 2-Wheeler (Bike Taxi)
• Auto
• Economy Cab
• Premium Sedan
• XL Cab (SUV)
• Rentals
• Out-Station travel
• Scheduled Rides

These options allow users to access transport services for short urban trips, daily commuting, and longer intercity journeys.

Booking a Ride on Bharat Taxi

The Bharat Taxi platform allows passengers to book rides and drivers to register as Sarathis through a simple digital interface. The booking process is designed to be quick and user-friendly. In addition to app-based bookings, Bharat Taxi operates prepaid booths at selected airports for direct ride booking. Additionally, drivers who wish to join the platform as Sarathis can register via the app or website by submitting the required documents and completing onboarding.

Transparent Fare System

The platform follows a transparent pricing structure to ensure predictability and fairness for passengers. Fare estimates are displayed in advance, and the system operates without exploitative surge pricing. This approach seeks to maintain clarity in fare calculation while enabling riders to plan their journeys with greater confidence.

Empowering Women Through Mobility

Bharat Taxi has introduced the Sarathi Didi feature to enhance safety and accessibility for women commuters. It allows women passengers to choose rides operated by women drivers through the application.

To encourage greater participation of women in the transport sector, Bharat Taxi has also launched the Bike Didi initiative. As of February 2026, more than 150 women drivers had joined the platform under this initiative. These efforts aim to expand livelihood opportunities for women while strengthening their participation in the cooperative mobility ecosystem.

Safety and Secure Travel

Bharat Taxi incorporates safety-by-design into its platform architecture to ensure secure and reliable travel. The system includes police integration and control-room monitoring, enabling coordinated oversight and timely responses during emergencies.

Further, every driver undergoes Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, periodic background checks, and safety training. The app includes live ride tracking, SOS support, and driver ratings. Safety ratings are regularly reviewed to keep only trained and verified drivers active.

Building Partnerships and Digital Integration

Bharat Taxi has established collaborations to strengthen its digital infrastructure, service ecosystem, and social security support for Sarathis. Through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with government agencies, financial institutions, and technology partners, the platform enhances operational efficiency. These partnerships also expand benefits for both Sarathis and passengers.

Digital Integration under Digital India

Under the MoU with the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Bharat Taxi receives advisory and technical support within the Digital India framework. This collaboration enables integration with national digital platforms such as DigiLocker, UMANG, and API Setu.

DigiLocker DigiLocker is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Digital India programme. It provides citizens with a secure cloud-based platform to store, verify and share authenticated digital documents. UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New Age Governance) UMANG is a Digital India platform that provides citizens with a single mobile application. It gives access to a wide range of government services offered by central, state and local government bodies. These services are provided through different channels like Mobile Application (iOS, Android), Chatbot, Voice Bot and Website. API Setu API Setu is an open API platform of the Government of India that enables secure and interoperable sharing of data and services across e-governance systems. This supports seamless digital service delivery.

Key benefits of this integration include:

• Paperless onboarding of Sarathis through secure digital verification
• Unified access to government services through national digital platforms
• Secure and interoperable digital operations
• Support for cashless payment systems
• Improved operational efficiency across the platform

Partnerships with Key Institutions

Bharat Taxi has also entered into agreements with several institutions to expand service capabilities and improve rider convenience. These partnerships help integrate the platform with transport infrastructure, financial services, and insurance support.

Major partner institutions include:

• Delhi Traffic Police
• Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
• Airport Authority
• IFFCO Tokio Insurance
• State Bank of India
• Paytm

These collaborations allow institutions to access Bharat Taxi services while enabling passengers to benefit from additional facilities linked to transport infrastructure and digital payments.

Social Security for Sarathis

Sarathis associated with Bharat Taxi are facilitated to register on the e-Shram portal, enabling them to access a range of social security benefits. After registration, Sarathis and their families become eligible for free medical treatment up to Rs.5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). It is the world’s largest public healthcare scheme, launched in 2018.

e-Shram Portal The e-Shram portal, launched by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, creates a national database of unorganised workers, verified and seeded with Aadhaar. This enables a targeted delivery of social security and welfare schemes to these workers.

Additional welfare measures include:

• Personal accident insurance of Rs. 5 lakh is provided through IFFCO Tokio at nominal rates.
• Advisory support for long-term driver welfare and insurance solutions.
• Group health insurance coverage for drivers and their families is supported through the Paytm partnership.

Airport Connectivity

Bharat Taxi has signed agreements with the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation and Delhi Airport Parking Services. These agreements allow its white cab services to operate at multiple parking locations across Indira Gandhi International Airport terminals. This arrangement complements Bharat Taxi's Kaali Peeli services and is expected to improve the availability of airport rides.

Towards Cooperative Urban Mobility

Bharat Taxi represents a significant cooperative innovation in India's urban mobility sector. Built on driver ownership, the platform places Sarathis at the centre of governance, earnings, and service delivery. It offers commuters transparent, reliable, and affordable transport services through a cooperative model.

Supported by national cooperative institutions and digital public infrastructure, Bharat Taxi integrates technology with social security support. It also promotes inclusive mobility through partnerships and women-focused initiatives. With operations already underway in key cities, Bharat Taxi plans a phased national expansion by 2029. The initiative aims to strengthen cooperative participation in India's digital mobility ecosystem. It advances the broader vision of "Sahkar se Samriddhi".

References

Ministry of Cooperation

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2225907

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2214633

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2231721

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223166

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2224048

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2278302&reg=48&lang=2

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2289491&reg=48&lang=1

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

https://www.digilocker.gov.in/

https://web.umang.gov.in/

https://web.umang.gov.in/landing/

https://www.apisetu.gov.in/

Ministry of Labour and Employment

https://eshram.gov.in/

Bharat Taxi

https://bharattaxiapp.com/

https://bharattaxiapp.com/products/

https://bharattaxiapp.com/coop-model/

https://bharattaxiapp.com/faq/

PIB Backgrounders

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215759&reg=3&lang=2

https://www.pib.gov.in/FactsheetDetails.aspx?Id=150721&reg=48&lang=1

https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2185049&reg=3&lang=2

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PIB Research

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