Ola and Rapido Have a New Rival: India Launches Its First Cooperative Ride-Hailing App With Zero Commission

India has taken a bold and unique step in the world of ride-hailing. For the first time, the country has a government-backed, cooperative ride-hailing app that is owned and run by drivers themselves. The app is called Bharat Taxi, and it is now officially live across the country.

Launched by the Ministry of Cooperation and operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, Bharat Taxi aims to change how ride-hailing works in India. After months of pilot testing in areas like Delhi-NCR, the nationwide rollout was flagged off by Union Minister Amit Shah on February 5, 2026.

At its core, Bharat Taxi promises something simple but powerful: no middleman, no commission, and fair treatment for drivers. For passengers, it offers transparent pricing and predictable fares. Together, these ideas make Bharat Taxi very different from existing platforms like Ola and Uber.

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A New Idea: Drivers as Owners, Not Gig Workers

The biggest difference between Bharat Taxi and private ride-hailing apps lies in its cooperative model.

On platforms like Ola and Uber, drivers are considered gig workers. They use the app, but the company controls pricing, takes a commission, and sets many of the rules. Drivers often complain about high commissions, changing policies, and unstable incomes.

Bharat Taxi turns this model upside down.

Here, drivers are stakeholders, not just service providers. The platform is owned and managed by a cooperative of drivers. This means decisions are meant to benefit the drivers as a group, rather than maximize profits for a private company.

The government’s message is clear:
Remove the middleman and let both drivers and passengers benefit.

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Zero Commission and No Surge Pricing

One of the most attractive features of Bharat Taxi is its zero-commission policy.

On most private apps, drivers lose 20 to 30 percent of every ride as commission. Over time, this significantly reduces their earnings. Bharat Taxi does not take any percentage cut from drivers—at least for now. Drivers keep 100 percent of the fare.

Another major change is the absence of surge pricing.

Anyone who has used ride-hailing apps knows the frustration of seeing prices suddenly double or triple during peak hours, rain, or festivals. Bharat Taxi does away with this practice completely.

• No surge pricing

• No sudden fare spikes

• No unpleasant surprises

Fares are shown clearly before booking, with no hidden charges, making the experience more predictable and trustworthy for users.

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How Is Bharat Taxi Different from Ola and Uber?

While the booking process may look similar, the philosophy behind Bharat Taxi is very different.

Here are the key differences:

• No commission: Private platforms charge drivers 20–30% per ride. Bharat Taxi charges nothing.

• Driver welfare: Drivers receive ₹5 lakh accident insurance, along with health coverage for their families—benefits that are rare in the gig economy.

• No surge pricing: Prices remain stable even during busy times.

• Cooperative ownership: Drivers have a collective stake in the platform.

For many drivers, these differences could mean higher earnings, better security, and more dignity at work.

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How to Become a Bharat Taxi Driver

Joining Bharat Taxi as a driver is designed to be simple and fully digital.

The steps include:

1. Download the Bharat Taxi Driver App

2. Register using a mobile number

3. Upload basic documents such as:

   • Driving licence

   • Vehicle registration certificate (RC)

Verification is done digitally through DigiLocker, along with police verification. Once the process is complete and approved, drivers can start accepting ride requests.

This streamlined system reduces paperwork and makes onboarding faster, especially for drivers who may not be comfortable with long offline processes.

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Strong Focus on Safety, Especially for Women

Safety has been given special importance on the Bharat Taxi platform, particularly for women passengers.

Key safety features include:

• Live ride tracking

• SOS button for emergencies

• Direct coordination with the police

• Police-verified drivers only

In addition, the app promotes the “Bike Didi” initiative and provides options for women passengers to be matched with female drivers, wherever possible. This is especially important for late-night travel and for women who prefer a safer, more comfortable experience.

These steps help build trust, which is crucial for any ride-hailing service to succeed.

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Familiar and Easy Booking Experience for Users

For passengers, using Bharat Taxi feels familiar and simple.

The booking process follows the same basic steps people already know:

1. Download the Bharat Taxi app

2. Register with a phone number

3. Enter pickup and drop locations

4. Choose the vehicle type:

   • Cab

   • Auto

   • Bike taxi

5. Check the displayed fare

6. Confirm the ride

There is no need to learn a completely new system. This familiarity makes it easier for users to switch from existing apps and give Bharat Taxi a try.

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Early Signs Look Promising

Even though Bharat Taxi is still new, early numbers are encouraging.

According to available data:

• The platform is already handling over 10,000 rides per day

• It has more than 3 lakh registered drivers

These figures suggest strong interest, especially from drivers who are looking for better income and fairer treatment. For a cooperative platform in its early stages, this level of traction is a positive sign.

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Can Bharat Taxi Compete with Big Players?

The biggest question is whether Bharat Taxi can truly challenge established giants like Ola and Uber.

Scaling a cooperative platform across a vast and diverse country like India will not be easy. Challenges include:

• Maintaining service quality at scale

• Managing operations efficiently

• Competing with private companies that have large budgets and aggressive marketing

However, Bharat Taxi offers something the others do not: a driver-first approach backed by the government.

Even if it does not replace private platforms entirely, Bharat Taxi already serves an important purpose. It introduces competition, choice, and a fairer model into the ride-hailing ecosystem.

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A Step Forward for India’s Mobility Ecosystem

Bharat Taxi represents more than just another cab-booking app. It reflects a new way of thinking about digital platforms, worker rights, and cooperative ownership.

For drivers, it offers:

• Higher take-home income

• Insurance and health support

• Respect as stakeholders

For passengers, it offers:

• Transparent pricing

• No surge shocks

• Improved safety features

At the very least, Bharat Taxi gives both drivers and users another option—and in a market dominated by a few large players, that choice itself is a big step forward.

Whether Bharat Taxi becomes a major disruptor or remains a strong alternative, one thing is clear: it has already started an important conversation about fairness in India’s gig economy.