Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched Bharat Taxi, a cooperative-owned platform that enables drivers to operate as owners, ensuring zero commission and eliminating surge pricing. The service aims to compete with apps like Uber and Ola.
The Cooperation Ministry described Bharat Taxi as a transformative initiative in the mobility sector, placing drivers —referred to as sarathis (charioteers) — at the centre of ownership, operations, and value creation, thereby freeing them from exploitative aggregator-based models.
Speaking at the launch event, Amit Shah said the Bharat Taxi service will provide major convenience for taxi drivers, saying that “sahkar (helper), not Sarkar (government)" is formally entering the taxi sector.
“In this system, every driver (Sarathi) is the owner of the taxi, and this structure will bring a revolutionary economic transformation. Like Amul in Gujarat, this is a unique cooperative model of its kind in the world. The wheels of your taxi will run for the benefit of the Sarathi community—this is the spirit of cooperation," he said.
Shah further revealed that Bharat Taxi was envisioned as a unified mobility platform that offered two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers. “Bharat Taxi “Sarathi Didi" will play a key role in ensuring the safety, dignity, and empowerment of women riders and drivers," he added.
No Commissions, Lower Fares
The Home Minister said the taxi service will be rolled out in three years, and the government will charge 20% of the revenue earned by the platform, while the rest will be transferred into the accounts of each Sarathi.
“Until now, fares were first credited to the company’s account and a commission was deducted. That system ends here. Bharat Taxi will charge zero commission. Not even one percent," he added. “All payments will be transferred directly from the customer to the Sarathi’s account — no middleman, no delays."
Furthermore, the platform will also exclude booking fees, heavy platform charges, and hidden commissions from the Sarathi app, making it more convenient for drivers and travellers. All the profits earned will be directly transferred into accounts of the drivers associated with the Bharat Taxi service. However, Amit Shah also cautioned drivers to maintain professional standards and behaviour with travellers.
The event was also graced by Union Minister of State for Cooperation Krishan Pal Gurjar; Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol; Dr. Ashish Kumar Bhutani, Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation and other senior dignitaries.
The Cooperation Ministry said Amit Shah will distribute share certificates to the top six performing Sarathis, further reinforcing the core principle of ‘Sarathi Hi Malik’. Each honoured Sarathi will be provided with a personal accident insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh and a family health insurance cover of Rs 5 lakh, reflecting Bharat Taxi’s commitment to driver welfare and long-term social security.
Bharat Taxi prioritises social security for Sarathis through health insurance, accident insurance, retirement savings, and a dedicated driver support system. Support centres are being operated at seven key locations in Delhi. The platform provides rapid emergency assistance, verified ride data, and allows drivers the freedom to work on other platforms without any exclusivity clauses. To promote women’s empowerment, initiatives such as “Bike Didi" are being implemented, under which more than 150 women drivers have joined Bharat Taxi so far.
