Bharat Taxi: India’s Government-Backed Cab Service Promises Transparent Fares and No Surge Pricing
India’s urban commuters may soon breathe easy as the government prepares to launch Bharat Taxi, a first-of-its-kind cooperative-driven cab service aimed at making city travel more affordable, fair, and transparent. The initiative, developed under the Union Ministry of Cooperation and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), seeks to revolutionize India’s ride-hailing industry by empowering drivers and protecting passengers from surge pricing.
What is Bharat Taxi?
Bharat Taxi is India’s first cooperative taxi platform that allows drivers to become co-owners and shareholders. Unlike existing private ride-hailing services, Bharat Taxi will not operate on a commission-based model. Drivers will receive 100% of their earnings, ensuring fair compensation and ownership benefits.
The service will first roll out in Delhi in November 2025, with around 650 driver-owners, or Saarthis, participating in the pilot phase. The nationwide launch is expected by December 2025.
Key Features of Bharat Taxi
- Driver-Owned Cabs: Drivers can buy shares and become cooperative members, giving them a greater voice and financial stake.
- No Commission System: Drivers keep their entire fare earnings without deductions.
- Transparent Pricing: Passengers will enjoy fixed, no-surge fares, ensuring affordability and predictability.
- Digital Integration: Bharat Taxi will be integrated with national digital platforms such as DigiLocker and UMANG for secure and seamless service access.
Addressing Existing Issues in Ride-Hailing
App-based taxi services have often been criticised for poor service quality, unclean vehicles, rude drivers, and unpredictable price surges. Drivers, on the other hand, have long complained about heavy commissions and lack of transparency. Bharat Taxi aims to bridge this gap by introducing a cooperative model that benefits both passengers and drivers equally.
Government’s Vision for Cooperative Mobility
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Bharat Taxi aligns with the government’s broader mission of “Sahakar se Samriddhi” — prosperity through cooperation. The project reflects the Digital India vision by combining technology, transparency, and social inclusion.
Bharat Taxi is being jointly promoted by several key cooperative and financial institutions including NCDC, IFFCO, AMUL, KRIBHCO, NAFED, NABARD, NDDB, and NCEL. The platform’s digital backbone will be supported by NeGD, which will oversee cybersecurity, compliance, user accessibility, and governance.
Transforming India’s Mobility Landscape
This collaboration between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited is expected to redefine India’s mobility ecosystem. With no surge pricing, fair driver compensation, and transparent governance, Bharat Taxi could set a new benchmark for how public transport services operate in India.
As the pilot begins in Delhi, commuters across the country are watching closely to see whether Bharat Taxi can deliver on its promise — affordable rides, empowered drivers, and a truly citizen-first travel experience.
