Bharat Taxi Launched in India as Cooperative Taxi Aggregator

The Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah, launched Bharat Taxi, described as India’s first cooperative-based taxi service. The launch was attended by officials of the Ministry of Cooperation and representatives from multiple states. More than 1,200 drivers, referred to as Sarathis, attended the event.

Bharat Taxi operates as a cooperative where drivers are shareholders. Each driver holds ownership through a fixed share contribution. The cooperative structure allows drivers to participate in decision-making through elected representatives on the board. According to officials, profits generated through the platform are distributed among driver-members, with a portion retained for operational purposes.

The service does not deduct commission from driver earnings. Fare payments made by passengers are transferred directly to drivers’ bank accounts. Platform charges and booking fees, commonly used in app-based taxi services, are not part of the Bharat Taxi model, as stated during the launch.

Bharat Taxi includes multiple vehicle categories such as four-wheelers, three-wheelers and two-wheelers. The service is currently operational in select regions, including Delhi-NCR and parts of Gujarat. Officials stated that the service aims to expand nationwide within three years.

A separate category named “Sarathi Didi” has been introduced. Under this feature, women passengers can choose rides operated by women drivers. The service is expected to function through a dedicated option within the Bharat Taxi app.

Drivers associated with Bharat Taxi are eligible for benefits linked to gig worker schemes. These include health coverage up to Rs 5 lakh under government health programmes, insurance options and access to loans and subsidies. Registration through the e-Shram portal is facilitated for eligible drivers.

Bharat Taxi has signed memorandums of understanding with nine institutions, including Delhi Traffic Police, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Airports Authority of India, State Bank of India, and National e-Governance Division. These agreements cover areas such as airport operations, last-mile connectivity, digital integration, insurance and vehicle financing.

Bharat Taxi has partnered with Paytm to support digital payments and financial services for drivers. Under the arrangement, passengers will be able to pay for rides using UPI, QR-based payments, soundbox confirmations and card machines.

The collaboration is aimed at enabling faster settlement of ride payments to drivers and widening their access to insurance and other financial products. The integration is also expected to support day-to-day transactions and record-keeping for members of the cooperative.