Bharat Taxi rolls out as India’s first driver‑owned, surge‑free ride‑hailing platform

Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on 5 February 2026 launched Bharat Taxi at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, unveiling a cooperative‑based service that lets drivers become shareholders for a one‑time ₹500 share purchase. The app, already live in Delhi‑NCR and parts of Gujarat, promises zero commission, no surge pricing, and fares up to 30 % cheaper than Ola or Uber. Drivers retain full fare earnings after a flat ₹30 daily access fee and receive social‑security benefits—₹5 lakh personal‑accident and health insurance, retirement savings, and emergency support through 35 police‑linked booths in Delhi. The platform, built on India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DigiLocker, UMANG, API Setu), has onboarded over 300,000 drivers and completed more than 10,000 rides daily during its pilot, disbursing roughly ₹10 crore directly to drivers. Shah said the cooperative model will expand nationwide within two years, with plans to reach every state and municipal city, aiming to make drivers “owners, not just workers” and to return 80 % of profits to them based on kilometres driven.