‘Sahkar, not sarkar’: Amit Shah launches Bharat Taxi, govt-backed rival to Uber and Ola

Union home minister Amit Shah launches Bharat Taxi

Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday launched India’s first cooperative-sector ride-hailing platform, “Bharat Taxi”, in New Delhi.

Launched first in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, the service is slated to be extended to all states and Union Territories over the next two years.

"In three years, Bharat Taxi will be rolled out across the country, from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari and Dwarka to Kamakhya," Shah said after launching the platform.

He said drivers associated with Bharat Taxi would receive a share of the profits.

The service enables customers to book cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers.

India’s ride-hailing market is largely controlled by a small number of players, notably Uber, Ola and Rapido.

At the launch event, Amit Shah said the Bharat Taxi service would greatly benefit taxi drivers, remarking that “sahkar (helper), not sarkar (government)” is now formally stepping into 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.

All about Bharat Taxi

Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and established on June 6, 2025, Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission and surge-free pricing model with direct profit distribution among drivers.

This positions the platform as an indigenous alternative to foreign investment-based ride-hailing platforms.

Backed by eight top cooperative organisations, the platform began pilot operations on December 2 in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat.

According to the cooperation ministry, Bharat Taxi has emerged as the world's first and largest cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, and the world's largest driver-owned mobility platform.

"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," according to an official statement by the ministry.

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, the statement added further.