Bharat Taxi

Key Highlights:

• Bharat Taxi, India's first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, was established on 6 June 2025.
• It operates under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, supported by eight national cooperative institutions.
• The platform follows a zero-commission model, allowing drivers (Sarathis) to retain full fare earnings as member owners.
• As of 25 July 2026, Bharat Taxi has nearly 8 lakh registered drivers and 41 lakh registered customers.
• It aims for nationwide expansion by 2029, advancing the vision of Sahkar se Samriddhi (Prosperity through Cooperation).

Detailed Insights:

• The initiative promotes transparent earnings, institutional representation, and ethical service standards for drivers.
• Sarathis become member owners by subscribing to the cooperative's share capital, enabling participation in governance.
• The financial model involves a subscription fee from drivers, with 20% of cooperative earnings credited to Sarathis' capital and 80% distributed based on kilometres travelled.
• Bharat Taxi integrates with Digital India platforms like DigiLocker, UMANG, and API Setu for paperless onboarding and unified access to government services.
• It offers social security benefits to Sarathis through registration on the e-Shram portal, providing access to schemes like Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana.
• Women-centric initiatives include Sarathi Didi, allowing women passengers to choose women drivers, and Bike Didi to encourage women's participation.
• Safety features include police integration, control-room monitoring, KYC verification for drivers, live ride tracking, and SOS support.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002: Legislation governing cooperative societies operating across more than one Indian state.
• Sahkar se Samriddhi: A government vision promoting prosperity and economic development through cooperative efforts.
• e-Shram Portal: A national database for unorganised workers to facilitate targeted delivery of social security and welfare schemes.
• Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY): The world’s largest public healthcare scheme providing health cover to vulnerable families.