NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 05, 2026: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah will launch India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform, “Bharat Taxi,” at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, on 05 February 2026. The initiative is inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” and represents a major milestone in strengthening the cooperative sector through citizen-centric and inclusive mobility solutions.
Under the leadership of Amit Shah, the Ministry of Cooperation continues to promote cooperatives as powerful instruments for employment generation, social security, and grassroots-level economic participation. Bharat Taxi has been conceptualised as a transformative mobility initiative that places drivers—known as Sarathis—at the centre of ownership, operations, and value creation, thereby freeing them from exploitative aggregator-based models.
During the launch programme, the top six performing Sarathis will be honoured for their outstanding contribution to the cooperative mobility ecosystem. The Hon’ble Minister will distribute share certificates to these Sarathis, reinforcing the core philosophy of “Sarathi Hi Malik.” Each honoured Sarathi will also receive ₹5 lakh personal accident insurance and ₹5 lakh family health insurance, underscoring Bharat Taxi’s strong commitment to driver welfare and long-term social security.
On this occasion, nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) will be exchanged with key public and private stakeholders to strengthen operational integration, digital empowerment, safety mechanisms, and service delivery.
Bharat Taxi is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, and was established on 6 June 2025. The platform operates on a zero-commission, surge-free pricing model, ensuring direct distribution of profits to drivers and offering an indigenous alternative to foreign-funded aggregator platforms.
The platform prioritises Sarathi’s welfare through health insurance, accident insurance, retirement savings, and a dedicated driver support system. Support centres are currently operational at seven locations in Delhi. Bharat Taxi also offers rapid emergency assistance, verified ride data, and allows drivers to work on other platforms without exclusivity clauses.
Promoting women’s empowerment and safety, Bharat Taxi has launched initiatives such as “Sarathi Didi” and “Bike Didi,” under which more than 150 women drivers have already joined the platform.
Since its inception, Bharat Taxi has emerged as the world’s first and largest cooperative-based ride-hailing platform and the largest driver-owned mobility platform globally. Nearly four lakh drivers have joined the platform, with over ten lakh users registered so far. Approximately ₹10 crore has been distributed directly to drivers.
Over the next two years, Bharat Taxi aims to expand its services to all States and cities across India, establish dedicated support centres in every State, further strengthen Sarathis’ social security, and build a sustainable, inclusive, cooperative-based mobility ecosystem through deeper integration with national digital public infrastructure.
More than 1,200 Sarathis from across the country are expected to participate in the launch programme, reflecting growing national reach and increasing confidence in the cooperative mobility model.
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