Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah officially launched Bharat Taxi on Thursday, February 5, 2026, marking a significant shift in India’s burgeoning ride-hailing industry. Positioned as the nation’s first cooperative-based platform, Bharat Taxi aims to empower drivers by transforming them into co-owners, thereby challenging the conventional gig-economy model prevalent among existing aggregators.A Driver-Centric Model with Zero CommissionThe cornerstone of Bharat Taxi’s appeal is its driver-centric approach. Unlike its competitors, the platform operates on a zero-commission model, ensuring that drivers, referred to as ‘Sarathis,’ retain 100% of the fare displayed on the app. Instead of per-ride commissions, drivers pay a flat daily access fee, reported to be around ₹30. This model is designed to significantly increase driver earnings, a critical factor given ongoing protests by drivers against the alleged irregular wages and regulatory lapses of private aggregators.Furthermore, Bharat Taxi pledges surge-free pricing, promising more predictable and potentially lower fares for passengers. While initial comparisons show mixed results, with some bike and sedan fares occasionally higher than those of Uber or Ola, the absence of surge pricing is expected to make Bharat Taxi more competitive during peak hours. The platform claims its fares could be up to 30% lower than private… Read MoreStartupTalky- Business News, Insights and Stories
