NEW DELHI: The Union ministry of cooperation has launched Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative-led ride-hailing platform, aimed at empowering drivers – called Sarathis – through ownership, governance, and profit-sharing, Union home minister Amit Shah said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, Bharat Taxi was established on 6 June 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions. The platform currently operates in Delhi NCR (Delhi, Gurugram, Noida) and parts of Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Somnath, Dwarka). As per the latest data cited by PIB, the app has 990,082 registered customers and over 3 lakh drivers, completing 291,665 rides.Bharat Taxi follows a zero-commission model, with direct profit distribution to drivers, offering an alternative to investment-driven aggregator platforms. While no platform or convenience fees are charged to riders or drivers in-app, a 7% service charge applies at airport prepaid booths to cover operational costs.The platform also focuses on social security for drivers, including health and accident insurance, retirement savings, emergency assistance, and dedicated support centers. It allows drivers to work on other platforms without exclusivity and promotes women’s participation through initiatives like “Bike Didi,” which has already onboarded over 150 women drivers.Looking ahead, the ministry plans a nationwide rollout by 2029, with dedicated help centers in every state, enhanced social security for drivers, and integration with national digital public infrastructure to create a cooperative-driven mobility ecosystem, Amit Shah said.