Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate India’s inaugural cooperative-sector ride-hailing service, “Bharat Taxi,” on February 5, at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

The program draws inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s concept of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ and seeks to enhance inclusive, citizen-focused mobility while fortifying the cooperative movement across the nation.

Bharat Taxi has been designed as a mobility platform owned and led by drivers, representing a notable shift from traditional aggregator-based models. Aligned with the core principle of ‘Sarathi Hi Malik’, drivers, referred to as Sarathis, act not only as service providers but also as stakeholders and owners within the cooperative, guaranteeing fair profit-sharing and enhanced economic stability.

In the launch event, the best six performing Sarathis from the platform’s soft launch will be recognized. They will receive share certificates, strengthening their ownership in the cooperative, along with personal accident insurance coverage of Rs.5 lakh and a family health insurance coverage of Rs.5 lakh.

The initiative demonstrates a significant focus on driver well-being, social protection, and enduring financial security.

The occasion will feature the signing of nine Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with important public and private partners to enhance operational integration, digital empowerment, safety protocols, and service delivery.

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Founded on June 6, 2025, Bharat Taxi is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. It functions on a no-commission, surge-free pricing system, with earnings shared directly among drivers. The platform serves as a local alternative to foreign-backed ride-hailing services and emphasizes transparency and equity.

Significant attention has been focused on women's safety and empowerment through programs like ‘Sarathi Didi’ and ‘Bike Didi’, which have seen over 150 women drivers already participating in the platform. Bharat Taxi provides health and accident insurance, retirement savings plans, emergency support, verified ride information, and a non-exclusive model that permits drivers to work on additional platforms.

Since its launch, Bharat Taxi has expanded swiftly, onboarding over three lakh drivers, registering more than one lakh users, and completing over 10,000 rides each day throughout Delhi-NCR and Gujarat. Approximately Rs.10 crore has been directly disbursed to drivers. The platform presently runs support centers at seven sites in Delhi.

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Bharat Taxi, recognized as the first and largest cooperative ride-hailing platform globally, intends to grow its operations across the country in the upcoming two years. The plan involves establishing support centers in each State, improving social security provisions for drivers, and developing a sustainable, inclusive mobility system that aligns with national digital public infrastructure.

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More than 1,200 Sarathis from across the country are expected to attend the launch event, underscoring the growing national footprint of the cooperative-based mobility model and the trust it has earned among drivers.