Bharat Taxi Launched

Jun 29, 2026

Overview

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi in Gujarat on 27 June 2026. It is India's first cooperation-based, driver-owned ride-hailing service. The platform follows a zero-commission model where drivers keep all earnings. The service launched in 14 cities and plans to cover the entire state within one month.

A New Era for Ride-Hailing in India

India's ride-hailing market has a new player. Bharat Taxi is different from anything we have seen before. It is India's first cooperation-based, driver-owned service.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the service on 27 June 2026. The event took place at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar. This venue has hosted many important state and national events.

Bharat Taxi follows the "Saarthi Hi Maalik" principle. This means "the driver is the owner." The drivers are not employees. They are partners and owners of the service.

The service is linked to the cooperative sector. Cooperatives are collective enterprises owned and managed by members. This model puts power in the hands of the drivers.

How the Cooperative Model Works

Bharat Taxi operates on a simple and fair model. The platform charges zero commission. This is a big difference from other ride-hailing services.

Drivers, called Saarthis, keep their entire earnings. They do not have to share a percentage with the platform. This puts more money in their pockets.

The service provides more than just rides. Drivers get access to important benefits:

Insurance coverage
Loan facilities
Pension-related benefits

These benefits provide security for drivers and their families. They address the financial challenges drivers often face.

The cooperative model ensures that drivers have a voice. They are not just workers. They are stakeholders in the service.

Launch and Expansion Plans

Bharat Taxi launched in 14 major cities of Gujarat. These include Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, and Rajkot. These are some of the busiest cities in the state.

The service had a soft launch in December 2025. Since then, it has grown rapidly. More than 1.5 lakh drivers have registered. Over seven lakh customers have signed up.

The service already completes more than 3,500 rides daily. This shows strong demand from both drivers and customers.

The government has ambitious expansion plans. The stated goal is to cover the entire state within one month. This rapid expansion will create more opportunities for drivers.

Strong Institutional Support

Bharat Taxi has the backing of major cooperative institutions. Eight organisations are supporting this initiative. These include some of India's most respected cooperative bodies:

Amul (dairy cooperative federation)
IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative)
NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)
NCDC (National Cooperative Development Corporation)
NDDB (National Dairy Development Board)
NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation)
KRIBHCO (fertilizer cooperative)
NCEL (National Cooperative Exports Limited)

This support shows the government's commitment to the cooperative sector. It also connects the service to India's rich cooperative tradition.

The project aligns with the idea of "Sahkar se Samriddhi". This phrase means "prosperity through cooperation." It reflects the government's vision for cooperative-led development.

Gujarat's Cooperative Legacy

Gujarat has a long and proud history with cooperatives. The state is known for its success in dairy cooperatives. Amul is the most famous example.

The cooperative movement in Gujarat has also succeeded in credit and agriculture. Farmers, milk producers, and others have benefited from cooperative models.

Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar is a fitting venue for the launch. It has hosted many cooperative-related events. It represents Gujarat's commitment to this model.

Bharat Taxi continues this tradition. It applies the cooperative model to a new sector. It shows that cooperation can work in modern services.

Exam-Focused

Launched on: 27 June 2026
Location: Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
Launched by: Union Home Minister Amit Shah
Name: Bharat Taxi
Tagline/Principle: "Saarthi Hi Maalik" (Driver is the owner)
Model: Cooperation-based, driver-owned ride-hailing service
Commission: Zero commission (drivers keep all earnings)
Drivers called: Saarthis
Benefits: Insurance, loans, pension
Launch cities: 14 major cities in Gujarat
Expansion plan: Entire Gujarat within one month
Soft launch: December 2025
Registrations: 1.5 lakh drivers, 7 lakh customers
Daily rides: More than 3,500
Supporting institutions: Amul, IFFCO, NABARD, NCDC, NDDB, NAFED, KRIBHCO, NCEL
Vision: "Sahkar se Samriddhi" (Prosperity through cooperation)