Gandhinagar, India — In a major move to transform India’s gig economy and digital mobility sector, Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah officially launched ‘Bharat Taxi’, the country’s inaugural cooperation-based ride-hailing service. Developed under the foundational philosophy of “Saarthi Hi Maalik” (the driver is the owner), this platform marks a significant shift away from the standard corporate aggregator model by transferring complete platform ownership to the drivers themselves.
The formal rollout took place during the Minister’s structured two-day official visit to Gujarat. In tandem with this digital mobility launch, Minister Shah also inaugurated the PM Family Care Tracker Pilot Project, establishing a new framework for grassroots social tracking and community welfare.
Restructuring Mobility: The ‘Bharat Taxi’ Cooperative Model
Unlike conventional private ride-hailing companies that levy substantial commission fees on every completed trip, Bharat Taxi operates on a strict zero-commission framework. Spearheaded by the Ministry of Cooperation and developed by Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the application enables registered drivers to retain 100% of their base fare earnings while directly sharing in the cooperative’s net profits.
The technical and financial backend of this massive undertaking has been actively supported by eight of India’s largest cooperative behemoths, including:
- Amul (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation)
- IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative)
- NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development)
- NDDB (National Dairy Development Board)
- NAFED, KRIBHCO, NCDC, and NCEL
Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, the platform expands beyond app-based transport by extending institutional social safety nets—such as life insurance, low-interest institutional loans, structured pensions, and seamless access to central government social security benefits—directly to its workforce.
Rapid Traction and Phased Expansion Goals
Though the formal multi-city launch took place at the Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre in Gandhinagar, the platform had already undergone a successful soft-launch testing phase.
The scale of the platform’s early adoption highlights a strong demand for cooperative alternatives:
| Metric Category | Local Presence (Gujarat) | National Network (India) |
| Registered Drivers (Saarthis) | Over 1.5 Lakh | Over 7 Lakh |
| Registered On-App Customers | Over 7 Lakh | Over 37 Lakh |
| Daily Completed Passenger Rides | — | More than 3,500 Rides |
The service initially covers 14 major cities across Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Dwarka, Somnath, Jamnagar, and Bhavnagar. State officials confirmed that the platform intends to expand its operational grid to cover the entirety of Gujarat within a month, with an overarching goal to roll out the service across all Indian states within the next two to three years.
Enhancing Public Safety and Price Stability
For daily commuters, Bharat Taxi addresses two of the most prevalent issues in modern app-based transit: unpredictable surge pricing and passenger safety. The cooperative model enforces a surge-free pricing mechanism, ensuring transparent billing even during peak hours, adverse weather, or high-demand scenarios.
Additionally, the application features an integrated emergency security layout developed in direct collaboration with the Gujarat Police. The platform supports three-tier multi-modal transit options, enabling consumers to seamlessly book two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, or standard four-wheeler cabs through a single, unified digital public interface.
Launch of the PM Family Care Tracker Pilot Project
On the second day of his regional tour, Union Minister Amit Shah shifted focus toward digital governance by launching the pilot phase of the PM Family Care Tracker at the Town Hall in Gandhinagar.
This project establishes a micro-level monitoring infrastructure designed to optimize the delivery of central and state welfare schemes. By tracking healthcare access, nutritional needs, and social security benefits at the individual family unit level, the tracker aims to eliminate systemic leaks, ensure welfare reaches the correct recipients, and provide real-time data to help refine future public policy initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- Cooperative Paradigm Shift: ‘Bharat Taxi’ debuts as India’s first driver-owned digital ride-hailing network, running on a zero-commission economic model.
- Institutional Backing: The platform is supported by major cooperative entities including Amul, IFFCO, and NABARD to ensure long-term market stability.
- Consumer-Friendly Policy: Enforces surge-free pricing and offers bike, auto, and cab options integrated with Gujarat Police safety features.
- Welfare Innovation: The launch of the PM Family Care Tracker Pilot Project aims to bring data-driven precision to grassroots family welfare tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How does the zero-commission model in Bharat Taxi benefit drivers?
Conventional aggregators charge a high commission fee on every booking. Bharat Taxi eliminates this commission, allowing drivers to retain their full fare earnings while receiving corporate shares and access to healthcare, pensions, and insurance benefits.
In which cities is Bharat Taxi currently active?
The platform has officially rolled out across 14 major cities in Gujarat—including Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara—with active plans to scale services statewide over the coming month.
What is the primary objective of the PM Family Care Tracker?
The tracker is a localized pilot project designed to digitally monitor, evaluate, and ensure the accurate distribution of essential family healthcare and social security benefits directly to eligible households.
