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Union Minister Amit Shah has launched Bharat Taxi, a new cooperative ride-hailing service where drivers will receive 80% of the profits and can also become co-owners.
The initiative aims to protect driver earnings and give them a direct share in the business.(Photo Credit: Representative Image)
Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on February 23 launched Bharat Taxi, a new cooperative ride-hailing service. The platform aims to give drivers not just work, but a share in profits and ownership in the company.
At a town hall attended by cab and auto drivers from Delhi-NCR and Gujarat, Shah explained how the system would work, as per a press release. He said 80 per cent of the profits will be shared with drivers based on the kilometres they travel. The remaining 20 per cent will be kept to build the cooperative’s funds.
Drivers to Get Profit Share and Security
During the interaction, Amit Shah said he had asked other ride companies if they had fixed a minimum base rate for drivers.
“I asked the existing companies whether they had fixed a minimum base rate for drivers. They said no,” Shah said, according to the release. “We will ensure your minimum earnings are protected. Anything earned beyond that should also benefit you.”
He said this model is meant to protect drivers’ income and give them a direct stake in the platform’s success.
Model Inspired by Amul’s Success
Shah compared Bharat Taxi to the well-known dairy cooperative Amul. He pointed out how small contributions helped build a large organisation.
“Nearly 36 lakh women invested just Rs 50 each to build Amul into a Rs 1.25 lakh crore organisation,” he said. “In private companies, profits go to owners. In Amul, most profits go back to producers. Bharat Taxi follows the same idea in the mobility sector.”
Drivers can become co-owners by paying Rs 500 for a share. As more drivers join, they will also get representation on the board of directors.
“If any decision goes against drivers, your representative will question it and protect your interests,” Shah added.
Expansion Plans Across India
Bharat Taxi is currently operating in Delhi-NCR and Rajkot. The platform plans to bring up to 15 crore drivers on board within two years. It also aims to expand to all cities with municipal corporations within three years.
Shah said the profit-sharing system may take around three years to settle fully and asked drivers to be patient in the early stage.
The platform completed a two-month pilot with support from eight cooperative groups before its formal rollout. Unlike Ola, Uber and Rapido, which charge commissions of 25-30 per cent, Bharat Taxi currently does not take any commission from drivers.
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Delhi, India, India
February 25, 2026, 10:41 IST
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