Bharat Taxi crosses 7.97 lakh Sarathis as govt expands cooperative cab platform
Synopsis
Nearly 8 lakh driver-partners have joined Bharat Taxi — the government's cooperative ride-hailing platform — with no commission cut on fares. It is an early-stage stress test of whether a state-backed cooperative model can take on Ola and Uber at scale across Indian cities.
Key Takeaways
Bharat Taxi has onboarded 7.97 lakh Sarathis nationwide as of 19 July 2025 .
Delhi-NCR accounts for 2.55 lakh Sarathis; Gujarat has 1.01 lakh ; Maharashtra has 71,095 .
The platform runs on a zero-commission model — drivers keep their full fare; a separate nominal platform fee covers operational costs.
Sarathis are eligible for SBI Mudra loans , concessional insurance, and vehicle financing as cooperative members under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002 .
Expansion to new cities is contingent on operational readiness, statutory approvals, and state government coordination.
Bharat Taxi, the government-backed cooperative digital mobility platform, has onboarded 7.97 lakh driver-partners — called Sarathis — across India as of 19 July 2025, Home Minister Amit Shah disclosed in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 29 July. The figure underscores the rapid early traction of the initiative, which is positioned as a cooperative-sector alternative to private ride-hailing giants.
City-wise Sarathi Distribution
The platform's geographic footprint is currently concentrated in three regions. Delhi-NCR leads with 2.55 lakh Sarathis, followed by Gujarat with 1.01 lakh and Maharashtra with 71,095. These are also the only three markets where Bharat Taxi has been officially launched so far, with the platform operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL).
How the Zero-Commission Model Works
A defining feature of Bharat Taxi is its zero-commission structure — no percentage of a Sarathi's ride fare is deducted by the platform. Instead, a nominal subscription or platform usage fee is charged separately to cover technology, app maintenance, and expansion costs. According to Home Minister Shah, this arrangement leaves the fare paid by passengers entirely in the driver-partner's hands.
Sarathis who become members of STCL are entitled to cooperative benefits under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, including health and personal accident insurance at concessional rates, institutional credit such as SBI Mudra loans, and vehicle financing through banks and financial institutions.
Training and Welfare Support
Beyond financial benefits, STCL organises orientation and training programmes to familiarise Sarathis with the digital platform, customer service protocols, and road and passenger safety standards. These sessions are conducted periodically, according to official statements.
Expansion Plans and Conditions
The rollout to additional cities and states is subject to operational preparedness, availability of Sarathis, completion of statutory requirements, and coordination with respective state governments and cooperative institutions, Shah stated. No specific timeline for the next phase of expansion was provided in the reply.
This comes amid growing policy interest in cooperative-sector digital platforms as a counterweight to the market dominance of private app-based cab aggregators. With nearly 8 lakh driver-partners already enrolled, Bharat Taxi's scale is becoming a credible test of whether the cooperative model can compete in urban mobility.
Point of View
But the harder question is activation — how many of these Sarathis are completing rides regularly versus simply registered. The zero-commission pitch is genuinely differentiated from Ola and Uber, but cooperative platforms have historically struggled with technology upkeep and driver retention once novelty fades. The concentration of nearly a third of all Sarathis in Delhi-NCR also signals that the platform has not yet cracked tier-2 or tier-3 markets, where the cooperative model could arguably matter more. The real verdict on Bharat Taxi will come when independent ridership data — not just enrolment numbers — is placed before Parliament.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bharat Taxi and who operates it?
Bharat Taxi is a government-backed cooperative digital cab platform operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL). It has been officially launched in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, and Maharashtra as an alternative to private ride-hailing aggregators.
How many Sarathis have joined Bharat Taxi so far?
As of 19 July 2025, a total of 7.97 lakh driver-partners have been onboarded under the Bharat Taxi initiative, according to Home Minister Amit Shah's written reply in the Rajya Sabha on 29 July.
How does Bharat Taxi's zero-commission model work?
Under the zero-commission model, no percentage of a Sarathi's ride fare is deducted by the platform. A separate nominal subscription or platform usage fee is charged to cover technology and maintenance costs, leaving the passenger fare fully with the driver.
What welfare benefits do Sarathis receive?
Sarathis enrolled as members of STCL are entitled to health and personal accident insurance at concessional rates, SBI Mudra loans, and vehicle financing through banks, in accordance with the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.
When will Bharat Taxi expand to other cities?
No specific timeline has been announced. Expansion is subject to operational preparedness, availability of Sarathis, completion of statutory requirements, and coordination with state governments and cooperative institutions, according to the minister.
