India's driver-owned 'Bharat Taxi' goes live in Gujarat

Cooperation Minister Amit Shah launched 'Bharat Taxi' — a cooperative mobility platform where drivers ('Sarathis') are co-owners, not just service providers — covering taxis, autos and two-wheelers, extending 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' to urban transport.

What happened

• Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah launched the cooperative-based mobility platform 'Bharat Taxi' for Gujarat at the Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre, Gandhinagar.
• Bharat Taxi connects 'Sarathis' engaged in taxi, auto and two-wheeler services with an ownership stake, security and prosperity, while giving citizens reliable, service-oriented transport.
• Shah said other platforms treat those who drive as mere 'drivers', whereas Bharat Taxi treats them as 'Sarathis' — respected partners and owners of the cooperative institution — a difference of entire approach, not just words.
• He said the concept of a taxi is no longer limited to four-wheelers — two-wheelers, autos and other urban transport are now part of it — and called it an important day for India's mobility sector.
• The launch extends PM Modi's vision of 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' (prosperity through cooperation) to the transport and mobility sector.

For Prelims

• Ministry of Cooperation: Carved out in 2021 (earlier under Agriculture); Amit Shah is its first minister. Motto: 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' (Prosperity through Cooperation).
• Bharat Taxi: India's cooperative, driver-owned mobility platform ('Sarathi Hi Maalik' / driver is the owner) by Sahkar Taxi Cooperative Limited — now covering taxis, autos and two-wheelers; soft-launched December 2025, launched in Gujarat June 2026.
• Cooperative principle: A member-owned, democratically controlled enterprise (one-member-one-vote) where members share profits/benefits — here applied to the gig/mobility economy so drivers are owners, not contractors.
• Backing cooperatives: Built with support from major national cooperatives (NCDC, GCMMF/Amul, NDDB, NAFED, IFFCO, KRIBHCO, NABARD, NCEL).
• 97th Constitutional Amendment (2011): Made forming cooperative societies a fundamental right (Art 19(1)(c)) and added Part IXB; cooperatives are largely a State subject.
• Sahkar from gig economy: Bharat Taxi gives gig workers social security and a profit/ownership share — contrasting with private aggregators where drivers are partners/contractors.
• Don't confuse: A driver-owned cooperative platform (members share ownership) is distinct from private aggregators (Ola/Uber); this is the Gujarat launch, not yet a nationwide rollout.

For Mains

Syllabus: GS2.10 · GS3.2 · Linkage L2