Home Minister Amit Shah launched Bharat Taxi, claiming 800,000 drivers onboarded and ₹84 crore earned since February. The government's worker-owned ride-hailing app, meant to mirror Amul, struggles with just 11,000 rides daily across seven cities. That's barely one trip per 76 drivers, putting its 80% profit-sharing promise far out of reach.
How We Got Here
The Cooperation Ministry launched Bharat Taxi in February, spearheaded by Amit Shah. This initiative aligns with the National Cooperation Policy, 2025, which targets "new and emerging sectors" like transportation and quick-service.
The Numbers
- Bharat Taxi clocks 11,000 rides daily, primarily in Delhi, averaging one ride for every 76 drivers.
- The cooperative model promises 80% profit sharing with drivers, retaining 20% for cooperative capital.
- Uber, Ola, and Rapido collectively lost over ₹2,300 crore in FY25 attempting to achieve ride-hailing profitability.
- The Cooperation Ministry is also exploring cooperative models for quick-service companies like Instahelp and Snabbit.
What Happens Next
🇮🇳 Why This Matters for India
For Mumbai's gig workers, particularly those in the quick-commerce sector, the government's exploration of cooperative models offers a potential (albeit distant) alternative to current platform economics.
The Take
This feels like a political move to acknowledge gig worker concerns rather than a viable business model. The clear losers are the 800,000 drivers signed up for a service that can't even deliver consistent rides, let alone profits. This won't shift gig economics in the next year.
Source:
The Ken ↗