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Bharat Taxi Service: Cooperative Mobility Platform Update

UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity

PolityEconomyScience & Tech

Why in news

The Ministry of Cooperation provided a written update on the Bharat Taxi service in Rajya Sabha on 22 July 2026. It revealed that over 7.76 lakh drivers (Sarthis) and 40.84 lakh customers are registered on the platform, which is currently operational in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat cities. The service is a cooperative alternative to investor-driven aggregators.

Background

Bharat Taxi is operated by Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL), a multi-state cooperative society registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002. STCL was established on 6 June 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions and officially launched on 5 February 2026 under the Ministry of Cooperation.

Key facts

in5points

  1. STCL is registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002.

  2. STCL was established on 6 June 2025 by eight national-level cooperative institutions.

  3. Official launch of STCL was on 5 February 2026 under the Ministry of Cooperation.

  4. Bharat Taxi operates on a zero-commission model, allowing drivers to retain earnings.

  5. The platform shifts from a 'driver-partner' model to a 'Sarthi-owner' model where drivers are members and owners.

  6. Drivers participate in governance through board representation and share in cooperative surplus.

  7. Features include transparent fare structures, real-time vehicle tracking, multilingual mobile interface, and 24/7 customer support.

  8. As of the update, 7.76 lakh Sarthis (drivers) are registered with verified documents.

  9. 40.84 lakh customers are registered on the platform.

  10. Currently operational in Delhi-NCR and cities in Gujarat.

Prelims pointers

  • Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002
  • Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited (STCL)
  • Ministry of Cooperation
  • Bharat Taxi platform
  • Sarthi-owner model
  • Zero-commission model
  • Yatri Sathi (West Bengal government initiative)
  • Delhi-NCR and Gujarat operational areas

Mains angles

  • GS2: Role of cooperatives in empowering drivers and promoting inclusive growth.
  • GS3: Digital economy and indigenous alternatives to foreign-owned aggregator platforms.
  • GS3: Government policies for the cooperative sector and mobility sector reforms.
  • GS2: Federal coordination – rollout depends on state governments and statutory requirements.