Bharat Taxi Launched in Lucknow, 4 More UP Cities

Cooperative “Bharat Taxi” launched in Lucknow and four more UP cities

Battle Brief

On 23 September 2026 the cooperative ride service Bharat Taxi was launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj. Run on the “Driver is the Owner” principle, it has more than 10 lakh drivers (Saarthis) in six months, about 20,000 rides a day and over Rs 100 crore credited to drivers.

Fact File

Date: 23 Sep 2026
Cities: Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur, Prayagraj
Model: cooperative: “Driver is the Owner”
Saarthis: more than 10 lakh in six months
Rides: about 20,000 a day
Paid to drivers: over Rs 100 crore

In the news

Bharat Taxi in UP: what happened?

App-based taxis are usually run by private firms that take a cut of each fare. Bharat Taxi is a cooperative, so the drivers are its owners.

Bharat Taxi, a cooperative ride-hailing service on the “driver is the owner” principle, launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj [PIB].
Over 10 lakh “Saarthis” joined in six months, about 20,000 rides a day and over ₹100 crore credited to drivers [PIB]. UP also launched the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana portal and Urvarak Setu app [PIB].

Back Story

What else was launched?

The Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana portal, the Urvarak Setu app and the UPCDC app.
MoUs with the Airport Authority, Lucknow Metro Rail and Lucknow Police.
Ministry of Cooperation was set up in July 2021.
India has around 8.5 lakh cooperative societies with nearly 32 crore members.
Computerisation of around 80,000 PACS is underway at about Rs 3,000 crore.
About 54 lakh new cooperative members enrolled in UP.

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on Bharat Taxi in UP?

Bharat Taxi: cooperative mobility service.
Ministry of Cooperation: July 2021.
Reformed PACS model bye-laws allow more than 25 activities.

How to use this in Mains

GS-II Governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance

As per PIB (2026-09-23): bharat Taxi, a cooperative ride-hailing service on the "driver is the owner" principle, launched in Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj.
It offers a cooperative answer to a platform-economy problem: how much gig workers actually keep from each ride.

Quotable data point
Over 10 lakh "Saarthis" joined in six months, about 20,000 rides a day and over ₹100 crore credited to drivers. UP also launched the Mukhyamantri Krishak Samriddhi Yojana portal and Urvarak Setu app.
PIB: Ministry of Cooperation: Bharat Taxi launched in Uttar Pradesh, 23 Sep 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

Bharat Taxi, launched in five UP cities in September 2026, runs on which model?

Answer (b) & explanation

PIB, 23 Sep 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

What is Bharat Taxi?

A cooperative ride service where drivers (Saarthis) are the owners.

Where in UP was it launched?

Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Prayagraj.

When was the Ministry of Cooperation set up?

In July 2021.