App-based transport workers across India launched a nationwide strike on Saturday, staying offline for six hours in an action called the ‘All India Breakdown’.
Led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), the strike affected major ride-hailing platforms including Ola, Uber, and Rapido.
The workers are demanding that the Central and State governments immediately notify minimum base fares under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, to end arbitrary pricing by platforms.
Shaik Salauddin, President of TGPWU, stated that millions of drivers are being pushed into poverty while aggregators profit from policy delays, marking a critical survival signal for India’s gig workforce.
The protest coincides with the recent launch of ‘Bharat Taxi’, a driver-owned cooperative that has intensified calls for a fairer industrial model.
The workers are demanding that the Central and State governments immediately notify minimum base fares under the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, to end arbitrary pricing by platforms.
Gig Workers Strike
The protest comes at a time of mounting financial pressure on drivers, with fuel prices having surged by nearly 25 per cent since 2023 while platform incentives have dwindled.
The Economic Survey 2025-26 recently highlighted that approximately 40 per cent of India’s gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month, falling below the urban poverty line despite working 10 to 12 hours daily.
This strike follows a similar shutdown by food delivery agents on 31 December 2025, reflecting a broader trend of industrial action within the sector.
Adding to the tension is the recent launch of ‘Bharat Taxi’ in Delhi, a government-backed cooperative that offers a commission-free model, providing a stark contrast to the high commissions often charged by private aggregators.
What Are Their Demands?
Central to the strike is a demand for a level playing field and the formalisation of the sector. Unions have raised serious concerns over the “illegal” use of private vehicles for commercial rides, which they argue creates unfair competition for licensed commercial drivers who pay higher taxes.
Another major grievance involves the mandatory installation of panic buttons; the Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha claims drivers are being forced to spend nearly ₹12,000 to replace devices that were previously approved but later declared unauthorised.
Shaik Salauddin emphasized that the Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, mandate consultation with worker unions before fare fixation, a process he says has been ignored, enabling platforms to deepen exploitation through policy silence.
Bharat Taxi Alternative
A significant catalyst for the current unrest is the official launch of ‘Bharat Taxi’ on 5 February 2026 by Union Minister Amit Shah.
Registered under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies Act, 2002, this platform operates on a zero-commission basis, allowing drivers, referred to as ‘Sarathis’, to retain 100 per cent of their earnings by paying only a flat daily fee of ₹30.
This model, inspired by the “Sarathi Hi Malik” (Driver is the Owner) principle, has already onboarded over 4 lakh drivers and 10 lakh users during its pilot phase in Delhi-NCR and Gujarat.
By providing ₹5 lakh in health and accident insurance to its members, Bharat Taxi has effectively challenged the private aggregator model, empowering workers to demand that Ola and Uber match these transparent social security standards.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
At The Logical Indian, we believe that the convenience of a button-press ride should never come at the cost of human dignity and fair wages. Gig workers are the backbone of our modern urban mobility, yet they remain one of the most vulnerable and under-represented segments of our workforce.
It is imperative for the government and platform companies to move beyond algorithms and engage in meaningful dialogue that ensures social security, transparent pricing, and a living wage. True progress is measured not by the valuation of unicorns, but by the welfare of the individuals who build them.
Also Read: Amit Shah Launches Bharat Taxi, India’s First Cooperative Ride-Hailing App With Zero Commission
