On February 7, 2026, drivers associated with major ride-hailing platforms Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter and others observed a nationwide strike branded the “All India Breakdown”, going offline for several hours to protest declining earnings and what they describe as exploitative fare policies.
The action was led by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) and backed by national labour bodies including the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT). Workers demanded government-notified minimum base fares, enforcement against the use of private vehicles for commercial rides, and wider reform of the aggregator sector.
The strike has impacted services in major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kolkata prompting advisories for commuters to consider alternative travel plans. Authorities and companies have acknowledged the disruption, but no immediate policy changes have been announced.
Root Causes: Fares, Regulation and Worker Livelihoods
The strike emerged against the backdrop of persistent grievances among gig workers who provide transport and delivery services across India. Organisers argue that, despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, ride-hailing platforms continue to set prices unilaterally without government-mandated minimum base fares, leaving drivers vulnerable to income instability and financial insecurity.
“App-based transport workers across India will observe an All India Breakdown on 7 Feb 26. No minimum fares. No regulation. Endless exploitation,” said an official statement shared by the TGPWU on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting how millions of drivers feel squeezed by current pricing structures.
A central demand of the unions has been the immediate notification of minimum base fares set in consultation with recognised worker bodies for all app-based transport services, including taxis, auto-rickshaws, bike taxis and goods carriers.
Drivers also want the government to ban or strictly regulate the use of private, non-commercial vehicles for commercial rides, arguing that this practice hurts licensed drivers’ incomes and weakens safety norms. Some unions have also called for the removal of Clause 17.3 of the Aggregator Guidelines, which allows platforms to charge up to 50 per cent below a set base fare, further destabilising drivers’ revenue.
According to union leaders, these issues have only worsened amid rising operational costs such as fuel and vehicle maintenance, while commissions and incentive structures set by companies leave drivers with ever-smaller earnings.
In support of labour concerns, the Economic Survey 2025–26 released on January 30 noted that around 40 per cent of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month, even as the gig workforce grew to over 1.2 crore in FY25. This rapid expansion, the Survey said, underscores both the promise and the precarity of this sector.
In addition to fare and income issues, some driver associations have raised concerns about the financial burden of mandatory safety requirements, such as panic button installations, which they say have imposed unexpected hardware and compliance costs without clear benefit.
The Maharashtra Kamgar Sabha representing app-based taxi and auto drivers in Maharashtra said local drivers are also frustrated by what they call the growing number of autorickshaws under open permit policies, arguing that this dilutes demand and cuts into their earnings.
Widespread Impact on Commuters and Urban Mobility
The February 7 strike affected app-based transport and delivery services to varying degrees across India. In major cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Mumbai, commuters reported limited availability of cabs, bike taxis and auto-rickshaws on aggregator apps during peak morning and afternoon hours. Some reports suggested that driver participation varied by region and platform, with certain services partly operational where offline actions were less coordinated.
Transport analyst S. Priya noted that disruptions even if limited to a few hours can ripple through urban traffic systems, especially in cities with high dependency on app-based mobility for daily commutes.
“When a significant chunk of drivers go offline, commuters have fewer options, which pushes more people onto metro systems, buses or private vehicles, increasing congestion and travel time,” she explained. Officials from city transport departments in both Delhi and Mumbai urged commuters to use public transport wherever possible, especially during the morning and evening rush.
Airport authorities in several metros reportedly issued advisories warning passengers that ride-hail services might be unavailable or in short supply for parts of the day, recommending that travellers book rides well in advance or explore alternatives like pre-paid taxis.
While some local taxi unions welcomed the action as a necessary assertion of driver rights, other passenger advocacy groups expressed frustration, noting that sudden unavailability of services could strand travellers and impact daily routines.
Companies involved including Ola, Uber and Rapido have not issued detailed responses to the unions’ demands, with spokespeople instead assuring users that they are monitoring the situation and making efforts to provide alternative options where possible. No formal engagement with unions was announced on the day of the action.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The unfolding strike by gig workers signals a deeper tension at the heart of India’s digital economy: the promise of flexibility and convenience versus the reality of precarious work without adequate safeguards. While technology platforms have transformed mobility and created new earning opportunities, they have also blurred traditional labour protections and made livelihoods contingent on opaque algorithmic decisions.
True reform cannot come solely from isolated protests it requires sustained dialogue between workers, platform companies and policymakers to build fair, transparent and enforceable frameworks that protect both drivers and passengers.
