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Bharat Taxi, a co-operative taxi service whose driver-owners are called Sarathis, begins in Pune

15 November 2026

Union Home and Co-operation Minister Amit Shah started Bharat Taxi services in Pune at a programme held at Talegaon Dabhade in Pune district of Maharashtra. Bharat Taxi rests on the co-operative model and is meant to grow into a transport service across the country. Its drivers, addressed as Sarathis, keep all that they earn, which reaches their bank accounts directly with no commission cut from it, and the Minister said drivers under several taxi companies had earlier been made to hand over a share of their earnings. He said the Sarathis, once known only as drivers, are becoming owners of their own company, and share certificates were given to Bharat Taxi Sarathis during the programme. The Minister said the service should be taken next to Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur and Solapur. The Ministry of Co-operation runs this work under the idea of Sahkar se Samriddhi.

City of launch: Pune, Maharashtra Name given to driver-members: Sarathis Cities named for the next phase: Nagpur, Nashik, Kolhapur, Solapur

Why it matters for exams: Bharat Taxi is a named co-operative transport initiative of the Ministry of Co-operation, its driver-members carry the official name Sarathi, and its launch city and the Sahkar se Samriddhi slogan are the kind of scheme-and-ministry details asked in general studies.

Kerala PSCUPSC

15 November 2026 Source: Press Information Bureau

In plain words

Sarathi Driver-partner of Bharat Taxi — The name used for a Bharat Taxi driver, who is also a member-owner of the co-operative and keeps the whole fare earned.

Sahkar se Samriddhi Prosperity through co-operation — The guiding phrase the Ministry of Co-operation uses for its work in the co-operative sector.