The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed ride-hailing aggregators Uber, Ola and Rapido to immediately pull pre-ride tipping prompts from their apps. The directive, issued on August 11, follows concerns over prompts such as "Advance Tip" and "Choose an Add-on" that implied drivers might be more likely to accept a booking if a rider paid extra. The government says such nudges violate the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, and has ordered platforms to bring their apps into compliance without delay.<h2>Why has the government acted now?</h2>The move follows months of complaints. Uber's advance-tip feature had triggered a backlash on social media, with users alleging they were being pushed to pay extra just to get rides accepted faster, prompting the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to issue Uber a notice over the practice. Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had earlier called the practice "unethical and exploitative," and the CCPA went on to examine other platforms as well for similar patterns.This latest order builds on that scrutiny by invoking the aggregator guidelines directly. It states that no feature, prompt, message, add-on or payment option should be shown before a ride is completed if it creates the impression that paying extra could improve ride confirmation, driver acceptance, allocation, waiting time or service quality.<h2>Does advance tipping unfairly favour passengers willing to pay more?</h2>Accounts from drivers' unions suggested a real effect, riders who tipped in advance during busy hours often seemed to get picked up faster, though it wasn't clear whether the platform's algorithm or drivers themselves were responsible. Either way, those paying extra appeared to get better service, undermining the idea of a level playing field. By pushing tipping to strictly after the ride, the government aims to remove any speed or acceptance advantage tied to a passenger's willingness to pay more.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/thdc-tunnel-collapse-chamoli-15-feared-trapped-10-rescued-1786633418264">THDC tunnel collapses in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, 15 feared trapped; 10 rescued</a><h2>How does this affect drivers and their earnings?</h2>The order doesn't ban tipping, only its use as a pre-ride inducement; voluntary tips remain allowed. Under the new framework, a tip is meant to be given only when a passenger is satisfied with the service, and can be offered voluntarily once the journey concludes.For drivers, this likely means reverting to tips as genuine, discretionary appreciation rather than a bidding tool baked into acceptance mechanics. It could shave off the extra earnings some drivers were seeing from advance tips during peak hours, but removes the industry-wide pressure and reputational backlash tied to being seen as extracting money upfront.<h2>Is advance tipping a dark pattern?</h2>The directive states that no tipping feature or mechanism can be misleading, manipulative, or otherwise in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. However, the framing from the ministry is open to interpretation as to whether it is a dark pattern or not. But it is illegal.&nbsp;CCPA had separately probed Uber and Ola last January over allegations of device-based fare differences, such as Android versus iPhone users being shown different prices, suggesting a pattern of regulatory attention to potentially manipulative platform design of ride-hailing apps.&nbsp;<h2>How will booking actually change for passengers?</h2>According to the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, aggregators cannot offer a tipping option before a ride is completed, meaning passengers should no longer see tip prompts while booking, before the journey begins, or during the trip. Fare estimates, wait times and other charges will continue to be shown upfront as before; only the tipping option shifts to a strictly post-ride touchpoint, most likely appearing on the payment or rating screen after drop-off.Platforms have been told to review and update their apps immediately; MoRTH has placed the compliance burden on aggregators themselves rather than announcing a phased rollout. So there are scopes of changes on Ola, Uber and Rapido apps in the very near term.

The government has directed Uber, Ola and Rapido to remove pre-ride tipping prompts, saying they violate the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has directed ride-hailing aggregators Uber, Ola and Rapido to immediately pull pre-ride tipping prompts from their apps. The directive, issued on August 11, follows concerns over prompts such as "Advance Tip" and "Choose an Add-on" that implied drivers might be more likely to accept a booking if a rider paid extra. The government says such nudges violate the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, and has ordered platforms to bring their apps into compliance without delay. Why has the government acted now? The move follows months of complaints. Uber's advance-tip feature had triggered a backlash on social media, with users alleging they were being pushed to pay extra just to get rides accepted faster, prompting the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) to issue Uber a notice over the practice. Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had earlier called the practice "unethical and exploitative," and the CCPA went on to examine other platforms as well for similar patterns. This latest order builds on that scrutiny by invoking the aggregator guidelines directly. It states that no feature, prompt, message, add-on or payment option should be shown before a ride is completed if it creates the impression that paying extra could improve ride confirmation, driver acceptance, allocation, waiting time or service quality. Does advance tipping unfairly favour passengers willing to pay more? Accounts from drivers' unions suggested a real effect, riders who tipped in advance during busy hours often seemed to get picked up faster, though it wasn't clear whether the platform's algorithm or drivers themselves were responsible. Either way, those paying extra appeared to get better service, undermining the idea of a level playing field. By pushing tipping to strictly after the ride, the government aims to remove any speed or acceptance advantage tied to a passenger's willingness to pay more. Also Read: THDC tunnel collapses in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli, 15 feared trapped; 10 rescued How does this affect drivers and their earnings? The order doesn't ban tipping, only its use as a pre-ride inducement; voluntary tips remain allowed. Under the new framework, a tip is meant to be given only when a passenger is satisfied with the service, and can be offered voluntarily once the journey concludes. For drivers, this likely means reverting to tips as genuine, discretionary appreciation rather than a bidding tool baked into acceptance mechanics. It could shave off the extra earnings some drivers were seeing from advance tips during peak hours, but removes the industry-wide pressure and reputational backlash tied to being seen as extracting money upfront. Is advance tipping a dark pattern? The directive states that no tipping feature or mechanism can be misleading, manipulative, or otherwise in violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. However, the framing from the ministry is open to interpretation as to whether it is a dark pattern or not. But it is illegal. CCPA had separately probed Uber and Ola last January over allegations of device-based fare differences, such as Android versus iPhone users being shown different prices, suggesting a pattern of regulatory attention to potentially manipulative platform design of ride-hailing apps. How will booking actually change for passengers? According to the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, aggregators cannot offer a tipping option before a ride is completed, meaning passengers should no longer see tip prompts while booking, before the journey begins, or during the trip. Fare estimates, wait times and other charges will continue to be shown upfront as before; only the tipping option shifts to a strictly post-ride touchpoint, most likely appearing on the payment or rating screen after drop-off. Platforms have been told to review and update their apps immediately; MoRTH has placed the compliance burden on aggregators themselves rather than announcing a phased rollout. So there are scopes of changes on Ola, Uber and Rapido apps in the very near term.

The government has directed Uber, Ola and Rapido to remove pre-ride tipping prompts, saying they violate the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.

No more ‘advance tips’: Government orders Uber, Ola and Rapido to remove pre-ride tipping

The Centre has directed ride-hailing platforms, including Uber, Ola and Rapido to remove pre-ride tipping prompts from their apps. The move targets advance tipping options that appear before passengers begin their journey. The decision could change how riders interact with tipping features and comes amid growing scrutiny of practices on app-based transport platforms.


Centre cracks down on Uber, Ola, Rapido over pre-ride tips

App-based ride-hailing services Ola, Uber and Rapido are likely to face disruption on February 7 as gig worker unions have called for a nationwide protest, calling it the ‘All India Breakdown’. The demonstration has been announced by the Telangana Gig, Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), and other national labour bodies.&nbsp;After announcing the strike, which is scheduled for Saturday, TGPWU said in a post on the social media platform X, “App-based transport workers across India will observe an All India Breakdown on 7 Feb 26. No minimum fares. No regulation. Endless exploitation.” The union demanded that the union government “act now”, stating that millions of app-based drivers fell into poverty while the aggregator platforms make a lot of profit.&nbsp;WATCH: https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-blames-idf-shin-bet-in-oct-7-probe-response-1770359777149/embedd&nbsp;In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the TGPWU flagged what it described as “long-pending and unresolved issues” affecting app-based transport workers across the country.&nbsp;The union said that because there is no government-regulated fare framework for drivers working with platforms such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter and other auto, cab and bike-taxi aggregators, companies set fares unilaterally.&nbsp;As per the union, this practice results in “severe income insecurity, exploitation, and unsustainable working conditions for millions of transport workers”. The letter also referred to the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, noting that the rules call for regulatory supervision, fare transparency and safeguards for drivers’ livelihoods.<h3>Why will Ola, Uber, and &nbsp;Rapido drivers be on strike on Feb 7?</h3>The "All India Breakdown" strike will focus on issue low fares, lack of regulation, and exploitation faced by drivers. The unions have accused the companies of fixing their fares on their own, despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025. The union demanded that the government fix minimum fares as incomes, exploitation and working conditions for drivers has detoriated.&nbsp;“Despite Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, platforms continue to fix fares arbitrarily. Our demands are clear: Notify minimum fares. Regulate. End misuse of private vehicles for commercial rides,” the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union said in a post on X, and requested the government to step in.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fact-check-over-800-missing-in-15-days-delhi-police-data-tells-a-different-story-1770352581200">Fact-check: Over 800 missing in 15 days? Delhi Police data tells a different story</a>&nbsp;

In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the TGPWU flagged what it described as “long-pending and unresolved issues” affecting app-based transport workers across the country.

App-based ride-hailing services Ola, Uber and Rapido are likely to face disruption on February 7 as gig worker unions have called for a nationwide protest, calling it the ‘All India Breakdown’. The demonstration has been announced by the Telangana Gig, Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), and other national labour bodies. After announcing the strike, which is scheduled for Saturday, TGPWU said in a post on the social media platform X, “App-based transport workers across India will observe an All India Breakdown on 7 Feb 26. No minimum fares. No regulation. Endless exploitation.” The union demanded that the union government “act now”, stating that millions of app-based drivers fell into poverty while the aggregator platforms make a lot of profit. WATCH: https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-blames-idf-shin-bet-in-oct-7-probe-response-1770359777149/embedd In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the TGPWU flagged what it described as “long-pending and unresolved issues” affecting app-based transport workers across the country. The union said that because there is no government-regulated fare framework for drivers working with platforms such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, Porter and other auto, cab and bike-taxi aggregators, companies set fares unilaterally. As per the union, this practice results in “severe income insecurity, exploitation, and unsustainable working conditions for millions of transport workers”. The letter also referred to the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, noting that the rules call for regulatory supervision, fare transparency and safeguards for drivers’ livelihoods. Why will Ola, Uber, and Rapido drivers be on strike on Feb 7? The "All India Breakdown" strike will focus on issue low fares, lack of regulation, and exploitation faced by drivers. The unions have accused the companies of fixing their fares on their own, despite the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025. The union demanded that the government fix minimum fares as incomes, exploitation and working conditions for drivers has detoriated. “Despite Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, platforms continue to fix fares arbitrarily. Our demands are clear: Notify minimum fares. Regulate. End misuse of private vehicles for commercial rides,” the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union said in a post on X, and requested the government to step in. Also read: Fact-check: Over 800 missing in 15 days? Delhi Police data tells a different story

In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, the TGPWU flagged what it described as “long-pending and unresolved issues” affecting app-based transport workers across the country.

No Uber, Ola, Rapido cabs on Feb 7? Drivers announce nationwide strike under ‘All India Breakdown’—Here's why

Ride-hailing platforms Ola, Uber, and Rapido have received provisional licenses to continue operations. The move marks a key step in regulatory compliance and urban mobility services in India.

Ola, Uber, Rapido Get Provisional Licences

Rapido, the bike-hailing service, has gained immense popularity because of its affordable rates and accessibility. The bike taxi service&nbsp;is also popular for faster transportation in traffic-afflicted cities. However, a consumer watchdog recently fined the company Rs 10 lakh for resorting to misleading advertisements to attract customers. The court found the advertisement campaigns misleading and asked the firm to immediately halt their transmission to the public. Here's what happened.&nbsp;The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), India's top consumer watchdog, slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh. It took a suo motu note of two campaigns of the service&nbsp;-- 'Guaranteed Auto' and 'Auto in 5 minutes or get Rs 50'.&nbsp;The&nbsp;body found that the advertisement ran for around 1.5 years in 120 cities. It was published in multiple languages.&nbsp;Finding it guilty of unfair trade practices, Rapido was asked to cough up the fine.&nbsp;The authority found that many people didn't get the auto in 5 minutes and weren't paid Rs 50 as promised in the advertisement. It said such people must get the promised amount.&nbsp;"The opposite party shall ensure that any consumer who availed the “AUTO IN 5 MIN OR GET Rs 50″ offer and did not receive the promised Rs 50 compensation shall be reimbursed the said amount in full without any further delay or condition,” CCPA said.&nbsp;It said that between April 2023 and May 2024, the National Consumer Helpline had received 575 consumer complaints linked to non-refund of amounts, overcharging, and issues in services. The authority found that Rapido made no efforts to resolve the grievances.&nbsp;CCPA said in its order that Rapido displayed&nbsp;an "apathetic attitude" even though many opportunities were provided to them to negate the findings.&nbsp;&nbsp;It said to safeguard consumer interest, Rapido must be penalised for "unfair trade practice, false or misleading advertisement".

Rapido, the bike-hailing application, has gained immense popularity because of its affordable rates and accessibility. The bike taxi service is also popular for faster transportation in traffic-afflicted cities. 

Rapido, the bike-hailing service, has gained immense popularity because of its affordable rates and accessibility. The bike taxi service is also popular for faster transportation in traffic-afflicted cities. However, a consumer watchdog recently fined the company Rs 10 lakh for resorting to misleading advertisements to attract customers. The court found the advertisement campaigns misleading and asked the firm to immediately halt their transmission to the public. Here's what happened. The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), India's top consumer watchdog, slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh. It took a suo motu note of two campaigns of the service -- 'Guaranteed Auto' and 'Auto in 5 minutes or get Rs 50'. The body found that the advertisement ran for around 1.5 years in 120 cities. It was published in multiple languages. Finding it guilty of unfair trade practices, Rapido was asked to cough up the fine. The authority found that many people didn't get the auto in 5 minutes and weren't paid Rs 50 as promised in the advertisement. It said such people must get the promised amount. "The opposite party shall ensure that any consumer who availed the “AUTO IN 5 MIN OR GET Rs 50″ offer and did not receive the promised Rs 50 compensation shall be reimbursed the said amount in full without any further delay or condition,” CCPA said. It said that between April 2023 and May 2024, the National Consumer Helpline had received 575 consumer complaints linked to non-refund of amounts, overcharging, and issues in services. The authority found that Rapido made no efforts to resolve the grievances. CCPA said in its order that Rapido displayed an "apathetic attitude" even though many opportunities were provided to them to negate the findings. It said to safeguard consumer interest, Rapido must be penalised for "unfair trade practice, false or misleading advertisement".

The Central Consumer Protection Authority fined Rapido Rs 10 lakh. It found that the bike taxi service ran a misleading advertisement campaign. Here's what CCPA told Rapido. &nbsp;

Why was Rapido fined? Watchdog flags 'Guaranteed Auto', 'Rs 50' ad

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