Prelims Focus 5th February 2026

Bharat Taxi: India’s First Cooperative Ride-Hailing Platform

In News: The Union Cooperation Minister will launch “Bharat Taxi”, India’s first cooperative-based ride-hailing platform.

The launch event will be held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.

Key Features 

• Cooperative Model: Owned and run by cooperatives, ensuring fair income to drivers, reduced commission burden, and democratic control.
• Policy Alignment: Supports the vision of “Sahkar se Samriddhi” and strengthens the cooperative sector in the digital economy.
• Inclusive Mobility: Aims at affordable, transparent, and locally governed urban transport alternatives to private aggregators.

SAMRIDH Programme

In News: SAMRIDH stands for Startup Accelerators of MeitY for pRoduct Innovation, Development and Growth.

Key Points

• Launched by: Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY)
• Objective: Support IT-based startups to scale from idea/prototype to market-ready products
• Support Provided:
  • Funding support (up to ₹40 lakh per startup, typically in a 1:1 co-funding with accelerators)
  • Mentorship, product development, and market access
  • Focus Areas: AI, IoT, Blockchain, FinTech, HealthTech, Agritech, SaaS, etc.
  • Approach: Implemented through approved accelerators across India

Download as PDF