India’s Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare issued a directive on May 2, 2024, forcing Ola, Uber and Rapido to eliminate the pre‑ride tipping option from their apps.
Khare cited a spike in complaints to the National Consumer Helpline, where riders reported being nudged to tip before booking and warned that refusal might jeopardise their ride. She described the practice as misleading and an unfair trade practice.
Earlier that week, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) fined Roppen Transportation Services Pvt. Ltd., Rapido’s parent, ₹10 lakh for similar tactics, including dark‑patterned interfaces that coaxed users into paying extra before confirmation.
Investigations into Uber and Ola are ongoing, with the CCPA already sending compliance notices to all four major aggregators over dynamic pricing and deceptive UI designs.
Khare stressed that tipping should remain voluntary and only after the ride completes, aligning with consumer‑rights principles. The order gives platforms a 30‑day window to remove the feature, with non‑compliance resulting in further sanctions.
Ride‑hailing users in Delhi have welcomed the move, citing frustration over hidden fees. A 27‑year‑old delivery driver remarked, "Now I can earn what I deserve without extra pressure."