India Ministry Orders Ride-Hailing Platforms to Remove Advance Tip Prompts

India's Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has issued a directive to ride-hailing aggregators including Uber, Rapido, and Ola, mandating the removal of all prompts related to tipping before or during a ride. The ministry stated these prompts violate the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025.

The directive, dated August 11, specifically flagged prompts such as "Advance Tip," "Choose an Add-on," and "Improve your chances of quicker ride confirmation." It also objected to messages suggesting that tipping could expedite a driver's acceptance of a ride.

Under Clause 14.15 of the guidelines, passengers are permitted to tip drivers only after the completion of a ride. Aggregators are prohibited from offering tipping options during booking, before the ride commences, or while the ride is in progress. Any tips must be passed directly to the driver without commission, and tipping features must comply with the Consumer Protection Act.

The MoRTH advised all aggregators to immediately review their applications and digital platforms to ensure strict compliance. Any interface or functionality inconsistent with these provisions must be modified without delay. Prompts suggesting that tipping could enhance ride confirmation, driver acceptance, or service quality are forbidden.

This development follows recent scrutiny from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which sought a report from the Delhi government concerning allegations that app-based cab and auto aggregators were charging fares higher than those prescribed by the city's transport department.