17 September 2026 Punjab Khabarnama Bureau : The government has directed cab and ride-hailing aggregators to discontinue advance tipping options, saying passengers should not be encouraged to pay a tip before completing a ride.
Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare, who also heads the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), said advance tipping had been found to be misleading and an unfair trade practice.
Tipping Must Remain Voluntary
Khare said tipping should remain entirely voluntary and should be left to the passenger’s discretion after the journey has been completed.
The government action follows complaints that passengers were being encouraged to offer a tip before their ride was confirmed, with some users allegedly getting the impression that paying more could improve their chances of securing a ride.
Rapido Faces ₹10 Lakh Penalty
The directive comes shortly after the CCPA imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services, which operates Rapido, over alleged unfair business practices.
The regulator found prompts on the platform suggesting that paying more could increase the chances of getting a ride. It also identified dark patterns including “confirm shaming” and “interface interference.”
Why Advance Tipping Was Questioned
The CCPA said the fare displayed during booking already accounts for factors such as distance, time, traffic and tolls.
Against this backdrop, the regulator questioned the practice of asking passengers to pay an additional amount before the service had been provided and said such a payment should not be presented as a condition for getting a ride.
Uber and Ola Also Under Examination
The government’s scrutiny extends beyond Rapido.
Khare said investigations into the business practices of Uber and Ola are currently underway. The CCPA had earlier issued notices to major ride-hailing platforms, including Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri, as part of a wider examination of advance tipping and dynamic-pricing practices.
Rules Already Prohibit Pre-Ride Tipping
The move also follows the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, which state that tipping should be offered only after completion of a journey.
The guidelines prohibit tipping options at the time of booking, before the ride begins or during the journey.
Focus on Dark Patterns
The government action forms part of a broader effort to tackle dark patterns—interface designs that can manipulate or pressure consumers into making choices they might not otherwise make.
Regulators are increasingly examining how ride-hailing apps display fares, tipping prompts and other add-on options during the booking process.
What It Means for Cab Users
For passengers, the directive means a tip should not be presented as a way to improve the likelihood of getting a driver or securing a ride faster.
Passengers can decide whether to tip after receiving the service, without the payment being built into the pre-ride booking process.
Broader Consumer Protection Push
The action against advance tipping reflects growing regulatory scrutiny of digital platforms and their user interfaces.
The CCPA has said it will continue examining practices that could amount to misleading advertising, unfair contracts or manipulative digital design.