India's consumer watchdog fines Rapido 10 lakh rupees for deceptive tipping prompts

The Central Consumer Protection Authority imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, the company behind the Rapido ride-hailing platform, for deceptive advertising and unfair trade practices. During a comprehensive audit of cab and bike-taxi aggregators, investigators observed that Rapido showed prompts like “Higher the price, higher the chance of getting a ride” while a booking was still being processed, and suggested adding extra rupees when drivers supposedly declined the quoted fare.

The authority noted that the fare displayed at booking already incorporates distance, traffic, tolls and driver compensation, leaving no justification for additional pre-ride charges. It emphasized that tips should be voluntary and only offered after a ride is completed, as mandated by the 2025 Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines. Earlier notices had been sent to Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri to comply with dark-pattern rules, with investigations into Uber and Ola still pending.