National Commission for Women mandates stricter safety checks for app-based transport services
The National Commission for Women sent new safety guidelines to all Indian states and UTs, demanding tighter driver and vehicle verification, SOS buttons and night-time monitoring for app-based transport used by women.
In response to rising safety concerns, the National Commission for Women issued a comprehensive set of directives to every state and union territory in India. The rules require app-based transport platforms to conduct thorough background checks on drivers, including criminal and police verification, and to ensure that the driver and vehicle displayed in the app match the actual ride. Any unauthorised substitution must trigger an immediate safety alert.
The commission also called for SOS buttons in every cab, real-time monitoring of late-night trips, mandatory photo checks at trip start, and mechanisms to report route deviations or suspicious stops. Aggregators must provide a grievance redressal system for complaints such as harassment, assault or vehicle substitution, and allow passengers to cancel without penalty if identities do not match. Additionally, the guidelines encourage a verified pool of women drivers, giving female passengers the option to request a woman driver. The NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has written to all chief secretaries, referencing the Justice J S Verma Committee Report (2013) and the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines (2025) as the regulatory backdrop.
Why it matters
Ensuring safer app-based rides protects millions of women who rely on these services for daily travel.
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