App-based ride-hailing and delivery platforms operated by major players such as Uber, Ola, Rapido and Porter witnessed a nationwide strike on Saturday, February 7, 2026 as drivers started the day’s operations on a simultaneous call in protest against fare pricing regulations and working conditions. Unions have dubbed the action an “All India Breakdown,” and expect it to bring transport services in major cities to a standstill.
The strike has been called by the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) along with a few national labor bodies representing app-based transport and delivery workers. Drivers from across India will log off ride-hailing and delivery apps for four hours, union leaders said, while some reports suggested a coordinated six-hour stay-away.
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The absence of government-notified minimum base fares for app-based services was the main grievance behind the protest, and a union spokesperson said that it has led to arbitrary fare setting by companies and a steep decline in driver earnings. The union has contended that in violation of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines 2025, prices for trips are being “deliberately” set independent from any regulation or formal consultation with the drivers’ bodies.
What representatives for drivers are calling for:
Prompt notification of minimum base fares for various categories of app-based transport services, including autos, cabs and bike taxis.
Prohibition of commercial use of private non-commercial vehicle without conversion and valid license.
Union officials have also questioned the cost of mandatory safety devices including panic buttons, and bemoaned a lack of social security protections for gig economy workers.
Key union organiser Shaik Salauddin, founder president of the TGPWU, said the strike is a nationwide movement to force government to act. App-based drivers are being “exploited” as aggregators refuse to consider driver interests in deciding fares, he said, adding the protest was aimed at highlighting pending unresolved issues facing those working in the gig transport space.
According to reports, services in capital Delhi and other major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad could be impacted as commuters depending on app-based taxis and bike taxis may face problems throughout the day. Many drivers have turned off their apps during the morning rush, leading to warnings from traffic authorities as well as transport officials about congestion and lack of taxis and auto-rickshaws.
Not just in the ride-hailing space, but delivery drivers associated with platforms like Swiggy and Zomato are also said to be taking part in agitations, widening the ambit of the strike from merely passenger movement. Union representatives have described the movement as a larger campaign for fair wages, transparent fare systems and better working conditions throughout the gig economy.
There has been no official reaction from the authorities to the strike calls as of yet, but few state functions have advised commuters avoid travel on Saturday. Transport analysts say the protest underscores growing tensions between gig economy workers and platform companies over regulation, pay and worker protections.
