New Delhi: Central Consumer Protection Authority imposed a Rapido penalty of ₹10 lakh over misleading tipping prompts and dark patterns.
The CCPA penalised Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates the Rapido ride-hailing platform. The authority found misleading advertisements and unfair trade practices.
The CCPA also found an unfair contract and dark patterns in Rapido’s ride-booking interface. These practices prompted riders to pay more before their rides were confirmed.
Chief Commissioner Smt. Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Shri Anupam Mishra headed the authority during the action. The CCPA also directed Rapido to stop the misleading prompts and practices.
The action followed a wider examination of cab and bike-taxi aggregator platforms in India. The review focused on pre-ride tipping and dynamic pricing practices.
During its examination, the CCPA found specific prompts on the Rapido app. One stated, “Higher the price, higher the chance of getting a ride.”
Another prompt told riders, “Captains aren’t accepting at ₹60. Try adding +10, +20, +30.” The prompts appeared while the booking was still being processed.
The CCPA said Rapido first quoted a fare to the rider. After the rider booked at that fare, the app then prompted the rider to pay more.
According to the authority, the design suggested that paying extra would improve the chances of getting a ride quickly. The rider had already committed to the booking at that stage.
The CCPA said this limited the rider’s ability to negotiate. It also created pressure to pay more to avoid losing the ride.
The authority classified this practice as “Confirm Shaming”. The dark pattern is covered under the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.
The CCPA said the practice created urgency and fear. It could therefore influence consumers to accept a higher payment.
The authority also examined Rapido’s “Set your price” slider. It found that the interface used colours to influence the rider’s pricing decision.
Rapido penalty follows two dark-pattern findings
The Rapido penalty also covered a second dark pattern identified as “Interface Interference”. The CCPA said the design visually guided riders towards paying more.
When riders raised the price, the app displayed “higher chance of getting a ride” in green. However, lowering the price triggered a red or orange warning.
The slider also provided more space for increasing the price than reducing it. The CCPA said these design choices influenced pricing decisions regardless of the accompanying text.
The authority also examined the use of advance payments described as tips. It noted that the fare shown during booking already considers several ride-related factors.
These factors include distance, travel time, traffic, tolls and the amount payable to the captain. Therefore, the CCPA found no basis for seeking an additional payment before the ride began.
The authority noted that a tip is normally a voluntary payment after a service. It said a tip should not be presented as a condition for receiving the service.
The CCPA also referred to the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025. The guidelines require tipping features to become available only after a ride ends.
Rapido had argued that tipping remained voluntary. It also said its matching algorithm continued to operate regardless of any additional payment.
The company further argued that the prompts reflected real-time negotiation between riders and drivers. The CCPA rejected these submissions.
The authority said the timing and design of the prompts placed pressure on riders when they depended on the platform’s service. It also noted that Rapido had provided no data showing that extra payment increased ride acceptance chances.
The CCPA therefore held the claim to be unsubstantiated and misleading.
The action formed part of the authority’s wider scrutiny of ride-hailing and bike-taxi platforms. The CCPA had earlier issued notices to Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri.
The notices directed the platforms to comply with the 2023 dark-pattern guidelines. They also required the companies to submit self-declarations on compliance.
The CCPA’s examination of Uber and Ola on these practices remained ongoing.
The authority said it would continue measures to protect consumers as a class. It also said it would act against unfair trade practices and misleading advertisements.
Consumers can register complaints about misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices or dark patterns through the National Consumer Helpline at 1915. They can also contact the CCPA through its official email address, com-ccpa[at]gov[dot]in.
The CCPA said its action was taken under its statutory mandate under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. The final order was made available on the CCPA website.
