Guwahati: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, which operates the ride-hailing platform Rapido, for misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, an unfair contract and the use of dark patterns, the government said on Tuesday (September 15, 2026).
The action follows a sector-wide examination of cab and bike-taxi aggregator platforms in India, focusing on practices related to pre-ride tipping and dynamic pricing. The CCPA has also issued notices to Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri, directing them to comply with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023.
According to an official statement, the penalty relates to the manner in which Rapido riders were prompted to pay more before their rides were confirmed.
During its examination, the CCPA found that the Rapido app displayed prompts such as “Higher the price, higher the chance of getting a ride” and “Captains aren’t accepting at Rs 60. Try adding +10, +20, +30” while a booking was still being processed.
The regulator said Rapido’s algorithm first quoted a fare to the rider and, after the rider booked at that fare, prompted the rider to pay more on the ground that drivers were not accepting the original price.
The CCPA said the practice created the impression that a rider’s chances of getting a ride quickly depended on paying an additional amount. Since the rider had already committed to the booking, the authority said there was limited scope to negotiate.
The practice was held to constitute “Confirm Shaming”, a dark pattern identified under the 2023 guidelines. According to the CCPA, it created a sense of urgency and fear of losing the ride if the consumer declined to pay more.
The authority also examined Rapido’s “Set your price” slider and found that it was colour-coded in a manner that could influence the rider’s pricing decision.
The CCPA noted that the fare displayed at the time of booking takes into account factors including distance, time, traffic, tolls and the amount payable to the driver. It found no justification for subsequently suggesting that the rider pay an additional amount for the same ride before the journey had commenced.
The authority further observed that a tip is ordinarily a voluntary payment and should not be presented as a condition for providing the service. The CCPA said it rejected Rapido’s submissions on the issue of tips.
The CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, said its examination of Uber and Ola on the matter is ongoing.