{
  "id": 1280558,
  "title": "Ride-hailing apps asked to stop asking for tips before ride",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ride-hailing-apps-asked-to-stop-asking-for-tips-before-ride",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T14:11:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/ride-hailing-apps-asked-to-stop-asking-for-tips-before-ride/article71352949.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has instructed ride-hailing apps not to prompt passengers for tips before or during a ride, emphasizing that such requests are voluntary. The government discourages any elements that may be seen as advance tips, incentives for quicker confirmation, or add-ons before a journey begins. According to Clause 14.15 of the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, passengers should be allowed to tip drivers only after completing their journey. The Ministry has also ordered aggregators to credit the full tip amount to the driver without making any deductions. The government's directive comes after it became aware of certain apps suggesting that tips could improve ride confirmation or driver acceptance. The Ministry advises all motor vehicle aggregators to review their apps and digital platforms for compliance. Drivers' unions reacted by stating that tips cannot replace fair wages for gig workers and demanded transparent minimum fare regulations in Telangana.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Ride-hailing apps prohibited from requesting tips before rides.",
    "Tips should be given only after completing the journey.",
    "Ministry orders aggregators to credit full tip amount to drivers."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}