The Rajasthan High Court (HC) has directed that app-based ride-hailing platforms operating in the state — such as Ola, Uber and others — must ensure at least 15% of their drivers are women within six months, and raise this quota to 25% in the next two to three years.
Additionally, the court ruled that female passengers must be given an option in the apps to choose a female driver as their first preference. The Indian Express
Why the Court Took This Step — Safety, Gender Inclusion & Cyber-Crime Context
- The directive comes as part of a broader 35-point order by Justice Ravi Chirania which deals with rising cyber-crime and safety concerns in Rajasthan. As part of this, the court also asked the government to set up a dedicated Rajasthan Cyber Crime Control Centre (R4C) to deal with digital offences.
- The order reflects concern for the safety and comfort of women passengers, a recurring demand from citizens and social-safety advocates, especially for night travel and long-hour rides. By raising the share of women drivers, the court aims to promote gender representation and safer mobility options.
What It Means for Ride-Hailing Platforms & Drivers
- Platforms will need to hire or register more women drivers, and possibly initiate special recruitment drives or incentives to meet the 15% → 25% target.
- Female drivers might see more demand, especially from women passengers who prefer women riders under the “choose a woman driver” option.
- Platforms may need to update their apps’ UI/UX to allow preference-based driver selection (male/female) and ensure compliance with the court’s timeline.
- The directive could reshape driver demographics in the gig-economy space in Rajasthan, potentially improving inclusivity and offering new income opportunities for women.
Potential Challenges & What to Watch
- Scaling from current driver mix to 15–25% women drivers might be difficult for platforms, especially in smaller towns or rural areas where women may be fewer or less likely to register.
- Safety, social norms, and vehicle-ownership issues (two-wheeler vs car; licensing; night-time safety) may affect willingness of women to sign up as drivers.
- Platforms will need to balance business needs, cost structures, and logistical challenges — e.g. ensuring adequate demand for women-driver rides, training, and verification.
- Enforcement and monitoring: authorities will need to track compliance as part of broader gig-economy regulation — including identity verification, background checks, and oversight under the new cyber-crime framework ordered by the court.
Broader Significance — Gender Equality, Safety & Gig-Economy Regulation
This order by the Rajasthan HC could set a precedent not just in Rajasthan, but across India — encouraging other states to consider similar policies for safer mobility and gender-inclusive gig work. It links ride-hailing regulation with broader cyber-crime and public-safety reforms, reflecting evolving expectations from digital and gig-based services.
It may also stimulate conversations about women’s participation in ride-hailing, mobility equity, and how to make shared transport safer for all — especially women passengers.
What to Watch Next
- How ride-hailing companies respond — recruitment drives, incentives for women drivers, app-feature updates for female-driver preference.
- Whether other Indian states follow Rajasthan’s lead and issue similar directives.
- Impact on women’s workforce participation, income opportunities, and social perception of women as professional cab drivers in India.
- Implementation of the court’s broader cyber-crime measures (SIM-card rules, gig-worker registration, digital-safety infrastructure) — and how they affect the gig-economy ecosystem.
