New Delhi, September 16, 2026: The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty on ride-hailing platform Rapido for misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, an unfair contract and the use of dark patterns that prompted riders to pay more before their rides were confirmed.
The action against Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd, which operates Rapido, comes as part of a wider examination of cab and bike-taxi aggregator platforms in India. The CCPA is looking into practices linked to pre-ride tipping and dynamic pricing.
Pay More To Get A Ride?
The authority had earlier issued notices to Uber, Ola, Rapido and Namma Yatri, asking them to comply with the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023. The CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, said its examination of Uber and Ola was still under way.
Dark patterns are deceptive user interface designs that can mislead or manipulate consumers into making choices they may not otherwise make. In Rapido’s case, the regulator’s findings raise a broader consumer concern: a fare displayed at the start of a booking should give riders clarity rather than leave them feeling pressured to increase what they are willing to pay.
The CCPA found that while a booking was being processed, 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”.
CCPA Flags ‘Confirm Shaming’
According to the regulator, Rapido’s algorithm initially quoted a fare to a rider but, after the booking was made at that price, prompted the rider to pay more on the ground that drivers were not accepting the original fare, PTI reports.
The CCPA said the practice created a false impression that a rider’s chances of quickly getting a cab depended on paying an additional amount. By that stage, the rider had already committed to the booking and had limited scope to negotiate.
The authority held that the practice amounted to “Confirm Shaming”, a dark pattern identified under the 2023 guidelines. It said the prompts created a sense of urgency and fear that consumers could lose their ride if they did not agree to pay more.
‘Set Your Price’ Slider Under Scanner
The CCPA also examined Rapido’s “Set your price” slider and found that it was colour-coded in a manner that influenced the rider’s pricing decision.
The regulator noted that the fare shown to riders at the time of booking already takes into account factors such as distance, time, traffic, tolls and the amount payable to the driver. Against this backdrop, it found no justification for subsequently suggesting that riders pay an additional amount for the same journey before it had begun.
The finding goes to the heart of transparency in app-based bookings. When a platform displays a fare and accepts a booking at that price, subsequent prompts seeking more money can make it difficult for consumers to distinguish between a genuinely voluntary payment and one that appears necessary to secure the service.
Also Watch:
Tips Must Remain Voluntary
The CCPA observed that a tip is ordinarily a voluntary payment and should therefore not be presented as a condition for providing a service.
The authority also rejected Rapido’s submissions on the issue of tips. Its Rs 10 lakh penalty puts the focus firmly on how ride-hailing platforms design pricing prompts and communicate additional payments to consumers before a journey begins.
To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/
