The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has served a notice to Uber India concerning its “advance tip” feature, which allows users to offer a tip while booking a ride, seemingly in exchange for faster service. Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, strongly criticized this practice, calling it unethical and exploitative, and emphasized that tipping should be optional and offered only after the service, not as a means to ensure better or quicker ride experiences.
The CCPA has now officially sought an explanation from Uber about this feature and its implementation. The authority is investigating whether this practice amounts to an unfair trade practice, as it may mislead or pressure consumers into tipping drivers just to receive standard service levels such as timely pick-ups.
This scrutiny follows broader concerns around ride-hailing platforms and their policies, particularly where customer rights and transparent service standards are concerned. Uber and other companies in the sector have previously been flagged for issues relating to surge pricing, unclear fare structures, and driver accountability.
The current move signals the government’s renewed focus on protecting consumer rights, ensuring ethical practices in digital services, and holding platforms accountable for any feature that may compromise fairness in service delivery
