The Indian government has clarified that there is no legal definition for 'bike taxis' under existing law, leaving their regulation to state governments under the newly-issued Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, even as data shows a sharp rise in fatalities involving two-wheelers across the country.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari stated the term 'bike taxi' is not defined under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 or the rules framed under it.
Instead, the government relies on registration data of two-wheelers classified under the transport category to approximate the segment. According to the Vahan database, the number of registered transport two-wheelers stood at 16,736 in 2023, rising to 19,509 in 2024 and 20,111 in 2025, with 1,706 registrations recorded till January 2026.
KR Suresh Reddy, a member of Parliament (MP), has asked about bike taxis operating across the country and centralised regulatory frameworks for them.
In his reply, Mr Gadkari, the ministers says the government has not introduced a centralised regulatory framework specifically for bike taxis. However, the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, provide a framework for states to regulate such services to issue licences and regulate aggregators.
"The guidelines provide that state government may allow aggregation of transport and non-transport motorcycles for journey by passengers as shared mobility through aggregators, resulting in reduced traffic congestion and vehicular pollution, along with providing, inter alia, affordable passenger mobility, hyperlocal delivery, creating livelihood opportunities," the minister says.
The guidelines effectively place the responsibility of licensing and regulation on states and Union Territories, reinforcing the federal approach to urban mobility governance.
Even as regulatory clarity remains limited, safety concerns around two-wheelers continue to mount.
Mr Reddy, the MP has also asked for details of the number of people injured and killed in bike taxi accidents.
According to official data from the electronic detailed accident report (eDAR) portal, a total of 56,044 people were killed in two-wheeler accidents in 2023, followed by 65,826 deaths in 2024 and 67,236 in 2025.
This translates to over 189,000 fatalities in just three years, highlighting the scale of road safety risks associated with two-wheelers.
In addition to fatalities, lakhs of people suffered injuries. Total persons involved in two-wheeler accidents stood at 141,445 in 2023, increasing to 163,786 in 2024 and 169,641 in 2025.
The government clarified that separate data specific to 'bike taxis' is not maintained.
The government outlined several steps taken to improve safety for two-wheeler users. These include stricter penalties under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, mandatory helmet use for riders and pillion passengers above four years of age, and limits on the number of passengers a motorcycle can carry.
Additional provisions mandate manufacturers to supply BIS-certified helmets with vehicles and prescribe safety rules for carrying children, including speed limits and harness requirements.
The government also fixes maximum speed limits for different categories of vehicles and roads, while enforcement remains the responsibility of state governments and Union Territory administrations.
The absence of a clear legal definition for bike taxis continues to create a regulatory grey area, particularly as app-based mobility platforms expand into two-wheeler aggregation in several cities.
While the 2025 guidelines offer a broad framework, the lack of uniform rules across states may lead to varying regulatory approaches, potentially affecting both operators and passengers.
At the same time, the rising number of fatalities in two-wheeler accidents underscores the urgent need to balance growth in this segment with stronger safety oversight.
