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The Centre on Wednesday directed ride-hailing platforms Ola, Uber and Rapido to immediately discontinue the option of giving tips in advance to riders.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways issued a circular stating that some platforms had introduced the facility on their apps, allowing passengers to tip before their ride.
According to the Ministry, such an arrangement could create an impression that offering an advance tip increases the chances of getting a ride sooner.
The concern is particularly relevant during periods of high demand, when the option could place additional pressure on passengers to make an extra payment.
The Ministry clarified that passengers can tip voluntarily and that drivers must not link tips to ride availability.
A passenger may choose to tip a driver after completing the journey if satisfied with the service.
The Ministry said drivers cannot make advance tipping or any form of pre-ride tip mandatory under any circumstances.
The move aims to protect passengers from pressure to make additional payments while booking rides.
The government has also emphasised the need for transparency as the use of cab and ride-booking services continues to grow across major cities.
Ride-hailing platforms typically display fares, estimated travel times and other applicable charges before a booking is made.
The Ministry wants tipping to remain completely separate from the basic fare and the process of securing a ride.
The directive aims to prevent drivers from encouraging or pressuring passengers to make additional payments before receiving the service and ensure that passengers can offer tips voluntarily after the ride.
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