Ola fined Rs 10 lakh for misleading pre-ride tip feature
The Central Consumer Protection Authority ordered the ride-hailing platform to stop requesting extra payments before journeys are completed.
The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposed a Rs 10 lakh penalty on ANI Technologies Private Limited, the operator of Ola, on Friday. The regulator found the company's pre-ride tip and add-on feature to be a misleading and unfair trade practice.
According to reports from The Times of India, the CCPA identified the feature as a dark pattern known as 'Confirm Shaming'. This practice allegedly uses deceptive designs to make consumers feel they must pay extra to avoid delays.
The authority, led by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare and Commissioner Anupam Mishra, noted that app messages suggested extra payments could help secure rides faster. However, Ola's own booking data from June 1-15, 2026, showed lower acceptance rates for requests with add-ons in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Mumbai compared to those without.
The CCPA stated that while Ola maintained additional payments do not influence ride allocation, the app interface suggested otherwise. The regulator also noted that suggested payments rose from Rs 10-40 in May 2025 to as much as Rs 140, with users allowed to pay up to Rs 499.
The order also cited a violation of the Motor Vehicles Aggregators Guidelines, 2025, which only permit tipping after a journey is finished. The CCPA has directed Ola to remove all prompts for pre-ride payments, whether labelled as tips, add-ons, or additional fares.
The authority has also started proceedings against other aggregators, including a Rs 10 lakh fine for Rapido, while investigations into Uber and Namma Yatri continue.