CCPA imposes ₹10 lakh penalty on Rapido for misleading tipping prompts and dark patterns
On 15 September 2026, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) said it had imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services, which runs the Rapido app, for misleading pre-ride tipping prompts and dark patterns.
Summary
The CCPA found that Rapido showed prompts such as 'Captains aren't accepting at ₹60. Try adding +10, +20, +30' while a booking was still being processed. It held that these amounted to the dark patterns 'Confirm Shaming' and 'Interface Interference', and cited the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025, which allow tipping only after a ride is completed. The CCPA is headed by Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare. The CCPA had issued the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023, listing 13 specified dark patterns, under Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.
Key facts
- Penalty
- ₹10 lakh on Rapido (Roppen Transportation Services)
- Dark patterns found
- Confirm Shaming; Interface Interference
- Rule cited
- Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 — tipping only after the ride
- CCPA head
- Chief Commissioner Nidhi Khare
- Static
- Dark Patterns Guidelines, 2023 — 13 patterns, under Sec 18, Consumer Protection Act 2019
Practice MCQs 3 questions
How much penalty did the CCPA impose on Rapido in September 2026 for misleading tipping prompts?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — ₹10 lakh
The CCPA imposed a ₹10 lakh penalty on Roppen Transportation Services, which runs Rapido.
Which two dark patterns did the CCPA find in Rapido's ride-booking interface?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Confirm Shaming and Interface Interference
The CCPA held that Rapido's prompts amounted to Confirm Shaming and Interface Interference.
Consider the following about the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Dark Patterns, 2023: 1. They list 13 specified dark patterns. 2. They were issued by the CCPA under Section 18 of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. Which of the above is/are correct?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct. The CCPA issued the guidelines on 30 November 2023 under Section 18, listing 13 dark patterns.