New Delhi, Sept. 15 -- If you have ever booked a cab or bike taxi and been asked to pay a little more to improve your chances of getting a ride, the prompt may have felt like a harmless suggestion. But the way such prompts are designed can influence how much you end up spending.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed a penalty of Rs.10 lakh on Roppen Transportation Services Private Limited, which operates the ride-hailing platform Rapido.

The penalty was imposed for misleading advertisements, unfair trade practices, unfair contract terms, and dark patterns that prompted riders (customers) to pay more before their rides were confirmed, according to a press release by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public D...