Government e-Marketplace Transforms Public Procurement
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has revolutionized India's public procurement system since its launch on 9 August 2016, replacing manual, fragmented processes with a transparent, technology-driven digital platform. The unified end-to-end digital platform serves over 1.37 lakh government buyer organizations including Central and State Ministries, Departments, PSUs, Autonomous Bodies, local bodies, Panchayats and Cooperatives, connecting them with nearly 25 lakh sellers and service providers.
GeM has achieved cumulative procurement worth over ₹20 lakh crore through its comprehensive digital marketplace that offers over 10,660 product categories and 350 service categories. The platform digitizes the complete procurement lifecycle from seller registration and product listing to bidding, contract award, order fulfilment and payment, ensuring greater transparency and accountability. Defence procurement has been particularly significant, contributing over 14.93% of GeM's cumulative GMV as of 6th August 2026, with the Department of Military Affairs alone crossing ₹1.35 lakh crore in cumulative GMV.
Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives
GeM has forged multiple strategic partnerships to enhance its ecosystem: with IN-SPACe for space-tech procurement, Drone Federation India for drone procurement, and Union Bank of India for the GeMSahay initiative that provides collateral-free working capital loans to proprietorship sellers. The platform has also partnered with CSC-SPV to establish 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras across select States and Union Territories to provide awareness, registration, and support services.
Inclusive Growth Achievements
In FY 2025-26, GeM demonstrated remarkable inclusive growth outcomes. Over 11 lakh registered Micro and Small Enterprises executed more than 51 lakh orders worth over ₹2.36 lakh crore. Women-led enterprises saw significant participation with more than 2.1 lakh registered women-led MSEs securing procurement worth over ₹28,000 crore. SC/ST enterprises achieved procurement exceeding ₹6,000 crore, registering nearly 28% annual growth, while startup procurement crossed ₹19,000 crore with over 36% annual growth.
Special Initiatives for Underserved Communities
The platform has introduced dedicated initiatives including SWAYATT (Startups, Women & Youth Advantage through e-Transactions), Womaniya for women entrepreneurs and Women Self-Help Groups, SARAS Collection for rural self-help groups, and Startup Runway 2.0 providing startups a dedicated marketplace. These programs specifically aim to improve market access for traditionally underrepresented groups in government procurement.
Technology and Integration Features
GeM leverages digital technology to provide data-driven tools including GeM Availability Report, Past Transaction Summary, Last Purchase Price analytics, and price trends. The platform is integrating with the Central Public Procurement Portal, Indian Railway Electronic Procurement System, and Defence Public Procurement Portal to create a unified public procurement ecosystem. Recent reforms include Rate Contracts for recurring purchases and removal of Caution Money requirements for sellers.