Why in News?
The Government e Marketplace (GeM) is in the news because it recently achieved a major milestone, crossing a cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of ₹18.4 lakh crore as of April 6, 2026. This includes achieving over ₹5 lakh crore in the single financial year of 2025–26.
Platform Overview
- Launch: Established in August 2016 by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Ownership: Owned by GeM SPV, a 100% government-owned non-profit company.
- Mandate: Rule 149 of the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017 makes it mandatory for government entities to procure available goods and services through GeM.
Stakeholder Participation
- Buyers: Over 1.6 lakh registered buyers from Central/State ministries, PSUs, Panchayats, and Cooperatives.
- Sellers: More than 22 lakh registered sellers, including over 11 lakh MSEs and 2.1 lakh women-led enterprises.
- Inclusivity Initiatives:
- SWAYATT: For startups, women, and youth advantage.
- Womaniya: Dedicated to women-led micro-enterprises.
Technological Features
- GeM AI: A generative AI-based chatbot and search tool for improved product comparison and price discovery.
- GeM Sahay 2.0: A mobile-based lending platform providing sellers access to instant, collateral-free loans up to ₹10 lakh based on their purchase orders.
- Analytics: Uses Machine Learning for Bid Health Scores and anomaly detection to prevent collusive bidding.
Efficiency & Savings
- Cost Savings: Independent assessments (World Bank) show an average saving of nearly 9.75% on median prices.
- Public Savings: Has facilitated cumulative savings exceeding ₹1.15 lakh crore for the government.
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