Why in News?
On March 6, 2026, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated the seventh anniversary of its flagship SWAYATT initiative.
About
- 7th Anniversary Celebrations: GeM commemorated seven years of the initiative, highlighting its success in dismantling entry barriers for marginalized and small-scale entrepreneurs.
- Massive Milestone for Women: As of March 2026, women-led enterprises have registered over ₹83,323 crore in cumulative orders on the GeM portal.
- Startup Growth: Orders from startups under the initiative have officially crossed the ₹54,000 crore mark, reflecting a significant rise from previous years.
Key Features
- Full Form: SWAYATT stands for Startups, Women and Ayouth Advantage Through e-Transactions.
- Launch Date: It was launched on February 19, 2019, by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Primary Objective: To establish direct market linkages between government buyers and underrepresented sellers, including:
- Startups and women entrepreneurs.
- Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
- Youth and entrepreneurs from backward sections of society.
Dedicated Storefronts: To increase visibility, GeM uses specialized portals:
- "Womaniya": Showcases products like handicrafts, handloom, and organic foods specifically from women-led units.
- "Startup Runway": Allows startups to showcase innovative products directly to government ministries.
Key Achievements
- Seller Base: Women-led businesses now constitute approximately 8% of GeM's total seller base.
- Market Access: Over 1.77 lakh Udyam-verified women-led MSEs are registered on the platform.
- Strategic Partnerships: GeM recently signed an MoU with the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO) to train and onboard an additional 9,500+ women entrepreneurs.
- Impact: The initiative addresses the "three A's" of small business challenges: Access to Market, Access to Finance, and Access to Value-Addition.
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