Government e-Marketplace (GeM): Transforming Public Procurement and Empowering India’s SMEs

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has become a cornerstone of India’s digital governance and economic transformation. Established in 2016, GeM has revolutionized the way the government procures goods and services, creating a transparent, efficient, and inclusive ecosystem that benefits both buyers and sellers. Recently, GeM crossed a historic milestone ₹15 Lakh Crore in cumulative Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) underscoring its success in reshaping public procurement and driving inclusive economic growth.

What is GeM and Why It Matters

GeM is India’s official online procurement platform, designed to enable government departments, ministries, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and autonomous organizations to procure goods and services seamlessly. It simplifies what was once a complex, opaque, and time-consuming process by digitizing every stage from vendor registration and bidding to payments and delivery tracking.

The core philosophy behind GeM is to ensure efficiency, transparency and inclusivity in public procurement. By eliminating intermediaries and enabling direct buyer-seller interactions, the platform fosters accountability and cost-effectiveness. What sets GeM apart is its inclusivity it not only connects large suppliers with government buyers but also empowers Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), startups, women-led ventures, SC/ST entrepreneurs, and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to compete on an equal footing.

In doing so, GeM has evolved into a vital instrument of economic democracy one that ensures every entrepreneur, regardless of scale or geography, has access to India’s vast public procurement opportunities.

Empowering SMEs Through Access and Inclusion

Small and medium enterprises are the backbone of India’s economy, and GeM has emerged as a powerful enabler for their growth. By offering direct access to government buyers, the platform dismantles traditional barriers that often-kept smaller firms away from large procurement contracts.

For SMEs, GeM represents more than a digital marketplace it’s an opportunity to gain visibility, credibility, and growth in a structured, transparent ecosystem. The platform’s simplified registration, e-bidding and online catalog management reduce procedural complexities, allowing smaller businesses to compete effectively with established players.

Moreover, GeM’s policies prioritize inclusive participation. Women-led enterprises, startups and marginalized communities receive dedicated support and visibility, ensuring equitable opportunities across the board. Through its structured framework, GeM has also contributed to job creation and local entrepreneurship, channeling government spending toward India’s micro-economies and boosting rural participation.

This inclusive model not only strengthens the supply chain but also reinforces the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, where self-reliant Indian businesses play a central role in national growth.

The Journey of GeM

The journey of GeM reflects India’s broader transition toward digital governance and transparent public service delivery. When launched in 2016, the platform was envisioned as a transformative tool to digitize procurement and make it accessible to all stakeholders.

In its early years, GeM focused on creating the foundational digital infrastructure and integrating various government departments into the platform. As adoption grew, the marketplace expanded its offerings, introduced reverse auctions and enabled real-time price discovery creating a more competitive and cost-efficient ecosystem.

By 2019–2021, GeM had started focusing on inclusivity, actively onboarding MSEs, startups and women entrepreneurs while introducing features such as analytics dashboards and automated procurement systems. In recent years, it has evolved into a data-driven procurement platform, leveraging technology to enhance decision-making, transparency and policy formulation.

Today, GeM’s vast network includes lakhs of government buyers and over a million registered sellers. Its success is a reflection of India’s growing capacity for digital transformation at scale combining governance, innovation and citizen empowerment.

Key Achievements and Economic Significance

GeM’s crossing of the ₹15 Lakh Crore GMV milestone is a testament to its effectiveness and the trust it has built among users. Each transaction represents more than procurement it signifies efficiency, transparency, and empowerment. The platform has fundamentally changed how the government spends, ensuring that public money is used effectively while supporting India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Under the leadership of Shri Mihir Kumar, CEO, GeM, the platform has not only achieved unprecedented growth but has also become a model of how digital systems can strengthen public institutions. As he aptly stated, “Crossing the ₹15 Lakh Crore GMV milestone is a testimony to the trust our stakeholders have placed in GeM. Our focus will continue to be on deepening inclusivity, simplifying processes, and fostering innovation so that opportunities reach every corner of the country.”

GeM’s achievements are multifaceted from promoting digital governance and cost savings to ensuring accountability and inclusivity. Its digital-first approach has enhanced transparency at every stage, minimized corruption risks, and streamlined workflows. By aligning with the Digital India and Viksit Bharat missions, GeM has emerged as a key driver of the country’s public sector efficiency and private sector participation.

Driving Transparency, Innovation and Economic Inclusion

Transparency and innovation have been at the heart of GeM’s success. Every procurement transaction is recorded digitally, creating a comprehensive audit trail that ensures accountability. The use of data analytics and AI tools helps detect anomalies, improve market efficiency, and provide valuable insights to policymakers.

At the same time, the platform continues to drive inclusivity through focused programs that encourage participation from women entrepreneurs, rural enterprises, and small-scale innovators. By enabling fair competition and timely payments, GeM has built trust among sellers while optimizing value for buyers.

The platform’s contribution to India’s digital economy extends beyond procurement, it has fostered a culture of transparency and efficiency across multiple layers of governance, setting new benchmarks for other public digital systems globally.

Looking Ahead

As India marches toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, GeM is set to play an even greater role in ensuring that economic growth is both inclusive and sustainable. The platform’s future roadmap includes expanding its reach to more rural and underserved regions, integrating advanced technologies like blockchain for supply chain integrity, and improving predictive analytics for demand forecasting.

The next phase of GeM’s evolution will focus on enhancing user experience, strengthening innovation ecosystems, and empowering local entrepreneurs to participate in government procurement with confidence. Its ongoing efforts to simplify processes and strengthen compliance will ensure that public procurement remains a key pillar of India’s economic transformation.

The Government e-Marketplace stands today as one of the most successful embodiments of India’s digital revolution. It is more than just an online procurement system it is a movement toward transparency, empowerment, and equitable growth. By empowering SMEs, startups, and marginalized communities, GeM has turned public procurement into a force for economic inclusion and innovation.

As it continues to grow, GeM will remain central to India’s journey toward becoming a digitally empowered, transparent, and globally competitive economy truly reflecting the spirit of a Viksit Bharat.