GeM Marks 9 Years of Transforming Public Procurement in India

Government e Marketplace (GeM) proudly marks its 9th Foundation Day, celebrating nearly a decade of transforming public procurement in India. Launched in 2016, GeM has evolved into a cornerstone of transparent, inclusive and efficient governance, delivering on the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance.”

In just nine years, GeM has become India’s most trusted digital procurement platform, empowering sellers and service providers across the nation—including women entrepreneurs, startups, MSEs, artisans, SHGs and Divyangjans. With ₹5.4 lakh crore in GMV in FY 2024–25 alone, GeM has not only streamlined procurement but redefined access, equity and empowerment in governance.

This year’s Foundation Day celebrations centre around the theme Ease, Access, and Inclusion, underscoring GeM’s continued commitment to making public procurement more accessible and equitable. Key reforms introduced include the elimination of caution money for sellers, rationalisation of vendor assessment fees, and a significant reduction in transaction charges—resulting in

97% of orders being exempt. 

These initiatives are supported by stronger assistance for first-time sellers and small enterprises. Together, they strengthen GeM’s identity as an inclusive platform. GeM connects even remote and underserved entrepreneurs to government buyers. It brings them into the mainstream procurement system. GeM truly celebrates inclusivity in every sense.

“These reforms demonstrate our intent to make GeM even more inclusive and accessible,” said Shri Mihir Kumar, CEO, GeM. “Our focus remains on ensuring every enterprise, from tribal artisans to tech-driven startups, can easily access public procurement opportunities.”

A GeM Seller Samvad event held on 6th August 2025 at the GeM office in New Delhi brought together a dynamic cross-section of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to mark the GeM’s 9 Years of celebrations. GeM Manthan- a collaborative dialogue programme, turning ideas into actionable pathways for a more inclusive and future-ready procurement ecosystem, was also held at GeM premises. 

From enabling paperless, real-time transactions to facilitating multi-crore contracts in health, mining and insurance, GeM has bridged the divide between policymaking and grassroots participation. As it steps into its 10th year, GeM remains committed to transforming public procurement into a citizen-centric, data-driven and inclusive ecosystem.

GeM’s AI-powered tools and Learning Management System (LMS) are playing a pivotal role in democratizing access to public procurement. Through multilingual support, voice-enabled navigation and region-specific training modules, even sellers from the most remote and underserved areas can onboard and transact with ease. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, GeM’s inclusive tech infrastructure is ensuring that no language, location or literacy barrier stands in the way of opportunity.

Key Highlights of GeM’s 9-Year Journey:

• ₹5.4 lakh crore GMV in FY 2024–25—a record-breaking milestone.

• 1.5 lakh women-led enterprises, along with startups, SHGs, artisans, and MSEs from across the nation.

• Technology-driven procurement for faster and cost-effective results.

• Expansion into new service verticals—insurance, manpower, Mine Development & Operations (MDOs) and beyond.

• Training and onboarding support for state governments, PSUs, and local bodies.

“GeM has become the backbone of India’s procurement landscape, merging transparency with transformation,” said Shri Mihir Kumar CEO, GeM. “This 9th Foundation Day is not just a celebration of numbers, but of people, those who make governance more accessible, inclusive and impactful.”

As India accelerates toward a Digital Bharat, GeM is poised to lead with purpose—leveraging AI and next-gen technologies to further enhance procurement integrity, user experience and sustainability. With every transaction, GeM reaffirms its mission, to ensure governance that includes, empowers and delivers.