GeM stands for Government e-Marketplace — the Government of India’s online portal (gem.gov.in) where central and state government departments, PSUs and autonomous bodies buy goods and services. It replaced the old DGS&D rate-contract system with a transparent, end-to-end electronic marketplace.
GeM was launched in August 2016 and is run by a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It works like a curated e-commerce site for government buying: sellers list products and services against standard categories, and government buyers can place direct purchase orders, run bids, or run reverse auctions to get the best price. Registration is free for both buyers and sellers.
Buyers on GeM use three main modes depending on value. For small purchases they buy directly from any listed seller; for mid-value they compare and buy from the lowest of at least a few sellers (L1 comparison); and for higher-value needs they float a GeM bid or reverse auction where sellers compete on price. Value thresholds for each mode are set by GFR 2017 and GeM’s own rules and are periodically revised.
GeM has strong preference policies built in. Buyers can restrict a bid to MSEs, apply Make-in-India local-content filters (Class-I and Class-II sellers), and give startups relaxations on turnover and prior experience. These filters are applied at the bid-creation stage, so a bid you are eligible for may be invisible to non-qualifying sellers — which is why keeping your MSE, Udyam and Make-in-India details updated on your GeM profile matters.
Sellers must maintain an accurate catalogue: correct product specifications, OEM authorisation where required, and truthful pricing. GeM enforces integrity through OEM panels, seller ratings, and penalties for non-supply, and it integrates EMD, performance security (including ePBG), and contract generation directly into the platform, reducing paperwork compared to legacy tendering.
GeM does not fully replace the Central Public Procurement Portal (eprocure.gov.in). Works contracts and many complex, specification-heavy tenders still run on CPPP or state e-procurement portals, while standardised goods and common services increasingly move to GeM. Serious bidders monitor both, because the same buyer may float different requirements on different platforms.
BidShakti tracks GeM bids and reverse auctions alongside CPPP and state portals so you see all relevant opportunities in one feed, filtered to what you can actually win. For each GeM bid it runs a go/no-go on the eligibility filters — MSE-only, Make-in-India class, turnover, OEM authorisation — and builds a bid-pack that maps GeM’s document requirements to what you already have on file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of GeM?
GeM stands for Government e-Marketplace, the Government of India’s online portal for public procurement of goods and services.
When was GeM launched?
GeM was launched in August 2016 and is operated by a Special Purpose Vehicle under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Is registration on GeM free?
Yes, registration on GeM is free for both government buyers and sellers.
Is GeM the same as CPPP?
No. GeM is a marketplace mainly for standardised goods and services; CPPP (eprocure.gov.in) hosts works and complex tenders. Many buyers use both.
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