The Government e-Marketplace has become a central pillar of India’s public procurement system, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which says the platform has reshaped how the state buys goods and services since its launch on 9 August 2016.
What began as an attempt to replace scattered, paper-heavy purchasing with a single digital system has grown into a large-scale marketplace linking government buyers with a wide range of sellers across the country. The mini...
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stry says the shift has cut direct human intervention, improved transparency and given businesses of different sizes easier access to official contracts through online registration, open bidding and digital contract management.
The numbers cited by the ministry underline how strongly small businesses have benefited. Micro and small enterprise participation has expanded from 2,396 in 2016-17 to more than 11.9 lakh today, while procurement from these firms has climbed from Rs 69 crore to more than Rs 8.69 lakh crore. The volume of orders has also surged, rising from 2,994 to over 2.17 crore.
Independent reporting has highlighted similar trends. Moneycontrol and a Press Information Bureau release said GeM now has more than 11.25 lakh registered micro and small enterprise sellers, who have together won orders worth Rs 7.44 lakh crore, or 44.8% of total order value on the platform. That comfortably exceeds the 25% procurement target set for such firms.
The platform has also widened access for other under-represented groups. According to the ministry, women-owned micro and small enterprises have grown from 268 to more than 2.16 lakh, with procurement rising to over Rs 93,327 crore. Startup participation has increased from 88 entities to more than 40,000, while procurement from startups has crossed Rs 61,400 crore. The ministry also said Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe-owned MSE participation has risen to over 66,000, with procurement exceeding Rs 21,800 crore.
Separate updates from state media and local outlets suggest the platform’s scale continues to expand. Newsonair reported more than 1.36 lakh government buyers and nearly 25 lakh sellers on GeM, while Newkerala said about 72% of active sellers are micro and small enterprises. Angel One reported that GeM’s cumulative gross merchandise value has reached Rs 18.4 lakh crore, with more than Rs 5 lakh crore procured in financial year 2026 alone.
GeM has also become important in public service delivery, particularly in health procurement. The ministry said the platform has handled orders for more than 324 crore vaccine doses and 199 crore syringes, alongside diagnostic equipment, medical kits for Vande Bharat trains and other healthcare supplies.
GeM chief executive Mihir Kumar said the platform had helped create a more transparent, efficient and inclusive procurement ecosystem, while supporting enterprises including MSEs, startups and local manufacturers. The ministry said the platform is now using artificial intelligence-based tools, advanced analytics and digital monitoring to improve procurement oversight.
The broader message from the government is that GeM is no longer just a buying portal, but a policy instrument tied to the goals of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. By broadening participation and making public procurement more accessible, the platform has become one of the clearest examples of India’s push to digitise the state and widen economic opportunity at the same time.
Source: Noah Wire Services
