Overview
The GeM will complete a decade of operation on 9 August 2026. In ten years it has facilitated more than 3.78 crore orders and a cumulative GMV exceeding ₹20 lakh crore. The platform’s rapid growth signals a major shift in India’s public procurement ecosystem.
Key Developments
- Annual GMV rose from ₹422 crore (FY 2016‑17) to over ₹5 lakh crore in FY 2024‑25 and FY 2025‑26.
- First ₹10 lakh crore cumulative GMV took eight years; the next ₹10 lakh crore was achieved in less than two years.
- Seller base expanded from 3,339 to 25.45 lakh profile‑completed sellers.
- Buyer organisations grew from 1,707 to 1.37 lakh.
- MSEs registered rose from 2,424 to 12.25 lakh, contributing ₹9.07 lakh crore (45.6%) of total GMV.
- Women‑led MSEs (over 2.24 lakh) fulfilled more than 50 lakh orders worth ₹99,147 crore.
- Start‑ups (42,242) secured orders worth ₹65,633 crore.
- Transaction charges reduced from 0.50% to 0.30%; orders up to ₹10 lakh are fee‑free, resulting in 97% of orders attracting no fee.
Important Facts & Findings
A recent IIT Delhi study covering FY 2023‑24 to FY 2025‑26 estimated a monetised benefit of ₹86,571.69 crore from price and process efficiencies, translating into a net social saving of ₹1,76,411.46 crore. The study also found that GeM offered lower prices for 74.3% of 101 items compared with other e‑marketplaces, delivering a spend‑weighted saving of 13.6%.
According to an Axis My India survey, 92% of buyers expressed satisfaction, while 67% of sellers reported higher business volumes and 78% intend to continue using the platform.
The platform now employs AI and ML tools to detect suspected cartelisation, collusion, and order splitting, creating a rich transactional data trail for policymakers.
Exam Relevance
Understanding GeM is essential for GS III (Economy & Industry) as it illustrates how digital platforms can enhance transparency, reduce corruption, and promote inclusive growth. The data on MSE participation links to discussions on MSME policy, women entrepreneurship, and start‑up ecosystems. The use of AI/ML in procurement offers a case study for technology‑driven governance, relevant to GS IV (Ethics & Integrity) and GS III (Technology & Innovation).
Way Forward
To sustain momentum, the government should:
- Deepen AI‑driven analytics for real‑time monitoring of procurement anomalies.
- Further lower transaction costs for small‑value orders to encourage broader MSE participation.
- Integrate GeM data with other e‑governance platforms for holistic policy‑making.
- Promote capacity‑building programmes for sellers, especially women‑led MSEs and start‑ups.
These steps will reinforce the vision of a transparent, efficient, and inclusive public procurement system aligned with the broader goal of Viksit Bharat.