Overview The GeM celebrated the seventh anniversary of its flagship inclusion programme, SWAYATT . Launched on 19 February 2019, the scheme aims to democratise government purchases by giving startups, women‑led businesses, youth, SHGs , and MSEs direct access to a vast government market. Key Developments Seven‑year commemorative event held at the GeM office with policymakers, founders and ecosystem partners. Key addresses by Shri Ajit B. Chavan (Additional CEO, GeM), Shri K. V. Rajendran (Co‑Founder, NEDAR Foundation), Shri Md. Salik Parwaiz (Director, MSME Ministry) and Shri Md. Alam Ansari (Deputy Director, DPIIT). Entrepreneur testimonies highlighted how GeM enabled scaling – e.g., Smt. Neelima Mishra (Club First Robotics) and Ms. Pinky Maheshwari (Surprise Someone). Screening of a short film chronicling SWAYATT’s journey. Important Facts & Statistics Women entrepreneurs recorded a surge in order value from ₹1,265.62 crore (FY 2018‑19) to ₹83,323 crore (FY 2025‑26) , with order count rising from 1,01,530 to 44,48,894 . Startups saw cumulative orders climb from ₹497.24 crore (FY 2018‑19) to ₹54,005.8 crore (FY 2025‑26) , and transaction volume expanded from 17,434 to 5,30,578 . Dedicated digital storefronts – Startup Runway and Womaniya – have further improved discoverability for these segments. UPSC Relevance The SWAYATT model illustrates how technology can be leveraged to achieve inclusive growth , a recurring theme in GS‑III (Economy) and GS‑IV (Ethics). It showcases policy‑driven market access for marginalized enterprises, aligning with the government’s Make in India and Start‑up India agendas. Understanding the structure of public procurement, the role of digital platforms, and the impact on MSME development is essential for answering questions on economic reforms, entrepreneurship promotion, and social inclusion. Way Forward Scale capacity‑building programmes to reach more SHGs and rural MSEs. Integrate financial‑linkage mechanisms (e.g., credit guarantee schemes) to address the “access to finance” gap. Enhance data‑analytics on procurement trends to fine‑tune policy interventions. Promote inter‑ministerial coordination – especially between Ministry of Commerce & Industry , Ministry of MSME and DPIIT – for seamless implementation. Through sustained outreach and digital innovation, SWAYATT aims to make the “invisible” – small and emerging enterprises – “invincible” in the public procurement ecosystem.