The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal is India’s leading online platform for public procurement, offering businesses a direct gateway to sell to government departments. After recently registering as a seller, I realized that while the process is straightforward, actually selling products requires deeper understanding.
In this blog, I’ll cover:
✔ What is the GeM Portal?
✔ My Personal Experience – Registration & Initial Struggles
✔ Step-by-Step GeM Seller Registration Guide
✔ Requirements for GeM Registration
✔ Benefits of Selling on GeM
✔ Challenges & Why I Might Need a Consultant
✔ My Future Plans – Learning & Selling on GeM
✔ Latest GeM Statistics – Buyers & Sellers in India
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is an online platform where government departments, PSUs, and authorized agencies purchase goods and services directly from registered sellers. It promotes transparency, competitive pricing, and ease of doing business with the government.
Key Features:
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One of GeM’s most remarkable features is its inclusive approach towards marginalized business segments. The portal offers exclusive benefits to:
✅ Priority in Bidding: MSMEs get preference in government tenders under the “Make in India” initiative.
✅ Exclusive Tenders: Certain procurements are reserved only for MSME sellers.
✅ Price Preference: MSMEs can win bids even if their quote is slightly higher (up to 20% in some cases) than large enterprises.
✅ Faster Payment Cycle: Payments to MSMEs are processed within 15 days (compared to 30-45 days for others).
✅ Easier Onboarding: Simplified documentation process for startups.
✅ Special Tender Categories: Dedicated procurement opportunities for innovative products/services.
✅ 3% Extra Margin: Startups can quote 3% higher than L1 (lowest bidder) and still qualify.
✅ Exclusive Tenders: Certain product categories are reserved for women-led businesses.
✅ Additional Visibility: Women-owned enterprises get highlighted in search results.
✅ Training & Support: Special workshops and mentoring programs for female sellers.
These privileges make GeM particularly attractive for small businesses and underrepresented entrepreneurs looking to tap into government procurement.
I recently registered my business on GeM, excited about the opportunity to sell to government buyers. The registration process was smooth—I submitted my PAN, GST, and bank details, and my account was approved within a week.
However, after registration, I faced challenges:
Realization: To succeed on GeM, I need proper guidance—either through GeM’s training resources or by hiring a GeM consultant.
I plan to:
✔ Study the bidding process in-depth (possibly with expert help).
✔ Start with small tenders to gain experience.
✔ Share my journey in a future post—whether I succeed or face new challenges.
If I get an opportunity to sell, I’ll document the entire process to help other new sellers!
For those new to GeM, here’s how to register:
Go to https://gem.gov.in and click “Sign Up”.
Select “Seller” for business registration.
Once approved, you’ll receive login credentials via email.
GeM registration is completely free!
To register as a seller, you need:
✔ PAN Card (Mandatory)
✔ GSTIN (Required for businesses with turnover above ₹40 Lakhs)
✔ Bank Account Details (For payments)
✔ Aadhaar-linked Mobile Number (For OTP verification)
✔ MSME Certificate (Optional but helps in getting preference)
Despite initial challenges, GeM offers huge advantages:
From my experience, the key difficulties sellers face include:
❌ Complex Listing Process – Adding products correctly is not beginner-friendly.
❌ Bidding & Tender Confusion – Understanding how to bid effectively is tough.
❌ High Competition – Big vendors dominate key categories.
❌ Limited Support – GeM’s help resources are not very detailed.
If you’re struggling like I did, hiring a GeM consultant can help with:
✔ Product Listing Optimization
✔ Bid & Tender Strategy
✔ Documentation & Compliance Support
✔ Increasing Visibility on GeM
As of 2024, GeM has:
✔ Over 1.5 million registered sellers (including SMEs, startups, and large enterprises).
✔ More than 70,000 government buyer organizations (Central & State ministries, PSUs, defense, railways, etc.).
Top Buyers on GeM:
Yes! Despite initial challenges, GeM is a powerful platform for businesses looking to sell to the government. My plan is to:
✔ Learn the bidding process properly (possibly with expert help).
✔ Start with small tenders to gain experience.
✔ Share my journey in a future post—whether I succeed or face new hurdles.
🚀 Register Now: https://gem.gov.in
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