GOVERNMENT-E-MARKETPLACE (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Govt Schemes)

Context: Recently, the Coal Ministry's Government e-Marketplace (GeM) procurement has surpassed the target of 21 thousand crore rupees in the current fiscal year, reaching over 34 thousand crore rupees.

Government eMarketplace (GeM)

• About: It is an online public procurement platform in India.
• Launched: In August 2016
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India
• Objective: To create an open and transparent procurement platform for government buyers to facilitate the online procurement of goods and services.
• Key Features

oIt is a one stop portal to facilitate online procurement of common use Goods and Services.

oThe portal is open for all government buyers— Central and State Ministries, departments, public sector enterprises etc.

oPrivate buyers cannot buy on the platform but private people can sell products to government bodies through the portal.

• Significance of GeM

oTransparent and Cost-effective Procurement.

oPromotion of Atma Nirbhar Bharat.

oEntry of Small Local Sellers.