GeM Launches Vigilance Awareness Week Drive to Promote Ethical and Inclusive Procurement
SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Commerce & Industry
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has launched a campaign during Vigilance Awareness Week titled “GeM Ki Sunien, Satark Rahein, Zimmedar Banein” to strengthen transparency and accountability in public procurement. The initiative seeks to curb malpractice in government purchases while actively encouraging wider participation from Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), startups, women-led firms, SC/ST entrepreneurs, and suppliers from Tier-2/3 cities and rural areas.
By focusing on both buyers and sellers, the campaign promotes ethical procurement practices-through features like red-flag alerts, audit trails, and structured bid conditions-while also ensuring that small and diverse suppliers gain easier access to government contracts. To build awareness, GeM has launched a vernacular outreach in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, where transactions have already crossed ₹38,027 crore, with a majority benefiting MSEs (₹26,937 crore) and significant shares going to startups, women, and SC/ST sellers.
The drive combines integrity in governance with economic inclusion, aligning with India’s MSE Procurement Policy and Digital India reforms. It strengthens trust in government contracting while widening opportunities for under-represented groups in the economy.
Procurement is the official term for how governments, companies, or institutions buy goods, services, or works from outside suppliers. In procurement the government is the buyer, and citizens (through their enterprises) can be the sellers. It usually follows rules and procedures to ensure fairness, transparency, competition, and value for money (so taxpayer funds are well spent). Procurement can happen through tenders, auctions, bids, or digital platforms like Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in India.
Here’s how it works in the GeM context:
The government (ministries, departments, PSUs, state bodies) posts its needs e.g. computers, solar pumps, furniture, consultancy, construction, uniforms, medical supplies.
Citizens, startups, cooperatives, and companies register as sellers on GeM. This includes MSEs, women entrepreneurs, SC/ST entrepreneurs, rural artisans, and suppliers from small towns.
Once registered, they can bid for contracts or directly sell their goods/services to government departments.
By making the platform transparent and digital, GeM reduces middlemen and helps ordinary citizens’ enterprises access government business.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
What additional measures can ensure that inclusive procurement on GeM not only brings small firms onto the platform but also helps them compete effectively with larger suppliers?
Follow the full news here: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2171174