Lok Sabha Question No. 2860 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Government e-Marketplace
Ministry: COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Asked by: Dr. Nishikant Dubey, Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta, Smt. Himadri Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY (DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE)

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2860 ANSWERED ON 18/03/2025

## GOVERNMENT e-MARKETPLACE

2860.  SMT. HIMADRI SINGH: SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA: DR. NISHIKANT DUBEY:

Will the Minister of COMMERCE & INDUSTRY ( वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मं त्री ) be pleased to state:

(a) the details of measures taken by the Government to ensure that Government eMarketplace  (GeM)  remains  an  inclusive  and  accessible  platform  for  small  and  women-led enterprises;

(b) the  details  of  capacity  building  and  training  programmes  conducted  to  enable  startups and women entrepreneurs to use GeM efficiently;

(c) whether the Government  is planning to introduce any financial incentives like preferential  procurement  policies  to  support  women-led  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises  (MSEs) and startups on GeM and if so, the details thereof; and

(d) the number of women-led and startup enterprises from Dakshina Kannada registered on GeM, along with initiatives to enhance their participation and procurement opportunities?

## ANSWER

## वाणिज्य और उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्य मंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद)

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) Government has taken following measures to ensure that Government e-Marketplace (GeM) remains an inclusive and accessible platform for small and women-led enterprises:

- Provision  of  Marketplace  filters  and  product  catalogue  icons  to  distinguish  product catalogues by women entrepreneurs in Direct Purchase/L1 mode of procurement.
- Exemption from payment of caution money.
- Forward market linkages for Women, Startups, Self Help Groups, Artisans & Weavers, One District One Product (ODOP), Farmers Producer Organisation (FPOs) etc. through the creation of 8 '#vocalforlocal' GeM Outlet Stores.
- Application Programming Interface (API) integration with Udyam MSME database for 2-step seller auto-registration on the GeM platform.
- Strategic  relationships  through  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoUs)  with  key players namely; Laghu Udyog Bharati, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry  Ladies  Organization  (FLO),  Self  Employed  Women's  Association  (SEWA) among others from the Industry, Government and Not-for-Profit sector,

- Participation  in  Industry  exhibitions,  fairs,  roadshows  and  events,  etc.,  held  at  India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO)/ India Exposition Mart Limited (IELM)
- Immersive  Onboarding  (from  seller  registration  to  product  catalogue  upload  on  the portal) of sellers, catalogue  success  stories  of sellers  for  enhanced  interest  and engagement among prospective sellers.

(b) 35  Weekly  Seller  Onboarding  Workshops  conducted  with  MSME  Organizations  such  as Laghu Udyog Bharati,  Amazon Saheli,  National  Rural  Livelihood  Mission  (NRLM),  FICCI, Association of Lady Entrepreneurs of India (ALEAP) among others in current financial year.

(c) As  an  end-to-end online marketplace,  GeM complies with the relevant provisos of extant Government rules, regulations and guidelines  governing public procurement.  In line with the above, certain affirmative actions as mentioned below have been taken by GeM in respect of (a) Women led Micro & Small Enterprises & (b) Startups

- GeM  provides  marketplace  filters  and  product  catalogue  icons  to  distinguish  product catalogues  by  Women  Entrepreneurs  in  Direct  Purchase/  L1  mode  of  procurement, providing  visibility  and  accessibility  thereby  facilitating  compliance  with  the  Public Procurement Policy for  Micro  and  Small  Enterprises(MSEs)Order,  2012  (as  amended from time to time) by Government Buyers.
- Startups  recognized  by  the  Department  for  Promotion  of  Industry  and  Internal  Trade (DPIIT)  can  avail  benefits  such  as  exemption  from  Earnest  Money  Deposit  (EMD) submission,  exemption  from  prior  turnover  and  prior  experience  on  the  GeM  portal. GeM has created necessary functionality on GeM portal allowing buyers to provide such exemptions while creating the bids on the portal.

(d) As of 12th March 2025, 97 Udyam verified women-led MSEs have been registered on GeM from Dakshina Kannada district. Gender based disaggregated district level data of DPIIT registered Startups on GeM is not maintained on the GeM portal. The initiatives undertaken to enhance  their  participation  and  procurement  opportunities  have  been  mentioned  in  (a)  part above.

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