How To List Your MSME On GeM Portal And Get Government Orders?

The GeM Government e-Marketplace has revolutionized the manner in which products and services have been sold to government departments in India. To MSMEs, GeM is providing an absolute goldmine where one can reach out to millions of government buyers, sans intermediaries, complicated tender process, and high marketing expenses.

Presently, there are lakhs of MSMEs who are benefiting from the GeM portal by fetching contracts with the government and generating income. If you happen to be a manufacturer, service provider, startup, or trader, listing yourself in GeM will help you in getting continuous orders from the government and expanding your business.

In this article, we will discuss how to list your MSME on GeM portal, product/service listing, and fetch orders from the government.

What Is the GeM Portal and Why Does It Matter for MSMEs?

GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is an online public procurement platform launched by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, on August 9, 2016. It allows government buyers, ministries, departments, PSUs, defence organizations, and state bodies, to purchase goods and services directly from registered sellers. Here’s why it’s a game-changer for MSMEs:

• Over ₹3.5 lakh crore worth of orders have been processed on GeM (as of 2023)
• More than 3 million products and 278 service categories are listed on the platform
• All government purchasers are mandated to procure a percentage of their goods from MSMEs annually
• The platform has no middlemen or brokers — you connect directly with government buyers
• Payments are processed through a secure digital system, typically within 10 days of order acceptance

And if you already have your Udyam Registration done, you’re one step ahead. GeM uses your Udyam data to auto-verify your MSME status.

📌 Not yet registered on Udyam? Read our guide: Udyam Registration — Complete Guide for MSMEs

Step-by-Step: How to List Your MSME on GeM Portal

Documents Required To List Your MSME on GeM Portal

Following is the list of documents to keep handy to register MSME on the GeM Portal:

• Udyam Registration Certificate (optional, automatically verifies MSME)
• PAN Card of the organisation/personal proprietorship
• GST Registration Certificate (mandatory, except few types)
• Aadhar Card of the authorisation person
• Proof of Business Registration (proprietorship registration, partnership deed, LLP registration certificate, or company registration certificate)
• Bank Account Detail (canceled cheque or bank statement with IFSC)
• Proof of Address (utility bill or any such documents)
• Make in India Certificate (optional but beneficial)
• Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) – optional, but advised

Tip: Ensure that the business name in Udyam and GeM are the same. This is usually the main cause of rejection.

Who Can Register as a Seller on GeM?

GeM seller registration is open to a wide range of business types. You can register if you are:

• A manufacturer or OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) selling your own products
• A trader or reseller distributing products from a manufacturer
• A service provider offering IT, consulting, logistics, maintenance, or other services
• A startup registered with DPIIT under the Startup India scheme
• A freelancer or individual providing professional services
• An MSME with valid Udyam Registration

Difference Between GeM and eTender 

Many business owners confuse GeM with eTender portals. While both are used for government procurement, they work differently.

Feature	GeM Portal	eTender Portal
Purpose	Online marketplace for government procurement	Tender-based procurement system
Registration	Simple seller registration	Separate registration for each tender portal
Buying Process	Direct purchase, bidding, reverse auction	Competitive tender submission
Suitable For	MSMEs, startups, traders, manufacturers	Medium and large contract bidding
Order Value	Small to large procurement	Usually medium to high-value contracts
Documentation	Comparatively simpler	Detailed technical and financial documentation
Competition Level	Moderate	High
Speed of Procurement	Faster	Longer tender cycle
Payment Process	Digital and streamlined	Depends on department procedures
Entry Barrier	Easy for MSMEs	Requires experience and tender expertise

Special MSME Benefits On The GeM Portal

This is where being an MSME with Udyam registration really pays off. Here’s what you get that other sellers don’t:

• EMD (Earnest Money Deposit) Exemption:Traditional tenders require you to deposit ₹10,000 to ₹1 lakh upfront as a bid security. MSMEs registered on GeM with a valid Udyam certificate are fully exempt from EMD. This frees up your working capital.
• Purchase Preference for MSMEs: Government buyers are required by policy to give procurement preference to MSME sellers. If your price is within a certain margin of the lowest bid, the order goes to the MSME.
• Relaxed Eligibility Criteria: Large tenders often require prior experience or a minimum turnover. For MSMEs on GeM, these criteria are relaxed, giving new and small businesses a fair chance to bid.
• Access to MSME-Only Tenders: Some tenders on GeM are exclusively open to MSMEs and startups. Non-MSME sellers simply cannot participate in these bids.
• Direct Purchase Threshold: For orders below ₹3 lakh, government buyers can directly purchase from your GeM catalogue — no bidding required. This means steady, smaller orders can come in automatically.
• Startup Runway Integration: If you are also a DPIIT-recognised startup, you can mark yourself on GeM under the Startup Runway for additional visibility and direct procurement opportunities.

Also Read: GeM Portal Registration for MSMEs — Complete Guide

How To Win More Government Orders on GeM?

Getting registered is just the beginning. Here’s how to actually start receiving orders and tenders:

1. Optimise Your Product Catalogue: Use keyword-rich product names and detailed descriptions. Government buyers search with specific terms — the more accurately you describe your product, the more visible you are.
2. Price Competitively: GeM shows buyers a range of seller prices. Your pricing needs to be realistic and competitive. Use GeM’s real-time competitor price analysis tool to check what others are charging.
3. Respond Quickly to Buyer Queries: When a government buyer sends a query or request for a quote, respond within 24 hours. Delayed responses lose orders to more active sellers.
4. Participate Actively in Bids: Don’t wait for direct orders only. Watch the bid section for tenders in your product category. For bids above ₹3 lakh, competitive bidding is required. You can withdraw and resubmit bids up to 3 times before the deadline.
5. Maintain Your Seller Rating: GeM rates your performance, and parameters like timely delivery, order acceptance ratio, and customer ratings affect your seller rating. A better seller rating means better visibility and hence more orders.
6. Keep Your Listings Fresh: Inactive or outdated listings lower your position in the GeM listings. Keep your product details updated along with prices and stock quantities.
7. Make in India Certification: If your product falls under the category of being made in India, then it can earn you Make in India certification. You will get priority when it comes to government procurements.

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