NEW DELHI: The Government e-Marketplace (GeM), India’s national public procurement portal, celebrated its 8th Incorporation Day by spotlighting its transformative journey in digital governance and inclusive economic growth. Marking the occasion, GeM launched GeMAI — India’s first generative AI-powered chatbot in the public sector, capable of voice and text interaction in 10 Indian languages.

Addressing the media, GeM CEO Mihir Kumar emphasized the platform’s vision of “innovation meeting inclusion”, which has resulted in record-breaking onboarding of micro and small enterprises (MSEs), women entrepreneurs, artisans, and startups.

“From MSEs and start-ups to weavers and women-led enterprises, our journey goes beyond procurement—it’s about building a more accessible, efficient, and equitable marketplace for all,” Kumar said.

GeM’s user base has grown threefold in recent years, with over 1.64 lakh primary buyers and 4.2 lakh active sellers. The platform now supports 10,000+ product categories and 330+ services, with documented cost savings of nearly 10% in government procurement, as acknowledged by the World Bank and India’s Economic Survey.

GeM’s commitment to economic inclusion is reflected in:

Kumar noted that GeM has become a bridge between government buyers and grassroots sellers, including self-help groups and farmer producer organizations (FPOs).

Nearly 97% of transactions on GeM are now fee-free. For large orders, transaction fees have been slashed by up to 96%, now capped at ₹3 lakh for orders above ₹10 crore, down from ₹72.5 lakh previously. Small sellers with annual turnover below ₹1 crore have also seen their caution deposit reduced by 60%, with full exemptions extended to priority categories.

GeM has played a central role in high-value procurement for strategic and health-related sectors, including:

All 36 States and Union Territories are now on board, with Uttar Pradesh leading in procurement volume. Eight states have mandated GeM usage, while IFMS integrations are active in Assam, Kerala, Odisha, West Bengal, and Delhi, with Gujarat, Karnataka, and UP next in line.

GeM’s newly launched GeMAI chatbot offers AI-powered voice and text support in multiple Indian languages, making it easier for users to navigate procurement processes. This AI-led innovation enhances the platform’s commitment to real-time assistance, fraud detection, and operational transparency through advanced analytics.

Thanking stakeholders, Mihir Kumar expressed confidence in GeM’s continued evolution: “With the continued support of our ecosystem, I am confident that GeM will scale even greater heights and contribute meaningfully to making India truly Aatmanirbhar.”

As GeM enters its ninth year, it stands as a model of inclusive, intelligent, and integrated governance — reinforcing India’s digital public infrastructure while fostering entrepreneurship at every level.