In a significant step towards making public procurement more inclusive and accessible, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has entered into a strategic partnership with Common Service Centre e-Governance Services India Limited (CSC-SPV). The collaboration aims to extend government procurement opportunities to businesses and entrepreneurs in rural and underserved regions across the country.
The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 18, 2026, at the GeM headquarters in New Delhi. The agreement marks a major enhancement of the existing collaboration between GeM and CSC, which was initially launched in 2022 to support seller registration and profile creation on the national procurement portal.
Under the new framework, the scope of cooperation has been significantly broadened. Beyond registration assistance, the partnership will now provide end-to-end support to sellers throughout the onboarding journey, including catalogue creation, brand approval, vendor assessment, and product and service listing on the GeM platform. The initiative is expected to simplify the onboarding process and improve participation by small businesses in government procurement.
A key highlight of the agreement is the establishment of 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras (GSKs) on a pilot basis through the extensive CSC network. These facilitation centres will be set up across several states, including Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, and West Bengal.
The GeM Suvidha Kendras will function as dedicated support centres where sellers, service providers, and entrepreneurs can receive guidance on GeM-related processes. Services will include training programs, onboarding assistance, awareness campaigns, grievance redressal support, and capacity-building initiatives. The centres are expected to bridge information gaps and provide hands-on assistance to businesses seeking to engage with government buyers.
Officials believe the initiative will particularly benefit micro and small enterprises (MSEs), women-led businesses, startups, artisans, weavers, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), and entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. By offering localized support, the partnership seeks to empower these groups to participate more effectively in government procurement and expand their market reach.
The move aligns with the government’s broader objective of promoting inclusive economic growth and strengthening the participation of grassroots enterprises in the public procurement ecosystem. Many small businesses, especially those in rural and semi-urban areas, often face challenges in understanding digital procurement processes and fulfilling compliance requirements. The new support mechanism is designed to address these barriers and encourage wider participation.
The pilot phase of the GeM Suvidha Kendras will be closely monitored, and future expansion to other states and Union Territories will be considered based on performance, stakeholder feedback, and overall outcomes. Authorities expect the initiative to enhance the efficiency of seller onboarding while increasing the availability of diverse products and services on the GeM platform.
The partnership builds upon the success of the earlier GeM-CSC collaboration. Since 2022, the CSC network has played an important role in helping businesses register on GeM, resulting in approximately 5.3 lakh sellers completing registration and profile creation. This achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of leveraging CSC’s extensive rural network to connect local enterprises with government procurement opportunities.
With the enhanced collaboration, both organizations aim to strengthen GeM’s last-mile presence and ensure that enterprises from every corner of the country can access government markets more easily. The initiative is expected to contribute to a more transparent, competitive, and inclusive procurement ecosystem while supporting the growth of local businesses and entrepreneurs.
The MoU was signed by GeM Additional Chief Executive Officer Ajit B. Chavan and CSC-SPV Senior Vice President Subodh Mishra in the presence of senior officials from both organizations, marking a new chapter in the effort to democratize public procurement in India.
Author: Shivam
Shivam Dwivedi is a senior journalist with extensive experience in research-driven journalism, policy communication, and multi-platform storytelling. His areas of interest include international relations, defence, science & technology, education, urban development, agriculture, spirituality, and environmental sustainability. His work focuses on in-depth analysis, public discourse, and impactful narratives across governance and development sectors, with a strong commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Contact: [email protected]
