The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) marked its Incorporation Day 2026 on 17 May 2026 in New Delhi, celebrating nine years of digital public procurement reform that has brought over 25 lakh sellers and service providers onto a single government-facing platform. The milestone underscores GeM's expanding role in making state procurement more transparent, efficient, and inclusive, according to an official statement from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Scale of the Platform Today

GeM now hosts more than 1.36 lakh government buyers alongside its seller base, with nearly 72 per cent of active sellers classified as micro and small enterprises (MSEs). The platform has grown from a procurement utility into one of India's largest digital marketplaces for government business, supporting sectors from pharmaceuticals and furniture to construction equipment and medical consumables.

MSE and Marginalised Seller Gains in FY26

During FY26, over 11 lakh MSEs on GeM received more than 51 lakh orders valued at ₹2.36 lakh crore — a figure that signals the platform's deepening reach into India's small-business ecosystem. Women-led MSEs secured orders exceeding ₹28,000 crore, while entrepreneurs from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) communities received orders worth over ₹6,000 crore. Startups won contracts valued at more than ₹19,000 crore during the same period. These numbers, cited in the ministry's statement, reflect a deliberate policy push to widen procurement access beyond established vendors.

What the CEO Said

Mihir Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of GeM, said the platform was built with a clear mandate. 'GeM was created with the vision of building a transparent, efficient and inclusive digital procurement platform for Government and its agencies. Today, it continues to support Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Vocal for Local by connecting domestic enterprises with government procurement opportunities,' Kumar said. The statement also noted increased participation from Class-1 local suppliers across key sectors, a signal that the platform is progressively aligning with domestic sourcing priorities.

Incorporation Day Events and What Comes Next

As part of the incorporation day calendar, GeM launched a vendor assessment workshop on 15 May 2026 to improve clarity on documentation and assessment processes for prospective original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). A stakeholder conclave titled 'GeM Manthan', themed 'Enriching the GeM Marketplace', is scheduled for 21 May 2026. A dedicated brainstorming session with Defence Services representatives is planned for 22 May 2026, focusing on process improvements and technological interventions to better align the platform with defence procurement requirements. The Government e-Marketplace Special Purpose Vehicle was incorporated on 17 May 2017, making 2026 its ninth year of operations. With defence procurement integration now on the agenda, the platform appears set to extend its footprint well beyond civilian government buying.