GEM Registration Online in India

Overview of GeM Registration

GeM portal (Government e-Marketplace) is an online portal launched by the government through which government issues tenders for various day-to-day needs of different government organisations, public sector undertakings, and departments. The main motive behind introducing GeM is to enhance transparency, efficiency, and speed in public procurement as well as employment. By registering on this portal, sellers and buyers can trade products and services directly with the government.

Government e-Marketplace, commonly known as GeM, is a platform hosted by DGS&D for procurement of goods and services by government departments. GeM provides tools of e-bidding, reverse e-auction, and demand aggregation to help government users achieve the best value for their money.

The following entities can register on the GeM portal: Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership, Private Limited Company, Public Limited Company, Foreign Subsidiary Company, etc.

Important Points:

• To act as a Reseller, an Authorization letter from the OEM is required for a particular category of products.
• OEMs are classified into 5 types:
  1. Manufacturers
  2. Brand Owners & Third-Party Manufacturing
  3. Importer & Authorized Sellers
  4. Service Providers
  5. Assemblers

Why Should We Opt for GeM Registration?

GeM registration allows manufacturers, small dealers, and service providers to enter a wide online platform where they can directly sell their products and services to government departments, organisations, and PSUs. It enables authorised government bodies to buy goods and services directly from private traders and manufacturers instantly and without hassle.

GeM Registration Process

General Process

1. Creation of ID and completion of profile.
2. Bidder can register as a reseller or an OEM.
3. To obtain the OEM Certificate, manufacturers must go through GeM Vendor Assessment.
4. Once registered as a reseller or OEM, product listing is required.
5. Products are placed on approval mode by the GeM admin department.

Process of GeM Registration as a Seller

1. Creation of ID
2. Completion of profile
3. Caution money payment
4. OEM Panel Application / Vendor Assessment (mandatory for manufacturers)
5. Listing of brands
6. Listing of products
7. Bid participation

Process of GeM Registration as a Buyer

1. Aadhaar authentication
2. Form filing and completion
3. GeM Inspection
4. GeM Approval

Documents Required for GeM Registration

Documents required for Proprietorship Registration:

• PAN Card
• Aadhaar Card
• GST Certificate
• Email ID
• Mobile Number
• Bank Account Details
• ITR Form for last three years (if company is more than 2 years old)
• UDYAM Certificate (if available)

Documents required for Partnership Firm Registration:

• Company PAN
• Director PAN Card (key person)
• Aadhaar Card (key person)
• GST Certificate
• Email ID
• Mobile Number
• Bank Account Details
• ITR Form for last three years (if company is more than 2 years old)
• UDYAM Certificate (if available)

Documents required for Company Registration:

• Company PAN
• Director PAN Card (key person)
• Aadhaar Card (key person)
• GST Certificate
• Email ID
• Mobile Number
• Bank Account Details
• CIN Number
• ITR Form for last three years (if company is more than 2 years old)
• UDYAM Certificate (if available)

Documents required for Trust/Society Registration:

• Company PAN
• Director PAN Card (key person)
• Aadhaar Card (key person)
• GST Certificate
• Email ID
• Mobile Number
• Bank Account Details
• ITR Form for last three years (if company is more than 2 years old)
• UDYAM Certificate (if available)

Guidelines to Apply on GeM Portal

1. Organisation Name: Enter the name of the organisation or business as per PAN Card.
2. Type of Organisation: Select the type of organisation for your business.
3. Email ID: Enter a valid email address of the authorised person. An executive will call to verify the email OTP.
4. Mobile Number: Enter a valid 10-digit mobile number of the authorised person. An executive will call to verify the mobile OTP.
5. Aadhaar Number of Authorised Person: Enter the Aadhaar Card number of the owner or director.
6. PAN Number of Authorised Person: Enter the PAN Card number of the authorised person or company (if available).
7. GST: Select whether you have GST or not. If yes, enter the GST number.
8. Income Tax Return: Select whether you have filed an income tax return for the last year.

After completion, submit the form and verify your details. Make a payment to complete registration. After payment, you will receive your username and password within 24 hours upon activation. A tracking ID will be shared via email to track your registration form.

Benefits of Registering on GeM Portal

Benefits for Sellers:

• Access to the National Public Procurement market.
• Special provisions and sections for startups, MSMEs, and Emporium products.
• Fully online, paperless, and contactless platform.
• Multiple invoices for a single order.
• Easy access to participate in bids and reverse auctions.
• Countdown clock enabled in Reverse Auction to display remaining time for seller participation.
• All sellers are shown reasons for rejection.
• Seller-friendly dashboard for monitoring supplies and payments.
• Sellers from North-East states and J&K are exempted from ITR requirement at the time of bid participation.
• Dynamic pricing — prices can be updated based on market conditions.
• Direct access to government departments and their organisations.

Benefits for Buyers:

• Provides proper transparency and ease of buying.
• Direct purchase allowed for amounts up to ₹25,000.
• L1 purchase for amounts greater than ₹25,000 and less than ₹5 lakhs.
• Price trends and price comparison available from multiple suppliers.
• Direct notifications to sellers and an integrated payment system.
• Multiple consignees can be selected for services.
• Buyers can cancel product contracts even after invoice generation, provided 15 days have passed from the delivery period.
• GeM ensures at least 3 sellers and products from at least 2 different OEMs participate in bids for fair competition.

Vendor Assessment

Vendor assessment is performed to determine the quality of a product or service. The assessment results are incorporated into GeM ratings, and the product or service is then designated as "verified" — a filterable parameter that buyers can use in their selection process. This helps buyers make better decisions.

Vendor Assessment is mandatory for all GeM sellers. A seller must first register on the GeM portal, list their products, and set up an OEM to claim ownership of the products and services they offer.

Non-manufacturing OEMs — brand owners who do not have self-owned manufacturing — can still claim OEM status if they have contract manufacturing arrangements with other manufacturers. During vendor assessment, such an OEM must provide the contract or agreement between the OEM and the contract manufacturer to the assessing agency. This covers ownership of the manufacturing site, manufacturing capacity, product quality plans, and availability of raw materials.

From August 1, 2017, it became mandatory for all sellers to complete a Vendor Assessment of their company profile and the products registered on GeM for sale.

Types of Listing on GeM Portal

1. Brand Listing
2. Product and Service Listing

Listing of Brands on GeM

Applicants can list their brand on the GeM portal whether they have:

• A registered trademark
• Brand ownership without a registered trademark
• Unbranded products

Product and Service Listing on GeM

After completing GeM registration, dealers, manufacturers, and service providers must list their products and services on the portal. Products and services go live on the GeM website after the listing is approved by the GeM authority.

Government Fees for GeM Registration

How GeM Maintains High Standards of Conduct

The highest standards of conduct are expected from both buyers and sellers under the GeM Terms and Conditions. Sellers and buyers who violate GeM Terms and Conditions may be placed on one of two lists:

Watch List: When an instance of deviation is reported, the concerned buyer or seller is issued a show-cause notice via registered email. During this period, the buyer or seller's name is placed on the watch list. They can still make GeM transactions, but an alert is visible whenever they participate in direct purchases, L1 bids, reverse auctions, or order placements.

Defaulter List: A buyer or seller is placed on the defaulter list if they fail to reply to the notice within the stipulated time, or if the competent authority determines that they deliberately breached GeM's terms and conditions. Once on the defaulter list, the seller is disabled from transacting on GeM for 15 days to one year, depending on the severity of the lapse. Three such events will lead to permanent debarment.

Buyer Defaults include:

1. Refusing to accept goods without providing any reason.
2. Rejecting received goods (in full or in part) without reason.
3. Refusing to issue CRAC even after the stipulated time.
4. Not making payments within the stipulated time.

Competent Authority for Handling Defaults

All GeM officers of the rank of Deputy Secretary and above are competent authorities for issuing notices and receiving responses. Five sectors have been notified:

1. Electronics and Electricals, including software
2. Automobiles and Taxi Services
3. Paper Products and Office Supplies (excluding electronic items)
4. Structural goods, heavy goods, and machinery
5. All services except Taxi Services

Impact of Terms and Conditions on Ratings

A buyer's or seller's performance in adhering to GeM's Terms and Conditions forms part of their overall rating on the platform.

Why Choose Legal Tax for GeM Registration?

• Our professional team works with ethics and strong teamwork.
• We communicate directly with the relevant departments on your behalf.
• We provide proper assistance for approximately 1 year.
• We provide accurate and up-to-date information.
• Our efficient professional team helps you save time by delivering all services promptly.
• We constantly follow up with you and your team throughout the process.
• We assist with uploading products and obtaining approvals.
• We guide you on maintaining your seller ratings on GeM.

FAQs

Q1. What is GeM?

GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is an online portal launched by the government for issuing tenders for the day-to-day procurement needs of government organisations, public sector undertakings, and departments. Its main purpose is to enhance transparency, efficiency, and speed in public procurement. Eligible entities include Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, Private Limited Company, Public Limited Company, Foreign Subsidiary Company, etc.

Q2. What is the process for GeM registration?

1. Creation of ID and completion of profile.
2. Register as a reseller or OEM.
3. Manufacturers must go through GeM Vendor Assessment to obtain an OEM Certificate.
4. Once registered, product listing is required.
5. Products are approved by the GeM admin department.

Q3. What is the process for GeM registration as a buyer?

1. Aadhaar authentication
2. Form filing and completion
3. GeM Inspection
4. GeM Approval

Q4. What is the process for GeM registration as a seller?

1. Creation of ID
2. Completion of profile
3. Caution money payment
4. OEM Panel Application / Vendor Assessment (mandatory for manufacturers)
5. Listing of brands
6. Listing of products
7. Bid participation

Q5. What documents are required for GeM registration?

Documents vary by entity type. Common requirements include PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, GST Certificate, Email ID, Mobile Number, Bank Account Details, ITR for last 3 years (if applicable), and UDYAM Certificate (if available). Companies additionally require a CIN Number.

Q6. What is the government fee for GeM registration?

Q7. What are the benefits of GeM registration for sellers?

• Access to the National Public Procurement market
• Special provisions for startups, MSMEs, and Emporium products
• Fully online, paperless, and contactless platform
• Multiple invoices per single order
• Easy bid and reverse auction participation
• Seller-friendly dashboard for monitoring supplies and payments
• Sellers from North-East states and J&K are exempted from ITR at bid participation

Q8. What are the benefits of GeM registration for buyers?

• Transparency and ease of buying
• Direct purchase up to ₹25,000
• L1 purchase between ₹25,000 and ₹5 lakhs
• Price trends and comparison from multiple suppliers
• Integrated payment system with direct seller notifications
• Multiple consignees can be selected for services
• Option to cancel contracts if 15 days have passed from the delivery period

Q9. Why choose Legal Tax for GeM registration?

• Professional, ethical, and experienced team
• Direct communication with departments on your behalf
• Assistance provided for approximately 1 year
• Accurate information and timely service
• Help with product uploads, approvals, and rating maintenance

Q10. Is it safe to buy or sell goods through GeM?

Yes. GeM is a completely secure platform. All information and documents on GeM are electronically signed at multiple stages by both buyers and sellers.

Q11. Is GeM beneficial for vendors?

Yes. GeM allows vendors to sell products directly to the government without any intermediary, making it highly beneficial for both buying and selling.

Q12. How can a seller accept orders on GeM?

Orders can be accepted through two methods:

• eSign Verification: An eSign account is generated by completing KYC steps via Aadhaar, PAN Card, or eMudhra account creation. Once activated, eSign can be used to accept orders.
• DSC Verification: An organisation-based Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) is required to accept orders on the GeM portal.

Q13. What is the Make in India (MII) certificate for OEMs?

The Government of India's circular P-45021/2/2017-PP (BE-II) gives preference to Make in India certified OEMs in public procurement on GeM. MII-certified suppliers receive preference in L1 bidding and other procurement processes. L1 refers to the lowest bid received in a tender.

Q14. How does direct purchase work on GeM?

Direct purchase is allowed for low-value transactions. Under GFR rule 149, direct online purchases up to Rs. 50,000/- can be made from any available GeM seller who meets the required quality, specification, and delivery period. This is subject to the procuring authority being satisfied about the reasonability of rates.

Q15. What is OEM in GeM?

OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. On GeM, OEMs are divided into four categories:

1. Manufacturer
2. Brand Owner & Third-Party Manufacturer
3. Imported Products & Authorised Sellers in India
4. Service Provider

Q16. What are the GST concessions on GeM?

Certain buyer organisations are eligible for GST concessions if the goods fall under eligible classifications and the institution meets the required criteria.

Q17. What is RA in GeM portal?

RA stands for Running Account, generally used in contractual invoices where work is completed in multiple phases.

Q18. Why do prices vary between GeM and other marketplaces?

1. GeM prices are inclusive of all taxes.
2. Products on GeM may have different warranty periods.
3. Onsite warranty is offered for some GeM products.
4. Prices may vary due to the payment terms of the transaction.

Q19. Can we request a change in specification of an existing category?

Yes. Buyers can request changes to an existing category through the Request Management feature in their dashboard. All such requests are evaluated by GeM.