GeM Registration Online for Sellers and Service Providers

GeM registration is the one-time sign-up that creates a verified seller or service provider account on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). After it, government buyers can see your products or services and place orders with you online.

GeM was launched on 9 August 2016. It is run by GeM SPV, a special purpose vehicle under the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The official portal is gem.gov.in. Buyers on it include central ministries, state departments, PSUs, autonomous bodies and local bodies.

Why the government buys on GeM

Rule 149 of the General Financial Rules, 2017 (GFR) says procurement of goods and services by ministries or departments is mandatory for goods or services available on GeM. The same rule says GeM SPV certifies the credentials of suppliers on GeM. So a central buyer must first look on GeM before buying a common item any other way.

The scale is large. A government factsheet of 8 August 2026 reports about 25 lakh sellers and service providers, over 1.37 lakh buyer organisations, more than 10,660 product categories and about 350 service categories.

What a seller account lets you do

• List products or services in the right GeM category.
• Receive direct purchase and L1 orders from buyers.
• Take part in bids and reverse auctions.
• Claim MSE or startup benefits that a bid allows.
• Receive payments into your verified bank account.

What it is not

GeM registration is not a licence under any Act, and it does not promise orders. It is a marketplace account. Orders come from price, stock, delivery reach, ratings and bid eligibility. You also need the usual registrations, such as GST, for the goods you sell.

Any Indian business entity with a valid PAN can register on GeM through an authorised person. The portal checks the entity's PAN against its constitution type, so the fourth letter of the PAN must match the type you select.

These PAN rules come from GeM's seller registration prerequisites note. The person who registers uses a personal Aadhaar or PAN and a mobile number for OTP. If Aadhaar is used, the mobile must be linked to it.

Points that often decide eligibility

• Primary and secondary users: the authorised person becomes the primary user. The primary user can add secondary users for bids, catalogues and orders.
• Authorised person only: a proprietor, partner, director or key person must start the sign-up. An accountant cannot sign up in their own name.
• New businesses can join: there is no minimum age or turnover to register. Individual bids may still set turnover or experience conditions.
• Traders can register: resellers can sell OEM brands with authorisation. They do not get MSE purchase preference, as explained below.

Your role on GeM depends on whether you make the product, resell someone else's brand or deliver a service. Pick the role first, because it decides vendor assessment, brand approval and MSE benefits.

Many first-time sellers register as resellers when they actually manufacture. That loses MSE purchase preference and EMD relief, which apply only to the maker or service provider. We check this on the first call.

The main benefit is direct access to government buyers without paper tenders, agents or office visits. Here is what that means in practice:

• Large, steady demand: central and state buyers must check GeM for common items, so demand flows to listed sellers.
• Low entry cost: registration has no government fee, and caution money was discontinued in July 2025.
• Small orders carry no transaction charge: orders up to ₹10 lakh are exempt, which the government says covers about 97% of orders.
• Fair access for small firms: MSEs get purchase preference and EMD exemption in bids. Startups get EMD exemption and relaxed turnover and experience rules.
• Transparent buying: prices, bids and reverse auctions are online, and every order leaves a record.
• Digital payments: money is paid into your verified bank account after the buyer accepts delivery.
• Finance on orders: GeM Sahay offers collateral-free working capital to eligible proprietorship sellers against GeM orders. GeM is also linked to the TReDS invoice discounting exchanges.
• Pan-India reach: a seller in a small town can supply a department in another state if the delivery locations allow it.

The benefit is real only if you list correctly and price well. A bare account with no catalogue gets no orders.

GeM registration needs the entity's PAN, the authorised person's Aadhaar or PAN with linked mobile, GST details, bank details, ITR details and, for benefits, Udyam or DPIIT numbers. Most data is fetched and checked online, so names and numbers must match across records.

Pre-filing checklist

Run through this list before you start. Each item maps to a check GeM makes online.

• The authorised person's mobile is linked to their Aadhaar, and PAN is linked to Aadhaar.
• The business name is the same on PAN, GST, Udyam and the bank account.
• Recent income tax returns are filed and the turnover figures are at hand.
• The GST principal place of business matches the office address you will enter.
• The bank account is in the business name (or the proprietor's name) and active.
• Udyam shows the right NIC codes for what you will sell, and your SC/ST or woman owner status if applicable.
• You know your role: OEM, reseller or service provider.
• For your own brand, you have a trademark certificate or a filed application.

You register on GeM by signing up on gem.gov.in, verifying the authorised person by OTP, creating a login and then completing the seller profile. The account works for orders only after the profile is complete.

1. Open the portal: go to gem.gov.in and choose Sign Up, then Seller / Service Provider. Use only the official site, as look-alike sites exist.
2. Read the prerequisites and accept terms: the portal lists the data it will check and asks you to accept the terms and conditions.
3. Select the type of business: proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, trust, society or government entity.
4. Enter the business name and verify the person: enter Aadhaar or personal PAN of the authorised person and confirm the OTP sent to the linked mobile.
5. Verify email and create login: confirm the email OTP and choose a user ID and password. The account is now created.
6. Complete business details: log in, open My Account, and enter the business PAN, date of registration, CIN or LLPIN, and the authorised person's details. The portal checks these with tax and MCA records.
7. Add office and billing addresses: enter the registered office and each billing address with its GSTIN.
8. Add the bank account: enter account number and IFSC. The account is verified online before payments can flow to it.
9. Add tax and turnover data: enter ITR details and turnover for recent years.
10. Link MSE or startup details: enter the Udyam number or DPIIT recognition number to get the MSE or startup tag.
11. Finish the profile: answer the declarations and save. The dashboard shows when each section is complete.
12. Next steps by role: OEMs apply for vendor assessment and brand approval. Resellers seek OEM authorisation. Service providers create their service offerings.

There is no separate GeM registration certificate under any law. Your seller ID and complete profile on the dashboard are the proof of registration.

We prepare your data, sit with you on a screen share for the OTP steps, and complete the profile with you. You stay the owner of the account and its login.

1. Free first call: we note what you sell, your constitution, turnover, and whether you make or resell.
2. Role and benefit check: we confirm OEM, reseller or service provider, and whether you qualify for MSE or startup benefits.
3. Document review: you share scans on WhatsApp or email. We match names and numbers across PAN, GST, Udyam, bank and ITR.
4. Fix mismatches first: if a name or address differs, we tell you which record to correct before sign-up.
5. Sign-up session: on a call, you enter the OTPs and we fill in the forms with you.
6. Profile completion: business details, addresses, bank, ITR, turnover, Udyam or DPIIT, and declarations.
7. Vendor assessment support (OEMs): we help you apply and prepare the documents the agency asks for.
8. Brand and catalogue: we help with brand approval and upload your products or services in the right categories.
9. Handover: you get a short note on your seller ID, users, dashboards and dates to track.

We never ask you to share your Aadhaar OTP over chat. OTPs are entered by you, live, during the session.

Vendor assessment is GeM's check of an OEM's existence, capacity and quality systems, done by an approved agency before the OEM panel opens for brand and catalogue listing. Under the GeM Vendor Validation Policy, Version 3.2 (2024), the approved agency is RITES Ltd, which replaced the Quality Council of India.

Who needs it

The policy has two stages. Stage 1 checks the seller profile and applies to all sellers. Stage 2 checks the functional profile, meaning manufacturing process, capacity and quality control, and applies to OEMs. Service providers are validated by the assessment agency too. In practice, OEMs who want their own brand on GeM must clear it.

Fees paid to the agency

The fee is paid directly to the agency. The government says OEM assessment charges have fallen sharply since January 2024. Check the amount shown on your dashboard before paying, as GeM may revise it.

Validity and reassessment

• A vendor assessment is valid for 3 years.
• Apply for reassessment at least 2 months before the current one expires.
• Update your turnover on GeM after 15 October each year.
• A new report replaces the old one once issued.

Who is exempt

• Sellers with turnover of ₹500 crore or more in at least one of the last three years.
• Central and state PSUs, and KVIC, Coir Board, TRIFED and similar bodies.
• OEMs with a valid BIS licence (CML) for that product category.
• Drug, vaccine and medical device makers holding the required licences, on conditions.

What the agency looks at

Expect checks of your registration papers, GST and turnover, factory or office address, photos or a visit of the premises, machinery and capacity, quality control and past supply records. Keep these papers ready in one folder before you apply.

After vendor assessment, an OEM applies for brand approval and then uploads its catalogue. Resellers skip brand approval but need the OEM's authorisation for each brand they sell.

Brand approval

• Apply from the OEM panel with the brand name and product category.
• Attach a trademark registration certificate or the trademark application for the brand.
• Add the vendor assessment report and any category licence, such as BIS or FSSAI.
• GeM reviews the request and approves or returns it with remarks.

Misusing a brand or OEM rights is treated as a grave incident under GeM's incident rules. Do not list a brand you do not own or are not authorised to sell. If you have no trademark yet, file one through our trademark registration service first.

Catalogue upload for products

1. Pick the exact product category. Each category has its own specification template.
2. Select the approved brand and model.
3. Fill in every mandatory specification, HSN code, country of origin and local content percentage.
4. Upload clear product images and a brochure or OEM web link as reference.
5. Enter MRP, offer price, minimum order quantity, stock and lead time.
6. Choose delivery locations by state or pin code.
7. Submit. The catalogue goes live after GeM's checks.

Service catalogue

Service providers pick a service category, such as manpower outsourcing, security, vehicle hiring or cleaning. They then set the parameters, service area and price per the category's format. Manpower categories need labour law compliance, and GeM is integrating with EPFO for these services.

Pricing rules that matter

Your offer price must not be above the MRP or your price on other channels. GeM's incident policy lists MRP misdeclaration and an unreasonable offer price as incidents. Keep prices and stock current, as buyers compare them in real time.

Government buyers on GeM use direct purchase for small orders, L1 comparison for mid-size orders, and bids or reverse auctions for larger ones. Rule 149 of GFR 2017 sets the limits. The Department of Expenditure revised them by OM No. F.1/3/2024-PPD dated 10 July 2024.

Buyers may also use bids or reverse auctions below ₹10 lakh. Rate contracts are now used for items bought again and again.

Bids and reverse auctions

A bid lists technical conditions, such as turnover, experience, OEM authorisation, certifications and EMD. Sellers who qualify technically see their prices compared. In a bid with reverse auction (RA), qualified sellers then lower their prices live. ISO and other certificates often appear as bid conditions. See our ISO certification page if your target bids ask for them.

Make in India preference

Many bids apply the Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order, 2017. Class-I local suppliers have local content of 50% or more. Class-II local suppliers have more than 20% but less than 50%. Declare your local content honestly in the catalogue, as misdeclaring it is a severe incident under GeM's rules.

Micro and small enterprises (MSEs) with Udyam, and startups recognised by DPIIT, get purchase preference, EMD exemption and relaxed eligibility in government buying. These come from the Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order, 2012 and the GFR 2017, and GeM applies them bid by bid.

Conditions that trip sellers up

• Makers only: GeM bid documents say MSE purchase preference goes to the manufacturer or OEM of the offered product, or the provider of the offered service.
• Traders are out: traders, distributors and sole agents are outside the MSE procurement policy. Retail and wholesale traders can hold Udyam only for priority sector lending.
• Valid Udyam needed: the Udyam must be valid and cover the item group you are bidding for. SC/ST or woman ownership must show on the Udyam certificate.
• EMD only: MSEs are exempt from EMD, but not from performance security when a bid asks for it.

If you do not have Udyam yet, get it through our MSME registration service. It has no government fee. For DPIIT recognition, see Startup India registration. Startups with new products can also apply for Startup Runway on GeM. Rule 170(iii) of the General Financial Rules, 2017 also lets buyers ask for a bid securing declaration in place of EMD.

GeM charges no government fee for seller registration, and caution money is no longer collected. The charges that remain are the vendor assessment fee for OEMs and a transaction charge on larger orders.

Government and agency charges

GeM announced these transaction charge slabs in September 2024. They replaced the earlier 0.50% charge, the ₹5 lakh exemption and a cap that went above ₹72 lakh. GeM restated them in October 2026. GeM's revenue policy says applicable taxes such as GST are added to its charges.

TaxCaller's fee

TaxCaller's fee for GeM registration starts at ₹1,999 + GST for one entity. It covers the document check, sign-up session and profile completion. Vendor assessment support, brand approval and catalogue work are in the higher plans. We confirm the fee in writing on the first call.

Government and agency fees are never part of our invoice. You pay them directly on the portal.

This example shows how the rules above add up for a micro manufacturer. The business and figures are illustrative, but each rule applied is from the official sources on this page.

The seller: a proprietorship in Ghaziabad that makes steel office almirahs under its own brand. Turnover last year was ₹80 lakh. It has GST, Udyam (micro, manufacturing) and a filed trademark application.

In this example, the total GeM-side cost for the year is under ₹12,000 before GST, on ₹29.66 lakh of orders. The real work is in correct listing, fair prices and on-time delivery. A late delivery or rejected lot would also hit the seller's rating, as the next sections explain.

GeM account creation can be done in one sitting if your records match, and profile completion usually takes one to three working days. Vendor assessment, brand approval and catalogue approval add more time.

These are typical times, not official limits. Mismatched names and missing papers cause most delays. On our side, we complete sign-up and profile within two working days of receiving complete documents.

GeM rates every seller on delivery and fulfilment, and it can suspend sellers who break its rules. Both affect whether buyers choose you.

How ratings work

GeM's published vendor rating framework looks at four things: timely delivery, quality of fulfilment (how much of an order is rejected), reliability (orders accepted and not cancelled), and delivery coverage. Past incidents reduce the rating. GeM updates its framework from time to time, but these factors stay at the core. Deliver on time, pack well and never accept an order you cannot fill.

Incidents and suspension

The GeM incident management policy (Document No. GeM/Transition/IM/V14.7, applicable from 1 April 2024) groups deviations into four levels. GeM revises this policy from time to time, so check the current version on the portal.

Repeat deviations draw longer suspensions. The policy gives 7 calendar days to rectify, 5 calendar days to reply to a show cause notice, and an appeal within 10 calendar days of a penalty, once per incident, with new evidence. A strong track record can reduce the penalty.

Most GeM registrations fail or stall because data does not match across records. The rest fail at vendor assessment, brand approval or catalogue checks. These come from GeM's own checks and incident rules:

1. Name mismatch: the authorised person's name in Aadhaar does not match MCA or tax records for directors or partners.
2. Wrong constitution: the PAN's fourth letter does not match the business type selected.
3. Mobile not linked: the Aadhaar-linked mobile is old or not with the applicant, so the OTP fails.
4. ITR gaps: returns not filed, or turnover entered differs from the ITR.
5. GST address mismatch: billing address on GeM differs from the GST registration.
6. Bank not verified: name mismatch or an inactive account blocks payment setup.
7. Wrong role: a manufacturer registers as a reseller and loses MSE benefits.
8. Udyam gaps: Udyam missing the right NIC code, or still in an old format.
9. Assessment fails: premises or capacity cannot be shown to the agency.
10. Brand rejected: no trademark papers, or the brand belongs to someone else.
11. Catalogue returned: wrong category, missing specs, poor images, or price above MRP.
12. False declarations: wrong local content or country of origin, which GeM treats as a severe incident.

A short review before sign-up avoids nearly all of these. That is the first thing we do.

GeM registration has no fixed expiry date, but you must keep the profile, vendor assessment and catalogue current to stay eligible. Here is what to track.

Profile and renewals

• Vendor assessment: valid 3 years. Apply for reassessment at least 2 months before it expires.
• Turnover: update it after 15 October each year, as the Vendor Validation Policy asks.
• ITR and GST: keep returns filed. Bids check turnover and many check GST compliance. Our GST return filing and income tax filing services keep both current.
• Changes: update address, GSTIN, bank account, directors or partners on GeM as soon as they change elsewhere.
• Catalogue: refresh stock, price and delivery areas. Remove items you can no longer supply.
• Users: remove secondary users who leave your firm.

Order compliance

• Accept or decline on time: the order page shows the window. Declines hurt your rating.
• Deliver and invoice: supply within the delivery period and raise a GST invoice for the order.
• PRC and CRAC: the consignee issues a Provisional Receipt Certificate on delivery, then a Consignee Receipt and Acceptance Certificate after inspection. Payment follows the CRAC.
• GST TDS: government buyers deduct GST TDS under Section 51 of the CGST Act, 2017, at 2% where the contract value exceeds ₹2.5 lakh. Claim this credit on the GST portal.
• Late payment: MSEs have rights under Sections 15 and 16 of the MSMED Act, 2006, which limit payment to 45 days at most and allow compound interest at three times the RBI bank rate on delays.
• Records: keep delivery proofs, invoices and order PDFs. Our accounting and bookkeeping team can match GeM receipts with your books.

The biggest recent changes for sellers are the end of caution money, lower transaction charges and vendor assessment fees, and new finance and help-desk links. These are the changes we could confirm from official sources.

1. Caution money discontinued (July 2025)

GeM used to take a turnover-based caution money deposit at onboarding. GeM says it was discontinued in July 2025, and the government factsheet of 8 August 2026 confirms sellers no longer need to deposit it. If you paid it earlier, check the caution money section of your seller dashboard or ask the GeM helpdesk how to withdraw the balance.

2. Transaction charges restated (October 2026)

At GeM Samvad 2026, reported in late October 2026, GeM restated the current slabs: nil up to ₹10 lakh, 0.30% above that, and a ₹3 lakh cap above ₹10 crore. It said about 97% of orders carry no transaction charge.

3. TReDS link for faster cash (2026)

GeM has integrated with all five TReDS exchanges, in line with the Union Budget 2026-27 announcement. MSME sellers can use TReDS to discount eligible invoices. GeM Sahay continues to offer collateral-free working capital against orders to eligible proprietorship sellers.

4. GeM Suvidha Kendras with CSC (June 2026)

In June 2026, GeM signed an MoU with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited (announced on 19 June 2026). It plans 50 GeM Suvidha Kendras on a pilot basis to help sellers with onboarding, vendor assessment, brand approval and catalogues.

5. Ten years of GeM (August 2026)

GeM completed ten years on 9 August 2026. The government reports rate contracts for repeat items, a link with the CPPP tender portal, and work to bring IREPS and defence procurement portal functions onto GeM. Buyers now see price trends and last purchase prices, so sellers must price with care.

6. Lower vendor assessment fees and GFR limits (2024, still current)

OEM vendor assessment fees have been cut since January 2024, with RITES as the agency. The July 2024 GFR amendment raised direct purchase to ₹50,000 and the L1 limit to ₹10 lakh. Both appear in the GFR text updated to 31 January 2026 and in GeM's March 2026 terms and conditions.

GeM works well when your basic registrations are already in place. Our business licences guide shows the full set for a new business. For GeM, check these first:

• GST registration: most sellers need a GSTIN for each billing address on GeM.
• MSME registration: Udyam is the key to MSE purchase preference and EMD exemption.
• Startup India registration: DPIIT recognition gives EMD exemption and relaxed turnover and experience rules.
• ISO certification: not needed to register, but many bids ask for ISO 9001 or similar.
• Digital signature certificate: not needed for GeM sign-up, which uses OTPs, but many other tender portals and MCA filings need one.
• Trademark registration: needed for brand approval as an OEM.

Not sure of the order? Our expert sets it out on the first call, so each certificate supports the next.

TaxCaller has worked on tax and business registrations since 2018. We are based in Ghaziabad and serve clients online across India.

• Records checked first: we match PAN, GST, Udyam, bank and ITR data before sign-up, where most cases fail.
• Right role, right benefits: we confirm whether you are an OEM, reseller or service provider so you keep the benefits you qualify for.
• Your account stays yours: you enter OTPs live and keep the login.
• Clear costs: our fee and any agency or GeM charge are shown separately.
• Reviewed content: this page is reviewed by Abhinay Rai, Advocate.

Contact us to book your free first call.