India’s Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has been working to make government procurement more inclusive through its SWAYATT initiative, which recently completed seven years. The program was created to help smaller and emerging businesses participate more easily in government buying.
For many MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and young entrepreneurs, entering government markets was once difficult due to limited access and visibility. SWAYATT aims to change that by enabling these businesses to connect directly with government buyers through the GeM digital platform.
The impact of this effort is already visible. Women-led enterprises have secured orders worth over ₹83,000 crore, while startups have received more than ₹54,000 crore in orders through GeM. These numbers reflect the growing participation of emerging businesses in public procurement.
GeM has also introduced dedicated spaces such as Womaniya and Startup Runway to help these enterprises showcase their products and services more effectively to government buyers.
By combining digital access, policy support, and better visibility, the SWAYATT initiative is helping smaller businesses compete in the government marketplace and opening new opportunities for inclusive economic growth.
🔗 Source: PIB Press Release