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GeM registration and tenders: steps, fees, documents and how to bid

GeM registration is free. Any Indian business can sign up as a seller on gem.gov.in with Aadhaar or PAN and an email, then complete its profile. Caution money ended in 2025. GeM charges ₹10,000 plus GST once your orders in a year reach ₹20 lakh, then 0.30% on each order above ₹10 lakh.

By , co-founder of Autobot 9 min read

Who can register on GeM, and which documents do you need?

Any business entity can register as a seller: a proprietorship, partnership, LLP, company, society, trust or government body. Manufacturers, resellers and service providers use the same account. The primary user should be the proprietor, a partner or a director who signs the income tax return [1][2][7].

Document Needed for
Aadhaar and its linked mobile (or personal PAN and a mobile), plus an email ID Sign-up [1]
Business PAN, CIN for companies, office address, bank account Profile [7]
ITR details for 3 years Bidding, if the business is over 24 months old [1]
Udyam or DPIIT startup number Optional, for MSE or startup benefits [1]
GSTIN Optional. Needed to bid above the GST turnover limit [7]

GeM checks your details against PAN, MCA, Udyam and GST records, so keep them identical. Update GeM within 7 days of a change [2].

How do you register on the GeM portal, step by step?

The GeM registration process has two parts: sign up as a seller on gem.gov.in with Aadhaar or PAN, then complete your profile under My Account. You cannot list products or bid until the profile is complete [7].

  1. Click Sign Up, choose Seller and your business type, accept the terms and enter the organisation name.
  2. Verify with an Aadhaar OTP, or with PAN, date of birth and a mobile OTP. Then verify your email and set a login.
  3. In My Account, validate the business PAN and add CIN, Udyam or DPIIT details.
  4. Add the registered office, GSTIN if any, key person and bank account.
  5. Sign the e-invoice and GFR 144(xi) declarations by OTP, and enter ITR details [7].

Your PAN may already have a provisional GeM account, created through the Udyam link in 2023-24. Complete it before GeM purges dormant ones [18]. Helpline: 1800-419-3436 [17].

What are the GeM registration fees in 2026?

There are no GeM portal registration fees: registration and catalogue approval are free, and caution money has ended [1][3]. GeM charges ₹10,000 plus GST once a financial year's orders reach ₹20 lakh, then 0.30% on each order above ₹10 lakh [4]. Manufacturers needing vendor assessment pay RITES ₹872 to ₹3,486 plus GST.

Charge Amount
Caution money Ended in 2025. Ignore pages quoting ₹5,000 [3]
Vendor assessment by RITES (OEMs; optional for resellers) ₹871.61 up to ₹20 lakh turnover, ₹1,743.22 up to ₹1 crore, ₹3,486.44 above, plus GST [6]
Annual Milestone Charge ₹10,000 plus GST when a year's orders reach ₹20 lakh [4]
Transaction charge, after ₹20 lakh Nil up to ₹10 lakh, 0.30% above, ₹3 lakh flat from ₹10 crore [4]

Example: past the ₹20 lakh mark, a ₹15 lakh order costs ₹4,500 plus GST and an ₹8 lakh order nothing. Pay within 15 days of the award, or before your first invoice or first delivery due date if sooner. Unpaid charges can get the account suspended [4].

How do you list products on GeM?

Open Catalogue, choose Add New Offering, find your category and pick or request your brand. If the product is listed, pair with it. Otherwise add specifications, certificates, MRP proof, stock, delivery pincodes and three photos, then publish with an OTP. Approval takes about three working days [1][8].

  • Some categories accept only the OEM or its authorised resellers [2][17].
  • Brand approval takes about 4 working days [1]. OEMs need vendor assessment unless exempt; it takes about 15 working days and usually lasts 3 years [6].
  • Price at least 10% below MRP, and do not sell cheaper outside GeM on similar terms [2].

What are direct purchase, L1, bids and reverse auctions on GeM?

Order value decides the method, under GFR rule 149. Up to ₹50,000, a buyer may order directly from any suitable seller. From ₹50,000 to ₹10 lakh, it must take the lowest price (L1) among at least three manufacturers, or run a bid. Above ₹10 lakh, it must run a bid or reverse auction (RA) [5].

In a bid-to-RA, the buyer takes the lowest-priced half of the qualified sellers, or all but the highest, into a live auction starting at the bid's L1 price. MSEs within 15% of a non-MSE L1 also get in. A lower price in the last 15 minutes adds 15 more minutes [2][9].

How do you search tenders on the GeM portal?

The GeM tender list is public at bidplus.gem.gov.in/all-bids, with no login or captcha. Search by category or city, narrow the list with the filters below, and read the full bid document before you bid [13].

Where What you can filter
Filters panel Status, bid type (product, service, bid to RA, custom, BOQ and more), high value, end date
Advanced Search Bid number; ministry, state, organisation, department; consignee state and city; BOQ title and value

New bids take up to 15 minutes to appear. Bid/RA Status shows results, with each qualified seller's price and rank [13]. CPPP, the central tender portal, had 32,787 active tenders on 18 Oct 2026, and its search needs a captcha [15].

How do you participate in a GeM tender?

Read the bid document and check you qualify, then click Participate. Quote against a matching catalogue, upload every document the bid asks for, claim EMD exemption or give the EMD, and sign with OTP, e-sign or DSC before the end time.

  1. Note the end date, turnover and experience asked, MSE relaxation, EMD and consignee. Turnover asked can be up to half the estimated value [9][14].
  2. Choose your approved catalogue and enter quantity, delivery period and price. A saved price is final [9].
  3. Upload turnover proof, past contracts with CRACs, OEM authorisation if you resell, and named certificates [14].
  4. Claim EMD exemption with your Udyam or DPIIT certificate, or give the EMD. A paper instrument must reach the buyer within 5 working days of opening [2].
  5. Sign the offer, then answer clarifications in time. Our sample bid allowed 2 days [1][14].

What is EMD on GeM, and who is exempt?

EMD is a bid security deposit. Bids below ₹5 lakh need none. Above that, the buyer sets 0.5% to 5% of the estimated value, and GeM recommends 1%. Udyam-registered MSEs that make the offered item or provide the service, and DPIIT startups, are exempt. Traders are not [2].

  • Forms include an insurance surety bond, bank guarantee, demand draft, FD receipt or online payment [2][5].
  • Sellers with vendor assessment or a BIS licence for the product, and PSUs, are exempt too. State buyers may still ask MSEs for EMD [2].
  • Losing bidders get it back within 15 days of the award or bid expiry. Changing your bid during its validity, or giving false papers, forfeits it [2].
  • Winners of bid and RA contracts give up to 5% performance security within 15 days. MSEs are not exempt [2][11].

What benefits do MSEs get on GeM?

Central ministries, departments and CPSEs must make at least 25% of their yearly purchases from micro and small enterprises, with 4% from SC/ST-owned and 3% from women-owned units. MSEs also get purchase preference, EMD exemption, free tender documents and, when the buyer allows, relaxed turnover and experience rules [10][11].

  • Purchase preference: if L1 is not an MSE, an MSE within 15% can match L1 and supply at least 25%. Quote ₹112 against ₹100 for 1,000 units, match ₹100, and you can supply at least 250 [11].
  • Only micro and small units qualify, for items in their Udyam registration, which is free [16]. Traders are excluded, and states follow their own policies. 358 items are reserved for MSEs [11].
  • In 2025-26, GeM orders totalled ₹5.03 lakh crore, and over 11 lakh MSEs fulfilled orders worth over ₹2.36 lakh crore [12].

When do GeM sellers get paid?

For goods, the consignee issues a provisional receipt certificate (PRC) on delivery and has 10 days to accept or reject. Acceptance creates the CRAC. Full payment is due within 10 days of the CRAC and your online bill. Services work the same way, with a service delivery acceptance certificate [2].

On bid and RA contracts, payment also waits for performance security [2]. If payment is late, raise an incident on GeM. Before accepting a direct order, check the buyer's flag: red means over 30 orders unpaid 70 days after CRAC, and you may decline such an order within 120 hours [1]. Micro and small suppliers also have the 45-day payment rule and interest calculator.

Why do GeM bids get rejected?

A bid fails when it breaks a rule in GeM's terms or the bid document, such as a missing paper, a wrong exemption claim or a missed deadline. False papers also cost the EMD and can bring debarment [2].

Ground Fix
No turnover or experience proof CA certificate, past contracts with CRACs [14]
Reseller without OEM authorisation The OEM's letter for that bid [14]
Trader claiming EMD exemption Pay the EMD [2][14]
EMD original late Deliver within 5 working days of opening [2]
No ITR, a lapsed BIS licence or a nil price Fix them before bidding [1][2]

After a technical rejection, you can raise one representation within 48 hours [1].

How do you track GeM tenders every day?

Each morning, search the GeM bid list, log new matches, check corrigenda and clear your seller dashboard. GeM's terms make you responsible for watching the dashboard and call its email and SMS alerts only an extra [2].

  1. Search 3 to 5 keywords for your states, with end dates up to 30 days ahead.
  2. Log new bids in a sheet with end date, EMD, turnover and experience asked, and MSE relaxation. Skip bids you cannot qualify for.
  3. Clear dashboard clarifications, RA invitations and orders.
  4. Set reminders 5 and 2 days before each end date, and submit a day early. Each week, study winning prices.

GeM me registration kaise kare? (Hindi summary)

FAQ

Is GeM registration free?

Yes, and caution money ended in 2025. Charges start only with orders [1][3][4].

Is GST mandatory for GeM registration?

No. You can register and take direct orders without one, but need it to bid above the GST turnover limit [1][7].

Can a trader sell on GeM?

Yes, as a reseller where the category allows it. Traders get no MSE purchase preference or EMD exemption, even with Udyam [2][11][14].

Do I need a DSC for GeM?

Not always. GeM accepts OTP, e-sign or DSC, and says OTP will be withdrawn later. Bidding on the central eProcurement portal needs a Class 3 DSC [1][15].

How do I get my old caution money back?

In the seller dashboard, open Manage Caution Money Account, click Recalculate Threshold, then Withdraw Excess Funds. GeM credits your verified bank account within 24 hours on working days [3].

About the author

Rahul Vijay co-founded Autobot (Convogenie Technologies, Bengaluru, a Udyam-registered MSME). GeM rules change often, so check the linked pages before you bid.

Sources

All pages opened on 18 Oct 2026.

  1. GeM, Seller FAQs (registration free, documents, ITR and GSTIN rules, caution money discontinued in 2025, catalogue and brand approval times, buyer payment flags, direct order acceptance, OTP, e-sign and DSC, representations). https://gem.gov.in/userFaqs/seller
  2. GeM, General Terms and Conditions on GeM 4.0, version 1.29, 25 Mar 2026 (clauses 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12, 21 and 27). https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/gtc/new-GTC-on-1774431996.pdf . Version list: https://gem.gov.in/page/gtc
  3. GeM, Discontinuation of Caution Money on GeM and Refund Process for Existing Deposits, https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/revised_caution_money_withdrawal_1772100284.pdf , and PIB, "Government e Marketplace marks 9th Foundation Day", 8 Aug 2025, https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2154136
  4. GeM, Revenue Policy v1.6, effective 26 Aug 2025. https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/revenue-policy-v1_1758361781.pdf
  5. Department of Expenditure, General Financial Rules 2017, updated to 31 Jul 2024, rules 149 (as amended by OM of 10 Jul 2024), 170 and 171. https://doe.gov.in/files/circulars_document/FInal_GFR_upto_31_07_2024.pdf
  6. GeM, Vendor Validation Policy v5.0, effective 25 Sep 2026 (OEM assessment, timelines, validity, Annexure I fees). https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/vendor-validation-policy-v5_1790346209.pdf
  7. GeM training, Registration of Seller using Aadhaar and PAN, https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/training_content/Seller-Introduction-and-Registration-using-Aadhar-and-PAN-1760071509.pdf , and Seller Profile Updation (updated 5 Feb 2026), https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/training_content/Seller-Profile-Updation-1770354267.pdf . Index: https://gem.gov.in/training/training_module
  8. GeM training, Catalogue Management: Product. https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/training_content/Catalogue-Management-Product-1770354363.pdf
  9. GeM training, Bid Participation: Product, https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/training_content/Bid-Participation-Product-1791549443.pdf , and RA Participation: Product, https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/training_content/RA-Participation-Product-1760079195.pdf
  10. Ministry of MSME, Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) Amendment Order, 2018, S.O. 5670(E), Gazette of 9 Nov 2018 (25% target, 3% for women-owned MSEs). Copy hosted by BPCL: https://bharatpetroleum.in/images/files/Gazetted%20notification-Amendment%20to%20PPP.PDF
  11. Office of the Development Commissioner (MSME), FAQs on Public Procurement Policy for MSEs Order 2012, 27 Jan 2022 (targets, L1+15%, 358 reserved items, traders excluded, central bodies only, no performance security exemption). https://www.dcmsme.gov.in/NewFAQs01022022.pdf
  12. GeM, Statistics (order value in the last financial year ₹5,02,611 crore; MSE share 44.73%), https://gem.gov.in/statistics , and PIB Backgrounder, "Where Every Purchase Finds a GeM", 8 Aug 2026, https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2296546
  13. GeM BidPlus, List of Bids and Advanced Search, https://bidplus.gem.gov.in/all-bids and https://bidplus.gem.gov.in/advance-search , and a public result page showing prices and ranks (RA GEM/2026/R/753549), https://bidplus.gem.gov.in/bidding/bid/getBidResultView/10043204
  14. GeM bid document GEM/2026/B/7814004, Indian Navy, 17 Sep 2026 (standard clauses on EMD exemption, MSE purchase preference, turnover and experience proof, clarification time). https://bidplus.gem.gov.in/showbidDocument/9637754
  15. Central Public Procurement Portal, latest active tenders, https://eprocure.gov.in/cppp/latestactivetendersnew , and DSC FAQ, https://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app?page=DSCInfo&service=page
  16. Udyam Registration portal (registration free of cost). https://udyamregistration.gov.in/
  17. GeM training, GeM Overview, updated 6 Oct 2026 (catalogue quadrants, helpline). https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/training_content/GeM-Overview_Oct-1791365133.pdf
  18. GeM, Guidance for Udyamis on Completion of their GeM Profiles. https://assets-bg.gem.gov.in/resources/upload/shared_doc/information-docket-seller-activation-fy24-udyam-1_1790251237.pdf