GeM Buyer Registration

GeM Buyer Registration is the onboarding process through which central government ministries, departments, autonomous bodies, PSUs, and central universities register on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) to procure goods and services through India's mandatory central procurement platform.

What is GeM Buyer Registration?

Every central government entity procuring goods or services under GFR Rule 149 must be registered as a buyer on GeM. The registration process creates a hierarchical buyer organisation on GeM:

• Primary User (PU): The senior official (typically head of the organisation or CFO) who creates the GeM organisation structure
• Nodal Officer: Designated procurement officer who manages the organisation's GeM activities
• Secondary User: Procurement officers at department or project level who place orders within their financial powers
• Verifying Authority (VA): The officer who accepts and verifies delivery of goods or services

The buyer organisation hierarchy determines which user can float bids, which can approve orders, and which authorises payment, mirroring the organisation's financial delegation structure.

GeM has over 70,000 registered buyer organisations as of 2025. Once registered, buyers can:

• Browse the GeM product catalogue for direct purchase (up to INR 25,000 per item)
• Float bids for competitive procurement above the direct purchase threshold
• Conduct reverse auctions for competitive price discovery
• Issue GeM Contracts under rate contracts for recurring requirements

Why GeM Buyer Registration matters for Indian government suppliers

Understanding buyer registration helps sellers comprehend the procurement hierarchy of their government customers. Knowing who is the Secondary User (placing orders), who is the Verifying Authority (accepting delivery), and who is the Primary User (approving high-value contracts) tells a seller who to engage and at what stage. Sellers targeting new government buyers can also verify whether those buyers are registered on GeM before approaching them with product listings.

Example

A central university wants to procure laboratory furniture and IT equipment. The Registrar registers as the Primary User on GeM and designates the Finance Officer as Nodal Officer. Three junior procurement officers are added as Secondary Users for different departments. The Vice-Chancellor approves purchases above INR 10 lakh as the designated authorising authority. The university can now place direct purchases for items under INR 25,000 per item and float competitive bids for larger requirements, all through GeM without separate paper tenders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are state government organisations required to register on GeM?

GeM is mandatory for central government bodies under GFR 2017. State governments are encouraged to use GeM but are governed by their own state procurement rules. Many states have adopted GeM as a preferred or mandatory platform through their own state finance rules, but it is not centrally mandated for state bodies.

Can a PSU (Public Sector Undertaking) register as a GeM buyer?

Yes. Central PSUs are required to register on GeM and procure goods and services available on GeM through the platform. PSU procurement from GeM counts toward the government's annual GeM GMV targets.

What are the financial limits for different buyer roles in GeM?

Financial powers on GeM mirror the organisation's General Financial Rules delegation. Secondary Users can place orders up to their delegated financial limit. Orders above a threshold require approval from the Nodal Officer or Primary User. The organisation's Primary User configures these limits during setup.

Can a buyer organisation change its registered Verifying Authority?

Yes. The Primary User can add or change Verifying Authority designations as per organisational changes. The VA role can be assigned to any registered employee in the buyer organisation with the appropriate seniority.