GeM Suvidha Kendras: GeM and CSC-SPV Pilot MoU for 50 GSKs
Why in the news
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) joined hands with CSC-SPV to open GeM Suvidha Kendras in villages and towns, making it easier for small businesses to sell on the national public procurement portal.
Key facts
- Signed: 18 June 2026 in New Delhi, at GeM’s office; signatories were GeM’s Additional CEO Ajit B. Chavan and CSC-SPV’s Senior Vice President Subodh Mishra.
- Scale: 50 GSKs on a pilot basis via the CSC network.
- Locations: Delhi-NCR plus Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- Scope: Vendor Assessment, Brand Approval and Product and Service Catalogue creation, beyond the registration help of the 2022 partnership (5.3 lakh sellers registered).
- Beneficiaries: MSEs, women, SC/ST entrepreneurs, startups, SHGs, FPOs, artisans, weavers and local manufacturers.
About GeM
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Launched | 9 August 2016 |
| Owner | GeM SPV, a Section 8 company |
| Ministry | Commerce and Industry (Department of Commerce) |
| Purpose | Online buying of goods and services by departments, PSUs and autonomous bodies |
| Approx. stats (mid-2026) | GMV over ₹10 lakh crore; 75,000+ buyer organisations; 2.2 crore+ sellers; 12,000+ categories |
- Features: transparency, faster and cheaper buying, e-bidding, reverse auctions, direct purchase up to ₹50,000.
- Inclusive drives: a 25% MSE procurement share (3% reserved for SC/ST units, 4% for women-owned MSEs), Womaniya on GeM, Startup Runway, Khadi (KVIC) and TRIBES India.
About CSCs and CSC-SPV
- Common Service Centres are access points in villages, towns and semi-urban areas run by Village-Level Entrepreneurs, delivering utility, welfare, health, financial, education and agriculture services.
- CSC-SPV: set up in 2009, Section 25 company (now Section 8), under MeitY, headquartered in New Delhi, manages the CSC scheme.
- Network: over 5.5 lakh CSCs and 400+ digital services including Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, passport, banking, PMJJBY, PMSBY, APY, telemedicine and GeM seller onboarding.
Digital India link
Digital India began on 1 July 2015 to build a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy, with pillars of digital infrastructure, services on demand and digital empowerment of citizens. CSCs are a key delivery channel.
Exam angle
- GeM launched 9 August 2016 under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- CSC-SPV falls under MeitY; established 2009.
- Pilot size: 50 GSKs.