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The government’s programme to help users navigate its Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the Learning Management System (LMS), now offers SCORM-compliant interactive e-learning courses in six additional languages. GeM facilitates the public procurement of goods and services in India by government organisations, departments, and PSUs.
The move brings the total number of languages available on GeM LMS up to 12, including Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya, Punjabi, Tamil, and Telugu. The interactive e-learning courses were launched earlier this year and provide a user-friendly interface with online libraries and a dashboard to track progress.
A government press release noted that the LMS involves a Four-level Buyer Certification programme, which aims to “empower users with progressive learning and valuable certifications.” The system enables users, buyers, sellers, and service providers, to select their learning path by either topic or certification level. This makes it easy to navigate, addressing their specific needs and skill levels and allowing them to learn at their own pace.
To boost the use and efficiency of the e-market, the government believed that it was important to offer “proper avenues of learning” for stakeholders, helping them better understand its policies and functionalities, GeM CEO Prashant Kumar Singh explained.
With the LMS adding six new languages, the aim is to empower as many users as possible with knowledge of these intricate public procurement processes Singh added. He hoped this would catalyse the adoption of the portal among state and local government buyers and last-mile sellers across the country.
The LMS has experienced a 32-fold increase in user registration since its launch four months ago, with more than 4,000 users enrolled in various courses. Additionally, more than 600 Buyer Certificates have been issued in the same period.
Launched in 2016, GeM aligns with international learning and development standards, prioritising training and capacity-building and accommodating the country’s diverse language demographics.
The release claimed that the LMS has set a new benchmark for government learning and capability-building platforms. The interactive, multilingual courses ensure all users, regardless of location or language proficiency, can gain the skills needed to navigate GeM effectively.
OpenGov Asia reported that GeM reached a milestone GMV of ₹4 lakh crore (US$53 billion), doubling its value from the previous year. This highlights GeM’s significant impact on public procurement in India, particularly with a 205% surge in services procurement. The platform has democratised access to government tenders, empowering marginalised groups and small entrepreneurs. Active participation from states like Gujarat and central entities has driven this growth.
GeM’s extensive network of over 150,000 buyers and 2.1 million sellers, along with technological advancements, enhances procurement efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity, revolutionising public procurement and fostering inclusive economic growth in India. Presently, there are more than 12,070 product categories and 320 service categories on the portal.
Furthermore, by opening up market access, GeM allows small domestic sellers and service providers to showcase their products and participate in government tenders transparently. The extensive repository of services on GeM has enabled states to acquire innovative solutions that address their specific and evolving needs.
Another factor in its success is increased engagement from high-procuring states like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Central entities, including ministries and CPSEs, have also played a crucial role, contributing nearly 85% of the ₹4 trillion. Notably, the Ministry of Coal, Ministry of Power, and Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, along with their subsidiaries, have been the top procuring entities at the central level.
