It's now mandatory for all departments to source from govt e-marketplace

The commerce ministry had last year launched the government e-marketplace for online purchase of goods and services by various central government ministries and departments.

New Delhi, March 8: The government has made it mandatory for all the departments and ministries to source goods and services from its e-marketplace. The move is aimed at bringing in more transparency and streamlining the government procurement, estimated at Rs 10,000 crore a year. The commerce ministry last year launched the government e-marketplace for online purchase of goods and services by various Central government ministries and departments.

The finance ministry has amended the General Financial Rules as per which it is now compulsory to procure items and services from this portal, an official said. Currently, over 9,000 products from 250 categories including computers, stationery and several services are registered by different vendors on the portal. The Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals is working on increasing the number of services by including areas such as cleaning, plumbing and digitisation of records.

"In one month's time, we will do this. The work is going in full swing," an official said. The DGS&D, which is under the commerce ministry, has developed the portal. According to the GFRs released on Tuesday, "The procurement of goods and services by ministries or departments will be mandatory for goods and services available on GeM". E-commerce is a fast-growing industry in the country.

According to a study, e-commerce market is likely to grow 10-fold in next five years to reach $100 billion on the back of increasing penetration of the internet, smartphones and spread of digital network in rural areas.

PTI