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Chhattisgarh has earned national recognition for its effective use of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), highlighting how digital procurement can make government spending more transparent, efficient, and competitive.
The state was recently honoured with the “GeM Sustainable Procurement Award” for its strong adoption of the platform and its efforts to promote transparent purchasing practices across government departments. The recognition reflects the growing role of digital platforms in transforming traditional procurement systems.
One of the biggest outcomes has been the financial savings achieved through competitive online bidding. During the financial year 2025–26, Chhattisgarh reportedly saved around ₹130 crore by using GeM for government purchases. These savings were generated by comparing estimated procurement costs with prices secured through the platform’s competitive bidding process.
The impact goes beyond a single financial year. Over the last three financial years, the state has reportedly saved approximately ₹235 crore through procurement conducted via GeM, demonstrating the long-term value of moving government purchasing toward a centralized digital system.
Government procurement through GeM also witnessed significant growth in Chhattisgarh. In 2025–26, procurement reached nearly ₹3,935 crore, representing a substantial increase compared with the previous financial year. This expansion indicates that more government departments, corporations, and local bodies are increasingly relying on digital procurement rather than conventional purchasing methods.
Another encouraging development is the growing participation of smaller businesses. Procurement involving micro and small enterprises (MSEs) increased considerably, reaching around ₹1,800 crore during the year. Women entrepreneurs and startups also recorded strong participation, showing that digital procurement platforms can create wider opportunities for businesses that may traditionally have had limited access to government contracts.
The growth in procurement from startups was particularly notable, while purchases from women entrepreneurs and businesses belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes also increased. Such participation can help make public procurement more inclusive while giving emerging businesses access to larger markets.
Chhattisgarh’s experience demonstrates that digital procurement is not simply about replacing paperwork with technology. When implemented effectively, it can improve price discovery, encourage competition, expand supplier participation, and provide greater visibility into government purchasing.
The state’s recognition by GeM therefore represents more than an award. It is an example of how technology-driven governance can help governments use public funds more efficiently while creating a more open and competitive marketplace for suppliers.
As digital procurement continues to expand across India, Chhattisgarh’s progress could serve as a useful model for other states looking to strengthen transparency, achieve cost savings, and make government purchasing more accessible to businesses of different sizes.
