Chhattisgarh Wins GeM Sustainable Procurement Award, Reflecting Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai’s Push for Transparent and Efficient Governance

State procurement through GeM more than doubles to ₹3,935 crore, recording 113% growth in FY 2025-26

Competitive bidding saves ₹130 crore in a single year; cumulative savings of ₹235 crore achieved in three years

₹1,800 crore procurement from micro and small enterprises; strong growth in orders to women, SC/ST entrepreneurs and startups

Chhattisgarh has achieved another significant national recognition in transparent and technology-driven governance, with the State receiving the GeM Sustainable Procurement Award at the 10th Foundation Day celebrations of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) in New Delhi.The achievement reflects the sustained emphasis of the government led by Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai on transparency, fiscal prudence, technology-enabled governance and ensuring maximum value for every rupee of public expenditure.
The award was conferred under the Premier Awards in the State Government Felicitation category for Chhattisgarh’s sustained efforts towards GeM adoption and the significant increase in both the value and volume of procurement through the platform.The ceremony, organised under the theme “GeM 10: A Decade of Exponential Possibilities,” was held in the presence of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and senior representatives from the Government of India and States.

Chief Minister Congratulates Team Chhattisgarh

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai congratulated the officers and employees associated with the achievement and said that the national recognition reflects Chhattisgarh’s commitment to transparent, accountable and efficient governance.

“Transparency and judicious utilisation of public money are fundamental to good governance. Our endeavour is to ensure that technology makes government procurement more competitive, efficient and accountable, while creating greater opportunities for our MSMEs, startups, women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs from SC/ST communities. The GeM Sustainable Procurement Award is an acknowledgement of Team Chhattisgarh’s collective efforts towards building a transparent and inclusive procurement ecosystem,” Chief Minister Shri VishnuDeo Sai said.

Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai said that the State Government is consistently leveraging technology to simplify administrative processes, strengthen accountability and ensure better utilisation of public resources.

Procurement Through GeM Surges 113% to ₹3,935 Crore

Chhattisgarh recorded a remarkable expansion in procurement through the Government e-Marketplace during FY 2025-26.The State’s total procurement through GeM reached ₹3,935 crore, registering an impressive 113% growth over the previous financial year. The growth follows the State Government’s sustained efforts to bring procurement by departments, corporations and local bodies onto a common digital platform. This has expanded the share of government purchases subjected to transparent price discovery, open competition and an auditable procurement process.

The sharp increase in GeM adoption also demonstrates the State Government’s commitment to reducing procedural opacity and establishing a procurement system in which quality, competitiveness and value for public money remain paramount.

₹130 Crore Saved in a Single Financial Year

The transition towards competitive digital procurement has also generated substantial savings for the State exchequer. In FY 2025-26 alone, competitive bidding through GeM resulted in savings of ₹130 crore. These savings represent the difference between the estimated procurement cost of government departments and the final prices discovered through open competition among qualified sellers.

Over the last three financial years, the State has achieved cumulative savings of ₹235 crore through competitive bidding on the platform. Open bidding, standardised specifications and a single auditable digital record for transactions have strengthened transparency and price discovery in the procurement process.
The State Government is also continuously reviewing procurement procedures and tender specifications to maintain quality while ensuring healthy competition among suppliers.

₹1,800 Crore Procurement from Micro and Small Enterprises

In line with Chief Minister Shri Sai’s emphasis on strengthening local enterprise and generating wider economic opportunities, Chhattisgarh’s growing adoption of GeM has significantly expanded access to government procurement for micro and small enterprises. Procurement from micro and small enterprises increased by 61% to ₹1,800 crore in FY 2025-26, comfortably exceeding the mandated 25% MSE procurement target. This growth assumes significance as government procurement can serve as an important catalyst for strengthening small businesses, expanding markets and creating employment opportunities.
Through GeM, enterprises can access government demand directly through a transparent digital marketplace, thereby reducing dependence on intermediaries and making the procurement ecosystem more accessible and competitive.

Women Entrepreneurs, SC/ST Enterprises and Startups Gain Greater Opportunities

The State has also recorded exceptional growth in procurement from priority and emerging categories of entrepreneurs. During FY 2025-26, procurement from women entrepreneurs grew by 97%, while orders to SC/ST entrepreneurs increased by 108%. Startups registered the fastest growth among all categories, recording an impressive 178% increase in procurement.
The figures demonstrate that the expansion of transparent digital procurement is not only improving efficiency in government expenditure but is also widening access to public markets for emerging entrepreneurs.

Secretary, Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Chhattisgarh, Shri Rajat Kumar said that GeM has opened a direct route to government demand for enterprises across the State. He said that women entrepreneurs, SC/ST-owned enterprises and startups have recorded their strongest year yet on the platform, with startups registering the fastest growth among supplier categories. “An open marketplace offers a single point of entry, where a supplier’s capability and competitiveness determine the outcome rather than proximity to a department. Sustaining this access and widening it further will remain a priority for the State,” Shri Rajat Kumar said.

National Recognition for Chhattisgarh’s Good Governance Model

The GeM Sustainable Procurement Award adds another dimension to Chhattisgarh’s ongoing efforts to make governance more transparent, technology-driven and outcome-oriented under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai. The State Government is increasingly leveraging digital platforms to simplify processes, strengthen accountability, promote fair competition and ensure optimum utilisation of public resources. The results are visible in both fiscal savings and wider economic participation: ₹130 crore saved in one year, procurement worth ₹1,800 crore from MSEs, and unprecedented growth in government orders to women entrepreneurs, SC/ST enterprises and startups.The State Government will continue to expand GeM adoption across departments and institutions while encouraging more local enterprises, MSMEs and startups to participate in government procurement.

Chief Minister Shri Sai has emphasised that technology must ultimately translate into better governance, greater transparency and more opportunities for citizens and entrepreneurs. Chhattisgarh’s national recognition at the GeM Foundation Day is a significant affirmation of this approach.