How to Register as a Seller on the GeM Portal: Complete Process

The Government e-Marketplace is a unified portal that facilitates online procurement of goods and services. The buyers are the ministries and departments of central, state, and local governments, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and autonomous bodies. Buyers can directly procure from registered sellers and service providers or create tenders to get competitive bids.

Any individual owning a business can register on the GeM portal to open a new account and list their product/service offerings. This allows them to take part in bidding and reverse auctions and secure lucrative contracts from government buyers. The GeM seller registration process requires only an Aadhaar card, a PAN card, a mobile number, an email address, and a few business-related documents.

To register as a GeM portal seller, businesses must meet the following requirements:

Who Can Register as a Seller?

Any business, including startups, MSEs (micro and small businesses), OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), resellers, traders, distributors, or service providers, can register on the GeM platform. The organisation must be one of the following types based on its constitution:

• Proprietorship: A simple business structure where one person (proprietor) owns and controls the business.

• Firm: A partnership firm owned and managed by two or more persons (partners).

• Company: A limited liability partnership, a private limited company or a public limited company with a separate legal identity. Must be registered with the Registrar of Companies.

• Trust or Society: A trust is an organisational structure where a group of people (trustees) manages assets for the benefit of a group called the beneficiaries. A society is a member-driven non-profit organisation.

Prerequisites for GeM Seller Registration

• Only certain key persons can register a business as a seller and open a primary account. This includes proprietors, partners, directors and authorised signatories validated by Income Tax Returns (ITR).

• Depending on whether you want to register via PAN or Aadhaar, you need to provide the PAN or Aadhaar number of the authorised person.

• The user must have a linked mobile number and a valid email address (personal or organisational) to verify details via OTP (one-time password).

• You will also need the business PAN number, bank account number, IFSC code, office address and recently filed ITR details to register.

• Depending on the type of business, you may need the CIN (company identification number) and GSTIN. To register as a startup or MSE, you need the Udyam number or DIPP number and a linked mobile number.

• To add secondary users, you will need their Aadhaar numbers, Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers and active email addresses.

You will need the following documents to register a GeM portal seller account and complete your profile:

• Valid PAN of the enterprise (company PAN, proprietorship PAN, partnership PAN, LLP PAN or trust/society PAN)

• PAN card/Aadhaar card of key persons (owners, directors, partners)

• Proof of business registration (company incorporation certificate, partnership deed, DIPP certificate)

• GST registration certificate (for GSTIN)

• Registered office address proof (electricity bill, water bill, postpaid mobile bill, notarised rent deed)

• Bank details (account statement, passbook, cancelled cheque)

• Validated ITR form and acknowledgement for the previous three years

Follow the given steps to open a primary (main) account as a seller on the GeM portal:

• Step 1: Go to the official portal of GeM and click on ‘Sign up’ at the top right. Select ‘Seller/Service Organisation’.

• Step 2: In ‘Pre-Requisites’, enter your organisational type (constitution) and check all the prerequisites after reading through the requirements. Then, click on ‘Proceed’.

• Step 3: Read the Terms and Conditions document and check the box. Next, enter your organisation’s name as per the relevant documents.

• Step 4: Choose PAN/Aadhaar and enter the required details (PAN/Aadhaar number, date of birth, etc.). Complete the verification using your chosen ID type, registered mobile number and OTP.

• Step 5: Enter and verify your mobile number, and then fill in the details of your role within your organisation. After confirming that you are a key person, type in your email address and verify it via OTP.

• Step 6: Create a unique user ID and password following the given instructions for the same. Finally, click on ‘Create Account’ to finalise your seller’s profile on GeM.

After successful registration on the GeM portal as a seller, you need to complete your user profile before you can start listing your products/services. Follow the given steps to update and complete your profile:

Step 1: Log in to the GeM portal using your newly created user ID and password. Then, select your username at the top right and click on ‘My Account’.

Step 2: Update your PAN details and click on ‘Verify Business PAN’. Then, edit your business details, including its name, type, date of incorporation and CIN (if you own a company) and proceed.

Step 3: In ‘Additional Details’, select your preferences regarding MSE/startup registration, bids and SAHAY loans. On the next page, enter your registered office details by clicking ‘Add New Office’ and entering the full address.

Step 4: Choose ‘Yes/No’ on GST registration and enter your GSTIN and registration type (if Yes). Read and sign the given undertaking and click on ‘Update and Save’.

Step 5: Update and verify your email address via OTP. If you are registered as a company/firm, verify the key person information as per your firm’s ITR records and proceed.

Step 6: Next, click on ‘Add New Bank Account’ under ‘Bank Accounts’. Then, enter your company bank account details and save to proceed.

Step 7: Enter your business’s 3-year turnover and select your e-invoicing category exclusion to sign the e-invoicing declaration. Verify via OTP to continue.

Step 8: Confirm your compliance regarding Beneficial Ownership after reading through the clauses as per Rule 144(xi) of General Financial Rules, 2017.

Step 9: Click on the ‘Add New Tax Assessment’ button and enter the required ITR details as per your recent filings. Once verified, update optional details, such as logistics partner choice, TAN details, etc.

Step 10: Once you have completed your profile, a pre-filled profile summary will appear. Go through it and click on any of the tabs under ‘Seller Profile’ to update the details, including Aadhaar, password, email ID and mobile number. Once done, click on ‘Save’ to complete the process, and now you can start listing your products/services.

After registering your company on the GeM portal as the primary user (owner), you can add your employees to handle daily tasks as secondary users. These users can create and upload catalogues, manage order fulfilment, and take part in bidding/push-button procurement, as per their assigned roles. Here’s the GeM portal seller registration process for secondary users:

Step 1: Sign in to the GeM portal using your credentials and go to ‘My Account’ from your profile name.

Step 2: Navigate to the ‘Users’ tab and click on the ‘Add New Secondary Users’ button. You can add up to 50 secondary users to one account.

Step 3: Select the person’s assigned role and enter their valid email address. Then, click on ‘Add User’ to add the secondary user.

Step 4: An activation link will be sent to the email address you just entered. Once the person completes their user ID verification, their account will be created. You will be able to view the secondary user details in ‘My Account’ > ‘Users’ and can edit or deactivate the accounts.

Here are some of the most common mistakes made by sellers when registering on the GeM portal and how to avoid them:

• **Using Your Personal Email for Registration: While the portal places no restrictions on emails for registration, using an official email address is highly recommended. It shows a sign of professionalism to prospective buyers and helps you gain their trust. You can get a company email from any domain provider to solve this issue.

• Improper Document Submission: Blurry, mismatched and incorrect documents are some of the most common reasons for rejection on the GeM portal. Ensure that you go through the site guidelines to know the correct formatting, and ensure to use a proper scanner to get high-DPI (>200) photos.

• Entering Incorrect Business Details: Another common mistake is to submit incorrect or misspelt business name, owner name, GSTIN, office address and other details. Since GeM cross-verifies information across multiple documents, you need to ensure they are error-free. Review all your documents to see if they have consistent details and apply for corrections via official channels if they don’t.

• Having an Unverified Aadhaar or Mobile Number: Since most steps of the GeM portal registration for sellers involve verification via Aadhaar+OTP, you won’t get far without a valid Aadhaar card and an Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Similarly, when creating secondary user accounts, you should confirm if they have valid Aadhaar and mobile numbers.

• Avoiding Vendor Assessment Before Registering: Manufacturers need to mandatorily complete the vendor assessment process from RITES Ltd. Although other types of businesses don’t require a vendor rating, getting one is advisable as it improves visibility to buyers. If you don’t have a vendor rating, you can get it on the GeM portal.

The GeM seller registration process is straightforward and requires only an Aadhaar/PAN for identity verification. Sellers should keep the essential business and bank account details at hand and make sure not to make mistakes while entering the information to avoid complications later on. For a seamless process, keep all the documents at hand and double-check the details.

If you are planning to become a government supplier, you should be aware of the various regulations and requirements involved. Having a commercial insurance policy in place allows you to quickly expand into this market with peace of mind. TATA AIG commercial insurance plans, such as marine insurance and professional indemnity insurance, ensure protection against potential liabilities from failed deliveries.

Additionally, MSEs and startups in labour-intensive industries may want specialised insurance for small businesses for additional risk protection. The TATA AIG Workmen Compensation Policy is perfect for businesses seeking a tool to improve employee relations and mitigate liabilities.