Quick answer
Is GeM registration free for sellers?
Yes. GeM registration for sellers and service providers is free; GeM's seller FAQ says there are no charges or fee for getting registered. The caution money deposit was discontinued in 2025. Costs that can arise later are vendor assessment for some brand or OEM approvals and transaction charges on larger orders.
- No fee to register as a seller
- Caution money discontinued in 2025
- Aadhaar or personal PAN for the primary user
- GSTIN not mandatory to register
- Vendor assessment by RITES for some brand approvals
What is GeM registration and who should register?
GeM registration is the creation of a verified seller or service provider account on the Government e Marketplace, the online platform government departments and public sector buyers use to purchase goods and services. Without it you cannot list products, receive direct orders or take part in GeM bids.
It suits businesses that already sell what government offices buy, such as:
- manufacturers of furniture, electrical goods, cables, packaging, uniforms and stationery;
- traders and distributors of IT hardware, office supplies and consumables;
- service providers for manpower, housekeeping, security, cab hiring, printing and IT support;
- start-ups with DPIIT recognition, which get relaxations on prior experience and turnover in bids and exemption from earnest money deposit (EMD).
The primary user can be the owner, proprietor, Karta, partner, director, CEO or an authorised person. A proprietorship must register through the proprietor, and other staff can be added as secondary users.
What documents are needed for GeM registration?
You need the primary user's Aadhaar or personal PAN with a mobile number, the business PAN, bank account details and registered address, plus CIN for a company. ITR details are needed for bid participation if the business is more than 24 months old. GSTIN, Udyam and DPIIT numbers are optional at registration but bring benefits in bids.
| Document or detail | Required? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar with linked mobile, or personal PAN with mobile | Yes (either) | Aadhaar is not mandatory if personal PAN is used |
| Active email ID | Yes | One seller account per email ID |
| Business PAN | Yes | Organisation PAN; individual PAN only for proprietorships |
| CIN | Companies only | From the certificate of incorporation |
| Bank account and IFSC | Yes | Must be PFMS-verified to receive payments |
| Registered office address | Yes | Matches PAN and GST records |
| ITR for last 3 years | For bids, if business is over 24 months old | Newer organisations can be exempted at registration |
| GSTIN | Optional for registration | Needed in practice for most taxable supplies |
| Udyam registration number | Optional | Supports MSE status and benefits |
| DPIIT start-up recognition number | Optional | Supports start-up relaxations |
| Trademark certificate (status Registered) | For brand approval of a registered brand | Unregistered brands need an undertaking and vendor assessment or exemption |
Source: GeM seller FAQs, checked November 2026.
Need help with geM registration? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
How to complete GeM registration: step by step
Sign-up starts on the GeM seller registration page and moves through identity, business and bank validation before you can list products or services. Getting each validation right first time matters, because some details, like PAN, cannot be changed after validation.
- 1
Create the seller account
Sign up as a seller or service provider with the primary user's Aadhaar or personal PAN, mobile and email.
- 2
Validate business PAN and constitution
Enter the organisation PAN; the constitution type is set from PAN and cannot be changed later.
- 3
Add business and office details
Registered address, CIN for companies, and additional offices if you supply from more than one place.
- 4
Verify the bank account
Add the account and IFSC, wait for PFMS verification and mark one account as primary.
- 5
Add tax and MSE details
Enter ITR details, GSTIN, Udyam or DPIIT number so the profile shows your status and benefits.
- 6
Get brand or OEM approval where needed
Upload the trademark certificate for a registered brand, or an undertaking and vendor assessment for an unregistered one.
- 7
List catalogue or services and start bidding
Create product or service listings in the right categories, set prices and respond to bids and direct orders.
GeM registration fees and charges: what costs money?
GeM registration itself is free. Charges that may apply later are vendor assessment for certain brand or OEM approvals and transaction charges once your sales on GeM cross set thresholds. Caution money, which used to be a deposit based on turnover, was discontinued in 2025.
| Item | Position | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Seller registration | Free | GeM seller FAQ |
| Caution money | Discontinued in 2025; earlier deposits can be withdrawn from the dashboard | GeM seller FAQ and Department of Commerce review |
| Vendor assessment (RITES) | Needed for some brand or OEM approvals; fee as per GeM's current Vendor Validation Policy | Check the amount on the portal before applying |
| Annual Milestone Charge | ₹10,000 plus GST, once seller merchandise value reaches ₹20 lakh in a financial year | GeM seller FAQ |
| Transaction charges | Apply to contracts above ₹10 lakh once the ₹20 lakh threshold is reached; slab rates per GeM revenue policy | GeM seller FAQ |
Source: GeM seller FAQs, checked November 2026. GeM revises its revenue policy from time to time, so confirm charges on the portal before you bid.
What is vendor assessment and brand approval on GeM?
Vendor assessment is a verification of a seller's manufacturing or business set-up, carried out for GeM by RITES Limited, and it is required for brand and OEM approval in certain categories. If you sell under your own unregistered brand, you usually need a notarised undertaking plus a vendor assessment or an exemption.
- Registered brand: upload a trademark certificate showing the status "Registered". GeM's FAQ gives a brand approval turnaround of 4 working days.
- Unregistered brand: undertaking plus vendor assessment or vendor assessment exemption, depending on the category.
- Exemption validity: a vendor assessment exemption lasts three years from approval or until the supporting document expires, whichever is earlier.
This is one reason manufacturers selling under their own name file a trademark early. Our trademark registration page explains the filing.
After GeM registration: what keeps the profile working?
Registration is only the start. Orders come to sellers whose profiles are complete, catalogues are accurate and bids are answered on time. A neglected profile with expired documents or wrong prices misses orders or invites complaints.
- Keep ITR, GST and bank details current, and update Udyam after any change.
- Submit an ePBG within 15 days of contract award where the bid asks for it.
- Answer direct purchase orders and L1 negotiation requests within GeM's time limits.
- Raise invoices and track payments; pending-payment complaints can be raised after 10 days from the receipt and acceptance certificate.
- File GST returns correctly, because government buyers may deduct TDS and those credits must match your books.
Why do GeM registrations get stuck?
Most GeM registrations get stuck at validation, where the names and numbers you enter must match government databases exactly. The common problems are predictable and easy to prevent.
- Name mismatch between PAN, Aadhaar, bank account and GST records.
- Wrong constitution chosen, for example proprietorship versus partnership, which is fixed by PAN.
- Bank account not passing PFMS verification.
- Missing or late ITRs for a business older than 24 months, which blocks bid participation.
- Brand approval rejected because the trademark is still pending rather than registered.
If your Udyam details are wrong, MSE verification fails and you lose MSE benefits in bids. Our Udyam registration page covers how to fix that.
GeM registration for Delhi businesses
Delhi hosts central ministries, departments and many public sector offices, which makes government supply a real sales channel for local manufacturers and service firms. Many of these buyers procure through GeM, so a working seller profile is worth the effort.
Units in Wazirpur, Narela, Bawana and Okhla making steel goods, electricals, packaging and furniture are natural GeM sellers, as are manpower and facility service firms across the city. If you are in the Wazirpur industrial area, see our CA in Wazirpur page. Before registering, make sure the business has its GST registration in Delhi in the same name and address as PAN, which avoids most validation errors.
How CA in Delhi handles your GeM registration
None of the three listed firms names GeM registration among its published services, so we pass your enquiry to a partner professional who handles GeM seller onboarding, and we confirm the scope and a fixed quote with you before work starts. Tax and accounting work linked to GeM sales can be handled by the listed firms; compare them on our chartered accountant firms in Delhi page.
What you send us: PAN, Aadhaar or personal PAN of the primary user, bank details, ITRs, GST, Udyam and trademark certificates, and a list of products or services. What you get back: a validated seller account, brand approval applications where needed, and catalogue or service listings within the agreed scope.
Looking for a GST adviser for the same work? See GST consultant in Delhi. Or WhatsApp +91 99114 92897 to start.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fee for GeM registration?
There is no fee. GeM's seller FAQ states there are no charges for getting registered. Charges can arise later: vendor assessment for some brand approvals, an Annual Milestone Charge of ₹10,000 plus GST at ₹20 lakh of sales in a year, and transaction charges on larger contracts.
Is caution money still required on GeM?
No. Caution money was a refundable deposit introduced in 2020 based on turnover. GeM's FAQ says the provision was discontinued in 2025, and sellers who paid it earlier can withdraw it through the caution money section of the dashboard.
Is GST mandatory for GeM registration?
GeM's FAQ says GSTIN is not mandatory to register. In practice most sellers of taxable goods or services need GST to supply and invoice government buyers, and bids often ask for it, so register for GST first if your business needs it.
Can a proprietorship register on GeM?
Yes. A proprietorship registers through the proprietor as the primary user, using the proprietor's individual PAN as the business PAN. Staff can be added as secondary users later.
Can a new business register on GeM without ITRs?
Yes. GeM's FAQ says organisations incorporated less than two years ago can be exempted from uploading ITRs at registration. Businesses older than 24 months need the last three years' ITRs to take part in bids.
Do I need a trademark to sell my own brand on GeM?
Not strictly, but it helps. A registered trademark certificate supports brand approval directly. An unregistered brand needs a notarised undertaking and a vendor assessment or exemption, which takes more effort and may cost a fee.
What benefits do MSEs and start-ups get on GeM?
Udyam-registered micro and small enterprises can claim MSE status in bids. DPIIT-recognised start-ups get relaxation of prior experience and turnover criteria and exemption from EMD, as listed in GeM's seller FAQ. The exact benefit depends on the bid terms.
How long does GeM registration take?
The sign-up itself can be done quickly if names match across PAN, Aadhaar, bank and GST. Bank PFMS verification and brand approval take longer; GeM gives 4 working days for brand approval. Vendor assessment, where needed, adds more time.
Can service providers register on GeM?
Yes. Service providers such as manpower agencies, cab operators, cleaning and security firms and IT support companies register in the same way and list services instead of products, then respond to service bids from government buyers.