About GeM 

• Launched in 2016, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a 100 percent government-owned company setup under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. 
• It is a completely paperless, cashless and system driven e-market place that enables procurement of common use goods and services with minimal human interface. GeM aims to enhance transparency, efficiency and speed in public procurement.
• GeM was developed with the technical support of the National eGovernance Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

• In 2017, the government made it mandatory for all the departments and ministries to source goods and services from the GeM. 

Why in News?

• The success of “Womaniya on Government eMarketplace” was commemorated in New Delhi.
• There are over one lakh 44 thousand Udyam-verified women micro, small enterprises (MSE) registered at present, known as “Womaniya”.
• They are registered as sellers and service providers on the GeM portal and have fulfilled over 14.76 lakh orders amounting to over 21 thousand crore rupees in Gross Merchandise Value.
• The “Womaniya” initiative was launched in 2019. It has sought to encourage the participation of women entrepreneurs and self-help groups from the informal sector on the GeM portal and facilitate the sale of their products directly to various Government buyers, sans intermediaries.

https://newsonair.gov.in/News?title=Success-of-%26%2339%3bWomaniya-on-Government-eMarketplace%26%2339%3b-commemorated-in-New-Delhi&id=454056