Women-led micro and small enterprises (MSEs registered on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) have achieved a significant milestone by securing over ₹80,000 crore in public procurement orders since the launch of the Womaniya initiative in January 2019. This accomplishment reflects the growing participation and success of women entrepreneurs in India’s government procurement ecosystem.
The Womaniya programme was introduced to improve market access for women-owned enterprises and self-help groups (SHGs) by offering a fully digital, transparent platform where they can directly engage with government buyers — eliminating intermediaries and lowering barriers to entry. As of mid-January 2026, more than two lakh women-led MSEs are active on the GeM portal.
Women-led businesses’ cumulative order value on GeM — accounting for nearly 4.7 % of total procurement — exceeds the mandatory target of 3 % set for women entrepreneurs, underscoring their increasing role in public sector supply chains.
The GeM platform and Womaniya initiative have expanded into a broader ecosystem of support for women in business by combining policy focus, digital procurement tools and capacity-building efforts, helping boost enterprise growth and economic inclusion.
