Caste Certificate and GeM: SC/ST/OBC Seller Benefits Explained

GeM's purchase preference framework includes specific provisions intended to widen participation from social categories that have historically had less access to government procurement.

Sellers who qualify under SC/ST/OBC entrepreneur categories may be eligible for additional consideration under certain purchase preference and support provisions on the portal, on top of the general MSME benefits available through Udyam linkage.

As with other eligibility-linked benefits on GeM, the documentation needs to be accurate and properly linked to your seller profile — a valid caste certificate alone doesn't automatically apply the benefit; it needs to be correctly reflected in your registration.

Because the specific scope of these provisions can be updated by policy from time to time, it's worth confirming current applicable benefits directly rather than assuming the framework hasn't changed since you last checked.

Frequently Asked Questions