GeM Seller Registration: Steps, Documents, And Portal Link

Completing your GeM seller registration is the first real step toward accessing one of India's largest public procurement platforms. The Government e-Marketplace processes lakhs of crores in orders annually, and every central and state government department uses it to buy goods and services. If you're not registered, you're locked out of that entire pipeline.

The process itself is straightforward, but the documentation requirements and portal quirks trip up a lot of first-time applicants. Missing a single step can stall your registration for days.

This guide walks you through the entire registration process: eligibility criteria, required documents, the exact steps on the portal, and common mistakes to avoid. And once you're live on GeM, tools like Arched can help you track and match relevant GeM opportunities automatically, so you're not manually refreshing the portal hoping to catch the right listing.

What you need before you start

Before you open the GeM portal and start filling in fields, take 20 minutes to gather everything upfront. Jumping in without the right documents is the most common reason registrations stall or get flagged for verification. The gem seller registration process moves fast once you have your information ready, so preparation is the real first step.

Eligibility requirements

Any Indian business entity can register as a seller on GeM, including sole proprietors, partnerships, LLPs, private limited companies, and public limited companies. You must have a valid PAN and Aadhaar, and your business must be registered under Indian law. Foreign companies and individuals without Indian business registration are not eligible to sell directly on the platform.

If you are a proprietor, your personal Aadhaar and PAN are used for registration. For companies, the authorized signatory's Aadhaar and the company's PAN are required.

Documents you need to gather

Having all of these ready before you begin will cut your registration time significantly. Here is what the portal will ask for:

| Document | Details | |---|---| | PAN Card | Business PAN (or personal PAN for proprietors) | | Aadhaar Card | Linked to a mobile number for OTP verification | | Bank account details | Account number and IFSC code for payment setup | | Business registration certificate | MSME/Udyam, GST, company incorporation, or equivalent | | Mobile number | Registered and active for OTP | | Email address | Active email for portal notifications |

Your GSTIN is not mandatory for all sellers at the point of registration, but you will need it before you can complete certain catalogue listings or receive orders above a set threshold. Check the current GST rules for small sellers on the GST Council portal before you proceed.

Step 1. Create your GeM seller account

Opening the GeM portal for the first time can feel disorienting, but account creation is the quickest part of the entire gem seller registration process. Go directly to gem.gov.in and click the "Seller" option on the homepage to get started.

Always use the official gem.gov.in URL directly. Phishing sites that mimic the GeM interface are reported regularly, so bookmark the correct address now.

Locate the seller sign-up page

On the GeM homepage, click "Register" in the top navigation bar, then select "Seller/Service Provider" from the options displayed. This takes you to a dedicated sign-up form that is completely separate from the buyer registration flow, so make sure you choose the correct path.

Enter your primary details

The first form asks for your mobile number and email address. Enter the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar, because the portal sends an OTP to that number immediately for verification. Once you confirm the OTP, you set a password and the system generates your account.

• Enter the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar
• Verify using the OTP sent to that number
• Set a strong password using letters, numbers, and symbols
• Save your User ID, which the system generates automatically after sign-up

Step 2. Add business details and verify

Once your account is created, the portal prompts you to fill in your business profile. This is the most document-heavy part of the gem seller registration process, and the information you enter here directly affects which product categories you can list later.

Complete your business profile

The portal asks for your business name, type, and registration details in this section. Select the correct business type from the dropdown, because changing it later requires a support ticket. Enter your PAN number and the system cross-checks it against the Income Tax database automatically within seconds.

• Enter your legal business name exactly as it appears on your PAN or registration certificate
• Select your business category (manufacturer, reseller, or service provider)
• Upload your business registration document as a clear PDF or JPG under 2MB

Go through Aadhaar and PAN verification

The portal runs a live Aadhaar verification using OTP sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. This step cannot be skipped or done later.

Make sure your Aadhaar is linked to an active mobile number before you start this step. An unlinked Aadhaar will block verification completely, and you will need to visit an Aadhaar enrollment center to update it.

After both verifications pass, the system marks your account as verified and unlocks the catalogue setup stage.

Step 3. Set up catalogue and start selling

With your account verified, the final stage of your gem seller registration journey is building your catalogue. A complete, accurate catalogue is what gets you in front of government buyers, so take this step seriously rather than rushing to go live.

Create your first product or service listing

The GeM portal organizes products under standardized categories called Product Service Codes (PSCs). Search for the closest match to what you sell before creating a listing, because the portal will reject items placed in the wrong category. Each listing requires a product name, description, price, availability, and at least one image.

Keep your product images clear and professional. Blurry or placeholder images are a common reason buyers skip your listing entirely.

Use this checklist when creating each listing:

• Product/service name matching the GeM category terminology
• Price inclusive of applicable taxes
• Minimum order quantity and delivery timelines
• At least one high-resolution image (minimum 500x500 pixels)
• Brand or make details if applicable

Publish and monitor your listings

After you submit a listing, GeM reviews it before making it visible to buyers. Approval typically takes 24 to 72 hours. Once approved, your listing goes live and government buyers can place orders directly through the portal. Check your seller dashboard regularly to track order notifications and buyer queries.

Fix common registration issues and FAQs

Most problems during gem seller registration come down to two things: mismatched data between your documents and what you enter on the portal, or mobile number issues with Aadhaar. The fixes are usually simple once you know what to look for.

If your account gets stuck in "under verification" for more than 72 hours, raise a support ticket directly through the GeM helpdesk at helpdesk.gem.gov.in rather than waiting passively.

Aadhaar OTP not received

Your Aadhaar-linked mobile number must be active and have network coverage when you trigger the OTP. If the OTP does not arrive within 60 seconds, check that the number on your Aadhaar is not a deactivated SIM. You can verify and update your linked mobile number at any Aadhaar enrollment center or through the UIDAI portal.

• OTP expired: Request a fresh OTP immediately; do not reuse the old one
• Wrong number linked: Visit an Aadhaar center to update before retrying

PAN verification failing

This usually means the business name you entered does not exactly match the name on your PAN card. Copy the name character by character, including spacing and punctuation. If your PAN details are outdated, update them through the Income Tax portal before attempting registration again.

Final checklist before you log out

Your gem seller registration is complete, but before you close the browser, run through this list to confirm everything is in order. Missing any of these items now can delay your first order or cause verification problems later.

• Account verified: Aadhaar and PAN both show green status in your dashboard
• Business profile complete: Legal name, type, and registration document uploaded
• Bank account added: Account number and IFSC saved for payment processing
• At least one listing published: Submitted for review with images and pricing
• Notifications enabled: Email and SMS alerts active for new orders and buyer queries

Once you are live on GeM, the next challenge is finding the right tenders before your competitors do. Manually checking hundreds of portals wastes time you could spend on bidding. Arched's AI-powered opportunity matching monitors GeM and 500+ other procurement portals simultaneously, so relevant contracts reach you automatically without the manual search.