GeM, Bhashini Platform Join Hands To Support Sellers in Local Languages

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Digital India Bhashini Division (DIBD) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The partnership aims to assist sellers in creating their product and service catalogs in local languages. The primary objective of the MoU is to promote the development of language technology and generative AI solutions, particularly in vernacular languages, with a focus on supporting startups in this domain, as highlighted in a statement shared by GeM.

GeM further highlighted that the utilization of local language technology will facilitate inclusive growth for sellers and enable them to extend their market reach. The integration of the Bhashini platform and associated technologies available through DIBD will be implemented to enhance GeM's procurement solutions, effectively promoting the initiative.

AI-Based Tech Solution

Bhashini platform, an AI-based technology solution, was launched in July 2022. The AI-powered technology serves as a solution for translating content into various Indian languages, enabling both individuals and businesses to overcome language barriers. It facilitates effective communication with individuals who might not be proficient in a particular language, contributing to language diversity in the country.

GeM reported that as of October 10, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has conducted procurements amounting to INR 1,167 crore using the platform.

According to information available at the GeM dashboard as of October 19, a substantial sum of over INR 1.83 lakh crore has been expended on the procurement of goods and services. This involved an order volume of 28.37 lakh transactions, spanning across 11,866 products and 311 service categories. The platform has over 99,000 primary buyers and more than 1.94 lakh secondary buyers. Notably, nearly half, or 48.76 per cent, of the order value is attributed to micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

Interestingly, a mobile-based inclusive lending service—GeM Sahay 2.0—will soon be launched, as announced by the GeM platform a month ago. The application will offer collateral-free loans of up to INR 10 lakh to GeM sellers. GeM CEO Prashant Kumar Singh had highlighted that the loan approval process would be streamlined to just ten minutes. This initiative aims to bring more banks on board, supplementing the existing roster of banking partners, which includes UGRO Capital, ICICI Bank, Tata Capital, 121 Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Oxyzo Finance, Kredable, LendingKart, Union Bank, and ABFL.

Meanwhile, in a recent development, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has procured products and services worth INR 1,057 crore through the GeM platform. “Ministry of Labour and Employment has embraced growth with GeM by procuring products and services worth INR 1,057 Crore. GeM aims to continue reinventing public procurement for easy orders from Ministries,” it said.

According to the portal, as of July 31, the Ministry of Defence had procured goods and services worth INR 13,776 crore from the platform, making it one of the top buyers on the government e-marketplace.

In conclusion, the collaboration between Government e-Marketplace (GeM) and Digital India Bhashini Division enables sellers to break through language barriers, extending their market reach and contributing to the diversity of languages in the country. As India continues to embrace digital transformation, the initiative plays a crucial role in ensuring accessibility, inclusivity, and effective communication for all, further boosting economic growth and empowerment.