SWAYATT Initiative

Recently, the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated the seven-year journey of its flagship initiative SWAYATT (Startups, Women and Youth Advantage through e-Transactions). The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to inclusive growth and digital empowerment in public procurement.

About the SWAYATT Initiative

• The SWAYATT Initiative was launched in February 2019.

• It was designed with the objective of encouraging the participation of startups, women entrepreneurs, and youth in government procurement.

• The initiative promotes inclusive and equitable access to government markets.

Objectives of SWAYATT

The initiative focuses on democratizing public procurement by enabling participation from:

• Startups

• Women-led enterprises

• Youth entrepreneurs

• Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs)

• Self Help Groups (SHGs)

• Last-mile sellers

Through this, SWAYATT ensures that these groups can directly engage with government buyers via the GeM platform.

Key Features and Significance

• SWAYATT is rooted in GeM’s core principle of social inclusion.

• It addresses three major challenges faced by emerging enterprises:

  • Access to markets

  • Access to finance

  • Access to value addition

• By reducing entry barriers, it helps in promoting entrepreneurship and economic empowerment.

Government e-Marketplace (GeM): Key Facts

• GeM is an online platform established in 2016.

• It facilitates the procurement of goods and services by government ministries, departments, and public sector undertakings (PSUs).

• It is envisioned as the National Procurement Portal of India.

Development and Functioning

• Developed by the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (Ministry of Commerce and Industry).

• Supported technically by the National e-Governance Division (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology).

Key Features of GeM

• It is a completely paperless, cashless, and system-driven platform.

• Ensures transparency, efficiency, and minimal human intervention in procurement processes.

• Enables easy access for buyers and sellers across the country.

Conclusion

The SWAYATT Initiative plays a crucial role in making public procurement more inclusive and accessible, especially for startups, women, and youth entrepreneurs. By leveraging the digital infrastructure of GeM, it contributes to economic empowerment, transparency, and the growth of small enterprises in India.