India's Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has become one of the world's largest public procurement platforms, processing ₹15 lakh crore in cumulative orders. As the platform matures, GeM has made a significant leap by enabling Global Tendering (GTE) - a feature that opens India’s procurement ecosystem to foreign suppliers, advanced technologies, and international competition.
This expansion aligns with India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which aim to open India’s government procurement access to UK firms and set new precedents for global participation on GeM.
The Global Tender - General Terms & Conditions (GT-GTC) serve as the legal backbone governing how foreign sellers, OEMs, and international bidders participate on GeM. Understanding these terms is essential for both foreign suppliers entering India’s public procurement market and Indian government buyers seeking global competitiveness.
Global Tendering on GeM: What It Means
A Global Tender (GT) allows Indian government buyers to source from both domestic and foreign suppliers, especially for high-value, complex, or technology-intensive procurements. Unlike domestic tenders, GTs accommodate:
- Foreign currency quotations
- International Incoterms
- Advanced compliance requirements
- Cross-border logistics and customs considerations
This approach is particularly relevant for categories like defense, scientific instruments, mining solutions, heavy machinery, and medical technology.
Major 2025-2026 Policy Shift: Global Tenders Enabled Through India-UK FTA
In early 2025, one of the most impactful developments came from the India-UK FTA dialogue. Under the proposed terms:
- UK firms could gain access to nearly 40,000 Indian government tenders annually.
- GeM is upgrading its backend to fully support Global Tender Inquiries (GTEs) aligned with international trade rules.
- UK companies with 20%+ domestic UK content may qualify as Class-II Local Suppliers under India’s Make in India policy - a major advantage that levels the bidding field.
These developments represent a historic opening of India’s public procurement market and are expected to pave the way for broader access for EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and other partners.
The Scale of GeM Procurement: Data as of 2025-2026
To understand the significance of Global Tendering, it’s important to look at the platform’s explosive growth:
GeM by the Numbers
- ₹15 lakh crore - Total cumulative procurement processed on GeM as of mid-2025
- ₹7,00,000+ crore - Targeted annual transaction volume for FY 2025-26
- Global tenders typically apply to procurements above ₹200 crore, based on existing procurement guidelines
- 22 lakhs+ - Registered sellers and service providers on GeM
- ₹200 crore+ - Typical threshold for Global Tender Enquiries (GTE) based on procurement rules
- 40,000 tenders / £38 billion annually - Estimated value of government tenders accessible to UK firms under the proposed India-UK FTA, as per UK government assessments
These figures show that GeM is evolving from a domestic procurement platform into a global trade facilitator for India.
Foreign Seller Participation: Verification, Documentation & Compliance
Foreign suppliers looking to participate in Global Tenders on GeM must complete a strict verification and compliance process designed to ensure secure, lawful, and transparent cross-border procurement.
Key Requirements for Foreign Sellers
Access & Authentication
- Mandatory VPN access to log in securely from outside India.
- Class 3 Organizational DSC issued by an Indian Certifying Authority (CA).
- Organization name + authorized signatory name must match DSC details.
Registration Verification (RV) Essentials
Foreign sellers must upload attested, valid documents:
- Certificate of Incorporation / Business Registration
- Tax Identification Number (TIN/VAT/equivalent)
- Authorized personnel’s Passport/ID
- Authorization Letter for GeM operations
- Beneficial Ownership Declaration (Annexure I)
- List of Directors/Partners with nationalities
Accepted attestation methods:
- Embassy/High Commission attestation
- Apostille (Hague Convention countries)
- Consularization (Non-Hague countries)
Participation Rules for Global Tenders
- Foreign sellers are eligible only for Global Tenders (GT) - not domestic bids.
- Indian bidders may quote in INR; foreign bidders may quote in foreign currency as permitted in tender terms.
- Currency conversion for evaluation uses SBI selling rate on bid-closing date.
Price Evaluation & Buyer-Loaded Costs
To ensure uniform comparison, buyers may add:
- Freight & insurance
- Customs duty & IGST
- Handling & clearance charges
- Any other statutory/contractual costs
Contractual & Financial Compliance
- Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) in specified currency (if applicable).
- Performance Security as per buyer-defined value, format, and validity.
- Applicable GeM Transaction Charges (TC) and AMC for all GT participants.
- Delivery, payment terms, Incoterms (FOB/CIF/CIP), and exchange-rate risks follow tender conditions.
How Price Evaluation Works in Global Tenders
Under GT-GTC, financial evaluation begins only after suppliers meet mandatory eligibility norms, such as being an Indian manufacturer, OEM-certified sole selling agent, or authorised dealer registered for the tendered item with OEFC or sister ordnance factories. Firms not registered must submit the VRR form and fee before the tender opening-otherwise their bids are rejected without evaluation. This ensures that only verified and compliant bidders proceed to the financial comparison stage, maintaining fairness, transparency, and procurement integrity.
Sector Trends: Who Will Benefit Most?
Global Tendering is expected to be most active in:
- Defense manufacturing & dual-use technology
- Infrastructure & heavy engineering
- Mining services
- Medical and diagnostic equipment
- Aerospace components
- Research & innovation hardware
- Smart manufacturing & IoT machinery
The India-UK FTA specifically identifies specialized mining services and high-value goods as key GTE sectors.
Challenges & MSME Concerns
While global tendering increases competition and drives better pricing, it has triggered policy concerns:
- Indian MSMEs fear being crowded out by large global suppliers
- Preferential treatment rules may undergo changes to accommodate FTA commitments
- Domestic content requirements may create friction between foreign access and Make in India goals
Balancing global competition and MSME protection will be a critical policy priority in 2025–2030.
Why Global Tendering Matters for India’s Procurement Future
Global Tendering is not just a technical upgrade - it is a strategic transformation aligned with India's ambition to:
- Modernize public infrastructure
- Access cutting-edge technology
- Enhance procurement transparency
- Support trade partnerships
- Attract high-quality global suppliers
- Strengthen India’s global economic integration
As India moves toward a $5 trillion economy, globalized procurement through GeM will become essential for sectors where domestic capabilities are still developing.
Conclusion
The Global Tender - GT-GTC framework on GeM represents one of the most forward-looking reforms in India’s procurement landscape. By enabling foreign participation, integrating FTA provisions, and adopting globally benchmarked procurement practices, India is making its government marketplace internationally competitive.
Whether you are a foreign supplier entering India’s government market or an Indian buyer seeking global technology, understanding GT-GTC is the key to navigating this new era of procurement.