The Government of India's Womaniya initiative on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has crossed a cumulative order value of ₹28,000 crore with 13.7 lakh orders secured in FY 2025-26, officials announced on April 11, 2026. Launched on 14 January 2019 to give women entrepreneurs direct access to public procurement, Womaniya now has over 2.1 lakh women-led micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and Self-Help Groups registered on the portal. Women sellers account for 5.6 per cent of total GeM orders — comfortably above the 3 per cent mandatory procurement target for women-owned businesses set by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Order value grew 27.6 per cent year-on-year and the programme is now one of GeM's strongest inclusion pillars. Product listings span handloom, handicrafts, jute, coir, home decor, bamboo, khadi, Ayurveda, wellness, and office supplies. The Ministry of Commerce said Womaniya complements the broader Self-Help Group movement, where 10.05 crore women have been mobilised into 90.09 lakh SHGs as of February 2026, expanding collective economic action and financial inclusion. Officials highlighted that digitisation of procurement through GeM has reduced dependence on intermediaries, shortened payment cycles and brought rural women entrepreneurs into direct contact with central ministries, state governments and public sector enterprises. The initiative is aligned with the wider goal of Nari Shakti under Viksit Bharat and the government's push to exceed the statutory procurement floor for women-owned MSEs.
Womaniya Initiative on GeM Crosses ₹28,000 Crore in Orders; 2.1 Lakh Women-led MSEs Registered
Womaniya initiative on GeM has secured 13.7 lakh orders worth over ₹28,000 crore with 2.1 lakh women MSEs registered; women sellers now account for 5.6% of GeM orders, exceeding the 3% mandatory procurement target.
Key facts
- Womaniya initiative on GeM crosses ₹28,000 crore in cumulative orders with 13.7 lakh orders in FY 2025-26.
- Over 2.1 lakh women-led MSEs and SHGs are registered on the Government e-Marketplace under Womaniya.
- Women sellers account for 5.6% of total GeM orders — well above the 3% mandatory procurement target for women-owned MSEs.
- Order value grew 27.6% year-on-year, making Womaniya one of GeM's strongest inclusion programmes.
- As of February 2026, 10.05 crore women have been mobilised into 90.09 lakh SHGs, complementing the Womaniya push.
Mains angle
Q: Examine the role of the Womaniya initiative on Government e-Marketplace in advancing women's economic empowerment and public procurement reform in India.
Answer (50 words):
On April 11, 2026, officials reported GeM's Womaniya initiative, launched 2018, crossed ₹28,000 crore cumulative order value with 13.7 lakh orders in FY 2025-26. Over 2.1 lakh women-led MSEs and SHGs are registered. Women sellers account for 5.6 percent of orders, exceeding the 3 percent target; value grew 27.6 percent year-on-year.
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With reference to the Womaniya initiative reported on April 11, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Womaniya is an inclusion programme on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM). 2. In FY 2025-26 it crossed a cumulative order value of ₹28,000 crore. 3. Women sellers now account for 5.6 per cent of total GeM orders, exceeding the 3 per cent mandatory procurement target for women-owned MSEs. Which of the statements given above are correct?
All three statements are correct. Womaniya is a Government e-Marketplace (GeM) inclusion programme launched in 2018; it crossed ₹28,000 crore in cumulative order value in FY 2025-26 with 13.7 lakh orders; and women sellers account for 5.6 per cent of total GeM orders, exceeding the 3 per cent mandatory procurement target for women-owned MSEs set by the Ministry of MSME.
Source: PIB India
Frequently asked questions
What is the Womaniya initiative?
Womaniya is an inclusion-focused programme on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), launched in 2018, that enables women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Groups to sell products and services directly to government buyers.
What is the mandatory procurement target for women-owned MSEs?
Three per cent of total public procurement must be sourced from women-owned micro and small enterprises, as mandated by the Ministry of MSME.
What is the current share of women sellers on GeM?
5.6 per cent of total GeM orders, based on FY 2025-26 data, significantly above the 3% mandatory floor.
Which products are listed under Womaniya?
Handloom, handicrafts, jute, coir, home decor, bamboo, khadi, Ayurveda, wellness and office supplies, among others.
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