RAS question
GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is used for:
Correct answer: (A) Government procurement of goods and services.
GeM, or Government e-Marketplace, is used for online government procurement of goods and services.
Explanation
GeM is not a retail or trading platform; it is a public-procurement platform. The PIB source describes Government e-Marketplace as a step to transform how procurement of goods and services is done by government ministries, departments, public sector undertakings and other government bodies. It also notes that the portal was launched on 9 August 2016 for procurement of both products and services. That matches the MCQ's core point: GeM is meant for government buyers to procure goods and services online. Its exam relevance comes from the stated governance benefits: transparency, efficiency, price discovery and savings in public procurement.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Stock trading involves buying and selling securities, while GeM is described as a portal for government procurement of products and services.
- (C) Sale of government land is outside GeM's stated purpose, which is procurement of goods and services by government bodies.
- (D) Consumer shopping is for private retail buyers, whereas GeM is designed for government ministries, departments, PSUs and related public bodies as buyers.
Concept
This tests e-governance in public finance, especially how digital platforms make government procurement more transparent and efficient. It recurs in RAS because procurement reform links economy, governance and administrative accountability.