<h1>Central Government Must Use GeM for Procurement as per Rule 149 GFR-2017; States Have Option to Join.</h1> As per Rule 149 of the GFR-2017, the procurement of goods and services by Central Government ministries and departments must be conducted through the Government-E-Market (GeM), an online procurement portal. GeM facilitates all procurement activities, including registration, purchasing, and payments, entirely online. It promotes transparency by making seller prices visible and sending bidding notices to all relevant sellers. While GeM is not mandatory for state governments, several states have opted to use it. The platform enhances compliance with government policies supporting domestic manufacturers. This information was disclosed by the Commerce and Industry Minister in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.