You want to know how to do LI (Limited Item / Limited Item Bidding / Limited Item Listing) on the GeM (Government e-Marketplace) portal . I’ll explain step by step in simple terms: 🔹 What is LI on GeM? On GeM, LI (Lowest Identified / Limited Item) generally refers to Lowest Bidder (L1) identification in tenders/RA (Reverse Auction). Sometimes users also say "LI" when they mean Limited Item Listing (putting a product/service with limited specifications). So I’ll cover both contexts : ✅ If you mean LI as Lowest Identified (L1) Bidder in Bid/RA This is when you want to participate in bids/tenders and become LI (lowest price supplier) . Steps: Login → Go to gem.gov.in and log in with your Seller ID. Search Opportunities → In the "Bids / RA" section, filter by your category/product/service. Check Eligibility → Read buyer requirements carefully (OEM, brand, compliance, experience, etc.). Quote Your Price → Submit your bid with the best comp...
✅ Short Answer
No, prior business experience is not mandatory to register as a seller on the Government e‑Marketplace (GeM). You can register with all the required documents—PAN, GSTIN, Income Tax Returns if applicable, and Aadhaar or PAN validation—but you don’t need experience certificates unless you are participating in certain bids.
📋 What GeM does require for seller registration
According to the official GeM documentation, to sign up as a seller or service provider you must provide:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| ✔ Aadhaar‑ or PAN‑based identity of the authorised signatory | Valid mobile number linked to Aadhaar (unless registering via PAN) |
| ✔ PAN and GST number (if you plan to sell items above ₹2.5 lakh per order) | |
| ✔ Income Tax Returns | Required for the last 3 years—entities less than 2 years old are exempted from this requirement |
| ✔ Bank account details (with cancelled cheque or statement) | Used for payments and caution deposit purposes |
| ✔ Business address & incorporation certificates | Partnership deed, CIN, MOA/AOA, etc. depending on business type |
So far, no experience certificate is mandatory at the time of registration.
🚫 When experience may come into play (but not mandatory)
1. Bid/Reverse Auction (RA) participation
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Many tenders require supply or work completion certificates. In such cases, sellers must upload:
“Experience Certificate with Government, Turnover Certificate, … if demanded by buyer”
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However, this is optional and only required if a specific Bid Conditions ask for it; it does not block registration.
2. Vendor Assessment (for OEMs and large suppliers)
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If you're registering as an OEM or wish to sell in Q1/Q2 product categories, you must undergo “Vendor Assessment.”
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This includes information about your past supply experience, manufacturing capacity, & infrastructure. The purpose is to verify credibility—not to certify experience for registration alone
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Many sellers (such as authorized resellers and MSMEs) who are either exempt or fall outside those categories can avoid vendor assessment entirely.
🧾 TL;DR Tables
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is prior experience mandatory to register? | ❌ No — basic documents (PAN, GSTIN, ITR, Aadhaar) are sufficient to enroll. |
| Will I need experience certificate at some point? | ⚠️ Only if the government contracts you bid for specifically require proof of past work. |
| Do OEMs have to submit experience as part of vendor validation? | ✔️ Yes — OEM vendor assessment includes past operations info, but only for certain product categories. |
| Can a new firm with no govt. contracts still register? | ✅ Yes — GeM allows new entities (especially those <2 years old) to register with partial ITR information. |
✅ What to do if your experience is limited or you’ve never done government work
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Go ahead with the registration now — no need for experience docs.
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Keep GST‑compliant invoices and bank statements ready — these serve as proof of sales history if you bid later.
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When you see a tender requiring experience, apply only if you meet the criteria—GeM allows selective bid participation.
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If you’re unsure about vendor assessment or need exemptions (MSME, start‑up, etc.), review GeM’s Vendor Assessment Exemption Policy—many small firms don’t need the assessment at all
🧩 Final note
→ Registration ≠ eligibility to win every tender.
You can register with documents alone.
But bidding successfully in tenders may require experience, technical approvals, or certification depending on procurement rules.
So focus on building compliance, cataloging products/services accurately, and accumulating good ratings — that’s what gets you business on GeM, even without past government experience.
No, you do not need prior business or government contract experience to register on the GeM portal as a seller or service provider. GeM registration requires identity, tax, bank, and entity documents—but experience certificates are only required later if a specific tender or buyer demands them.
🧩 Registration Requirements on GeM
According to the official GeM seller registration page, the mandatory documents are:
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Authorized signatory’s Aadhaar-linked mobile number or PAN
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PAN and GSTIN (if you want to accept orders above ₹2.5 Lakh)
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Income Tax Returns (last 3 years), unless your firm is <2 years old
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Registered business details (e.g. CIN, address, contact info), bank account proof, etc.
There is no mention of any experience certificate being mandatory at this stage
Even for firms that have been in business longer, the platform does not ask for past completed contracts or experience documents during registration.
🎯 When Is “Experience” Actually Considered?
| Scenario | Experience Requirement | GeM’s Role |
|---|---|---|
| Registering on portal | ❌ Not required | Only identity, tax, and business proofs are verified |
| Bidding on Tenders / RA | ✅ Only if the tender terms specify it | You must share experience certificate if the buyer mandates one (Gem.gov.in) |
| Vendor Assessment (for OEMs or certain product categories) | ✅ Packs in ‘previous work’ details | Required only for OEMs/resellers in specific Q1/Q2 product lines and carries exemptions; even then it’s separate from registration |
Note: Submission of experience documents is purely conditional—either at bid-time or during vendor assessment, which itself is not mandatory for everyone.
🧠 How Startups & New MSMEs Are Treated
To promote inclusivity, GeM allows
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Startups (DPIIT-certified)
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MSMEs (with Udyam number)
to register with relaxed norms. These entities do not need any government contract history or experience certificate to complete registration and begin listing.
🔍 The Fine Point: “Experience Details” on Documents List
Some unofficial guides list "experience details with government bodies" as part of the seller registration documents. But in GeM’s official FAQs, it’s clearly stated that such documents are to be uploaded only if the buyer demands them for a specific bid—not for signing up (Gem.gov.in).
🏆 Bottom Line
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No prior experience or government work is required for GeM registration.
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You only need to prepare those certificates if you decide to participate in specific tenders where they are flagged as mandatory criteria.
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For OEMs or resellers dealing in high-value items, vendor assessment may require submitting past performance information—but this is separate from the registration process.
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Startups and micro businesses are welcome to register right away, even without experience.
In short — register now with confidence, and worry about “experience proof” only when you select and bid for a particular tender.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-rana-gem-consultant/
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