Background of the Womaniya Initiative
Womaniya Initiative and Women-Centric Public Procurement: The Womaniya Initiative is a flagship programme launched under the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) framework to strengthen the participation of women in public procurement. It reflects India’s policy shift towards inclusive economic growth and gender-responsive governance.
GeM, launched in 2016, was designed to make government procurement transparent, efficient, and technology-driven. The Womaniya Initiative builds on this digital foundation by addressing long-standing structural barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing government markets.
Static GK fact: Public procurement in India accounts for nearly 20% of GDP, making it a powerful policy tool for socio-economic inclusion.
Objectives and Core Features
The primary objective of the Womaniya Initiative is to enable women entrepreneurs and women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) to directly access government buyers. It aims to remove dependency on intermediaries and reduce procedural complexity.
The initiative offers a fully digital, paperless platform where women sellers can register, list products, and receive payments transparently. This model significantly lowers entry barriers related to capital, networks, and market visibility.
By integrating women-led enterprises into GeM, the initiative supports formalisation of women-owned businesses and improves their creditworthiness and scalability.
Role in Women-Led Enterprise Development
The Womaniya Initiative has emerged as a key enabler for women-led Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs). It provides assured demand through government orders, which enhances business stability and income security.
The initiative aligns with broader national goals such as women’s economic empowerment, MSME growth, and Digital India. It also complements policies promoting SHGs under rural livelihood missions by linking grassroots producers with institutional buyers.
Static GK Tip: India has over 8 crore SHG members, with women forming more than 85% of total SHG participation.
Key Achievements After Seven Years
As of 14 January 2026, the impact of the Womaniya Initiative has been substantial. More than two lakh women-led MSEs have registered on the GeM portal. These enterprises have collectively secured public procurement orders worth over ₹80,000 crore.
This accounts for approximately 4.7% of GeM’s total order value, highlighting the growing economic footprint of women entrepreneurs in government procurement. The figures also reflect increased trust of government buyers in women-led enterprises.
The completion of seven years of the initiative marks its transition from a support programme to a systemic inclusion mechanism within public finance and procurement architecture.
Governance and Economic Significance
The initiative strengthens ethical procurement practices by ensuring openness, competition, and accountability. Its digital nature minimizes discretion and promotes rule-based allocation of contracts.
From an economic perspective, the Womaniya Initiative contributes to job creation, income diversification, and local manufacturing, especially in rural and semi-urban regions. It also supports India’s commitments under Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality.
Static GK fact: Gender-inclusive procurement is globally recognised as a tool for reducing income inequality and promoting inclusive growth.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Womaniya Initiative and Women-Centric Public Procurement:
| Topic | Detail |
| Launch platform | Government e-Marketplace |
| Year of GeM launch | 2016 |
| Nature of initiative | Flagship programme for women sellers |
| Target beneficiaries | Women entrepreneurs and women-led SHGs |
| Registered women-led MSEs | Over two lakh |
| Total order value secured | Above ₹80,000 crore |
| Share in GeM orders | About 4.7% |
| Milestone achieved | Completion of 7 years |
