Since the day government procurement in India took a digital turn, two prominent eProcurement portals have made their way ahead. GeM (Government e-Marketplace) and CPPP (Central Public Procurement Portal) have made it easier for small and large-scale businesses to successfully aim for the best government eTenders.
Now, the question arises, which portal is the best in providing the best government eTenders opportunities? Is it CPPP which showcases the best opportunities in a structured way, or is it GeM which operates in an organised manner with a digital-first approach? Let us further discuss this and find out which government portal among these two is the best, and can help you efficiently in achieving your business goals.
In the year 2025, India is aiming towards achieving a considerable number of targets in the procurement sector. But at present, this is not possible without transparency, efficiency, and inclusivity. With the introduction of digitalisation in the tender market, it has become easier for businesses to access their desirable tenders.
When we talk about comparing both GeM Tenders and CPPP Tenders, it sounds a little vague, as both of these serve different segments of the eTenders market. If you are a supplier or a contractor who wants to enter the government tenders sector, then you must have a clear understanding of the nature, scope, and usability of both of these portals.
Launched in 2016, the GeM tenders portal was introduced by the government with a view to developing the e-commerce sector in this arena. It is just like an online shopping app, but for government tenders. Through this portal, government departments, ministries, and PSUs can easily procure goods and services without getting involved in typical tender-related processes.
1. Simplified Onboarding : On this portal, all types of businesses, starting from MSMEs to large-scale vendors, can register themselves without any hassle. In comparison with other portals, businesses need to indulge in a less complex documentation process. This feature helps in increasing the vendor database on this portal, giving rise to better and more procurement opportunities.
2. Direct Visibility to Government Buyers : In the traditional tender process, sellers find it difficult to directly receive orders. But, GeM helps vendors to directly list their products and services on the portal, and get direct orders. They can also participate in bidding events like Reverse Auctions and BoQ (Bill of Quantity).
3. Open Catalogue Model : The GeM portal allows sellers to create their own product list, catalogue, specify their features, and set prices according to their competitive approach.
4. Opportunities for MSMEs and Women Entrepreneurs : With the approach of inclusivity, the GeM portal is now focusing on some neglected segments, such as MSMEs and women entrepreneurship.
5. AI-Powered Matching : The GeM portal is now aligned with AI-powered features. This helps in unlocking the latest features and capabilities, such as smart buyer-seller matching, real-time price comparisons, and improved decision-making tools.
The Central Public Procurement Portal (CPPP) was introduced before GeM. It is India’s go-to platform for eTendering across all sectors. It holds features related to accessibility of tenders related to infrastructure, defence, consultancy, education, etc.
1. Diverse and High-Value Projects : At present, CPPP is one of the primary platforms for procuring high-value and large-scale government contracts. Whether it's building a highway, providing software solutions to the Ministry of Education, or setting up solar parks, CPPP is the platform where all of it happens.
2. Structured Bidding Process : Usually, large-scale businesses prefer more legitimacy and compliance while applying for government tenders. In CPPP, there is more paperwork than in any other portal, but this makes the tender process more compliant and reliable, while increasing its accuracy.
3. Integration with eProcurement Portals of State/PSUs : Earlier, India had a highly unorganised and decentralised system of tendering. But, after the launch of the CPPP portal, various entities related to state governments and PSUs can easily connect with one another for better results.
4. Transparency and Compliance : CPPP is a portal that ensures rigid compliance, technical qualifications, and financial scrutiny for desired outcomes.
|
Feature |
GeM |
CPPP |
|
Primary Focus |
Products & Services for daily use |
Infrastructure, consultancy, engineering, turnkey projects |
|
User Base |
MSMEs, Startups, Product Suppliers |
Large contractors, EPCs, Service Providers |
|
Ease of Use |
High (catalogue-based selling) |
Moderate (document-heavy tendering) |
|
Opportunities |
High volume, smaller value orders |
Fewer but high-value contracts |
|
2025 Trends |
AI integration, eInvoice integration, catalog expansion |
Green procurement, cybersecurity tenders, large infra projects |
|
Tender Grid Compatibility |
High visibility for SME users via integrated discovery |
Ideal for detailed tracking and bid assistance tools |
The answer to this depends upon the type of your business. The stage at which your business is is the deciding factor for which portal you should use:
2025 is the year when small and large-scale businesses will no longer have to choose between the GeM Tenders and CPPP Tenders portals. Instead, they are using both as per their needs and requirements. Among both of these, the portal that best helps users in smartly discovering, filtering, and planning for bid are used by the businesses. Nowadays, users are also using third-party platforms like Tender Grid for better results.
Tender Grid aggregates Government eTenders across both GeM and CPPP, offering intuitive dashboards, keyword alerts, and bid support tools. Platforms like Tender Grid can simplify your tendering journey by offering both types of tenders available on the GeM and CPPP portal, on a single platform.
Since the procurement system in India has been digitalised, it has become more inclusive and advanced. When we talk about comparing GeM tenders and CPPP tenders, it becomes difficult to do so, as these two serve different purposes.
If you are a business owner who wants to stand out in this Government eTenders market, then do not choose one over the other. The best trick is to get a clear understanding of what your business is about, and among GeM and CPPP, whichever suits your purpose, you can navigate with that. For better understanding, you can use tools like Tender Grid, so that you can get the best opportunities in this eProcurement arena.
So, gear up, stay agile, and dive into the tendering pool that best suits your strengths.