GeM Vendor Assessment Exemption Process

GeM Vendor Assessment Exemption - Eligible Categories, Documents required and RITES Process

Posted On : 12 December 2025

GeM Vendor Assessment is a detailed evaluation process especially applicable to Original Equipment Manufacturers and select reseller categories to maintain these standards and guarantee quality supply.

GeM Vendor assessment exemption is the process in which the vendor gets exempted by Vendor assessment. If the vendor is exempted, then it does not need to complete the vendor assessment process and skip the video assessment process. This is applicable only when the Vendor comes under the exempted categories and needs to submit the Assessment Exemption Documents and Assessment Exemptions tab.

There is no fee applicable for Vendor exemption on GeM i.e. the vendor gets the vendor assessment done Free of cost.

Vendor Assessment Exemption in GeM Portal

The qualification guidelines for vendor assessment exemption in GeM platform considers various factors, including turnover, product type, organizational structure, and certifications.This process streamline and facilitate the process for different types of sellers after the GeM Registration . GeM Vendor exemption is applicable for the companies under some of the following scenarios:

  • Central/State PSUs.
  • Small-Scale Sellers: Validated sellers with products priced below ₹25,000/unit and turnover under ₹5 lakh/year. This excludes sellers offering products as OEM.
  • Specialized Products: Items like artwork, handicrafts, or non-standard manufacturing products specified by GeM.
  • Government Representation: Registered Societies/Trusts or any other bodies,only for resellers.
  • Specific Organizations: Exemptions for KVIC, TRIFED, WDO, Coir Board, etc.
  • OEMs Registered with NSIC: OEMs registered with the National Small Industries Corporation for the category for which registration was obtained.
  • BIS License Holders: OEMs holding BIS License for the product category validated through the BIS database. The vendor exemption on GeM is valid for three years or till license validity, whichever is shorter.
  • DRDO/OFB/SITRA Certification: OEMs having a UCC issued by DRDO, OFB, or SITRA. The exemption is coterminous with the UCC certificate validity.
  • Recommendation Exemption: Sellers recommended for exemption for specific categories and specified validity period by any CPSE, Central and State Government Departments/Authorities. The exemption should be verified and confirmed by the Nodal officer of buyer organization and category Manager at GeM.
  • Vaccine manufacturer: as per list provided by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  • Drugs/Medicine manufacturer: : with Notarized Undertaking and Valid certified copy of Drug Licenses from the issuing/concerned Drug Authority.
  • Medical Device manufacturer: with valid manufacturing license from the issuing Licensing Authority
  • OEMs: holding a valid CMVR certificate issued by the relevant authority.
  • Other Categories: Any other category of sellers as notified with the approval of CEO-GeM Portal.

In case GeM modifies the vendor assessment exemption policy, existing exempted vendors, who are affected by the change of criteria, will have to get their vendor assessment done within one (1) month of notification of such revised exemption

Documents for Vendor Assessment Exemption in GeM

The Vendor must have the required documents to get the GeM vendor assessment exemption successfully. These documents will help to verify the vendor eligibility that comes under the exemption category or not.

  • Form AOC-4 Financial Statements for the last FY filled with MCA
  • Copy of BEN 2 filled on the MCA web portal
  • Beneficial Ownership Declaration on the company letter head
  • List of Directors (Name of all Directors, DIN number, Nationality, Aadhar / Passport Copy)
  • Import Export Code Certificate
  • Joint Venture - For Joint venture company, all above details of all JV members to be submitted along with Joint Venture Agreement / Shareholders Agreement
  • Master Data of the Company on the MCA web portal
  • Form MGT-7-Annual Return of the Company filed with MCA for last financial year
  • RBI approval to establish a place of business in India under FEMA or, in case of foreign company's India Office.
  • List of shareholders with details of Percentage of shares held in the company. (Names of all Shareholders holding more than 1% share in company and their Nationality, If any other Company is shareholder then CIN No of that company and its place of registration and address)
  • Authorization letter in favor of the signing office

The above mentioned documents are to be submitted for the vendor assessment exemption in GeM Portal. All the documents should be self-attested or digitally signed by the signing authority for GeM vendor assessment exemption.

Process for Vendor exemption on GeM

  1. Login to the GeM portal and select My Account section.
  2. Click on the Vendor Assessment tab and go to the assessment exemption Documents
  3. The Vendor can get the format for the Beneficial Ownership Declaration and applicable documents guidelines.
  4. Upload the relevant documents as mentioned in the guidelines.
  5. After documents are uploaded, the Assessment Exemption Field will be functional.
  6. Now, the vendor can raise or create the New Exemption Request.
  7. The vendor has to select the OEM or Reseller category as applicable for raising the request..

Vendor Exemption process for Manufacturers/OEM's

  1. Click on the New Exemption Request and select Manufacturers/OEM's.
  2. Click on the Request Vendor Assessment Exemption and proceed further.
  3. Select the relevant Assessment Exemption Criteria from the list.
  4. Fill the category details such as below:
    • Category name as per GeM Portal - Identify all the categories for which the OEM products are eligible.
    • Category Description in 255 characters
    • Production capacity per month for each category
    • Sales Information for last Financial year – Company Name (Government or Private company), FY, Category, Quantity, Value (in Rs)
    • The vendor can add upto 40 categories in one request
    • The vendor can add multiple Rows by click on the Add New Row
  5. Upload the Relevant Exemption document having Unique Certification Code
  6. Save and submit VA application. The Vendor will get the Assessment Exemption Request id after the successful submission.

Vendor Exemption process for Resellers

  1. Select the category as Reseller and request Vendor Assessment Exemption.
  2. Upload the Relevant documents and move forward.
  3. Submit VA Exemption for Resellers.
  4. The Vendor will get the Assessment Exemption Request id after the successful submission.

RITES response on VAE

The Vendor can check the Assessor’s Response at the end of their application submission section. The VA and VAE is verified by a third party agency i.e. RITES (Rail India Technical and Economic Service). This agency is responsible to verify the vendor's application and find any discrepancy then give the remarks. The Vendor can track their application status under the accessor response tab.

RITES would validate the information and the document uploaded by the OEM in the 2 working days. Once the details are validated and approved, the OEM gets Vendor Assessment exemption in GeM Portal.

Overall, GeM vendor assessment exemption is the process for OEMs or Resellers to skip the Vendor assessment which is necessary to get the full access of the GeM portal features. VAE helps the vendor to participate in Q1 and Q2 categories in GeM Tenders. If the Vendor falls in any of the Exemption categories, then for getting the exemption on the website, the vendor has to complete the process of Vendor exemption on GeM.

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