SWAYATT Initiative

• 27 Feb 2025

Source: PIB 

Why in News?

Government E-Marketplace (GeM) celebrated the 6^th anniversary of the SWAYATT (Startups, Women & Youth Advantage through e-Transactions) initiative. 

What is the SWAYATT Initiative?

• About: It was launched in 2019 to enhance the market access for women entrepreneurs, youth, startups, Micro & Small Enterprises (MSEs), and Self-Help Groups (SHGs). 
  • It enhances seller inclusion through training, registration, and capacity-building to leverage GeM for market access and growth. 
• Achievements: 
  • Women-led enterprises and startups have grown significantly, increasing from 6,300 women-led MSEs and 3,400 startups at launch to 1,77,786 Udyam-verified women MSEs. 
    • Women-led businesses now constitute 8% of GeM’s seller base. 
  • GeM facilitated Rs 35,950 Crore worth of orders from startups, addressing challenges in market access, finance, and value addition. 
    • It aims to double women entrepreneurs, increase their procurement share (currently 3.78%), and onboard 1 lakh DPIIT- registered startups. 
  • MoU was signed between GeM & FICCI Ladies Organisation (FICCI-FLO) to train and onboard 9,500+ women entrepreneurs, ensuring direct market linkages and boosting inclusive growth. 
  • “Startup Runway” and “Womaniya” storefronts were included to enhance visibility for startups, women entrepreneurs, and youth among government buyers. 

What is Government e-Marketplace (GeM)? 

• GeM is the public procurement portal for Central & State Governments, PSUs, and affiliated entities to procure goods and services. 
  • It serves as India’s National Procurement Portal. 
• It was established in 2016 under the Directorate General of Supplies and Disposals (DGS&D), Ministry of Commerce and Industry with technical support from the National e-Governance Division (MeitY).  
• It is a paperless, cashless, and system-driven platform that minimizes human intervention in public procurement. 

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question:(PYQ) 

Prelims:

Q.1 What is/are the recent policy initiative(s)of Government of India to promote the growth of the manufacturing sector? (2012) 

1. Setting up of National Investment and Manufacturing Zones 
2. Providing the benefit of ‘single window clearance’ 
3. Establishing the Technology Acquisition and Development Fund 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 2 and 3 only 

(c) 1 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d) 

Q.2. Which of the following can aid in furthering the Government’s objective of inclusive growth? (2011) 

1. Promoting Self-Help Groups 
2. Promoting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 
3. Implementing the Right to Education Act 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below: 

(a) 1 only 

(b) 1 and 2 only 

(c) 2 and 3 only 

(d) 1, 2 and 3 

Ans: (d)