SBI slow in procurement from GeM portal; lags behind smaller counterparts in 2022-23

SBI, India’s largest lender, was very slow to buy goods and services from government-owned GeM Gateway in 2022-23, falling behind smaller peers, including Canara Bank and Punjab National Bank, according to government data.

The data showed that Canara Bank emerged as the largest buyer among the state-owned lenders in 2022-23, making total purchases of Rs. 592.82 crore from the gate.

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Punjab National Bank (164.57 crores) was the second largest bank, followed by Overseas Bank of India (159.82 crores), State Bank of India (158.22 crores), Bank of India (111.59 crores), Bank of India (63.81 crores) and Bank Baroda (Rs. 48.63 crore), Union Bank of India (Rs. 37.03 crore), Maharashtra Bank (Rs. 10.26 crore), Punjab and Sindh Bank (Rs. 9.98 crore), UCO Bank (Rs. 5.30 crore) and Central Bank of India (Rs. 4.54 crore) in 2022-23.

The SBI did not respond to an email inquiry on this matter.

GeM Portal was launched on August 9, 2016, for the online purchase of goods and services by all central government ministries and departments.

GeM has more than 63,000 government-buyer organizations, more than 6 crore sellers and service providers offering a wide range of products and services.

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Currently government departments, ministries, public sector units, state governments and central armed police forces are allowed to carry out transactions through this portal. The portal provides a wide range of products from office stationery to vehicles.

Cars, computers and office furniture are some of the major product categories. Services including transportation, logistics, waste management, online casting and analysis are also listed in the portal.