How to Leverage GeM’s ‘Make in India’ Priority to Boost Your Bid Success
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Government auctions in India present significant opportunities for businesses and individuals to acquire valuable assets ranging from vehicles, real estate, industrial equipment, coal, scrap materials, to mineral rights, often at attractive prices. Understanding the nuances of these auctions can lead to profitable investments and strategic growth.
A Strategic Playbook for MSMEs, Startups & Indian Manufacturers — By Leegal Procurement Advisors
The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) has fundamentally transformed India’s public procurement architecture. But among all policy levers, one mechanism stands out as a true game-changer for domestic businesses: the Make in India (MII) Purchase Preference Policy.
For every MSME, startup, OEM or value-adding trader, understanding this policy isn’t optional — it’s a strategic differentiator that directly impacts bid ranking, L1 competitiveness, and order allocation.
Leegal’s procurement intelligence team breaks down how you can systematically activate, prove, and leverage your Make in India status to consistently win tenders on GeM.
Why ‘Make in India’ Matters on GeM
GeM embeds MII priority directly into bid evaluation. This means:
You compete first against Indian manufacturers, not global suppliers
Your bid may win even if you are NOT the lowest price
You can enjoy Purchase Preference up to 20%
Bidders below a certain domestic value-addition threshold are automatically deprioritized
In simple terms, MII acts as a policy shield + competitive advantage for genuine Indian producers and value-adding MSMEs.
Understanding the Three Key MII Categories
GeM uses structured, government-notified classifications:
A. Class-I Local Supplier
Minimum 50% domestic value addition
Highest purchase preference
Eligible for MII-based L1 substitution
Preferred in >90% of procurement categories
B. Class-II Local Supplier
Minimum 20% domestic value addition
Considered only after Class-I
Gets local preference but without L1 substitution rights
C. Non-Local Supplier
<20% domestic value addition
Considered only when the buyer allows global sourcing
Practically disadvantaged in most Indian public procurement
Where Most Sellers Lose the Advantage
Over 62% of suppliers fail MII evaluation because of missing or incorrect documentation.
Typical lapses we at Leegal observe:
Wrong MII percentage or miscalculated domestic value addition
No CA-certified MII declaration
Uploading outdated certificates
Mentioning wrong HSN/SAC linkage
Claiming OEM status without documentary proof
Failure to justify component sourcing breakdowns
Missing technical brochures validating Indian manufacturing
Correcting these gaps instantly improves your technical responsiveness and evaluation scorecard.
How to Prepare Your Make in India Compliance Pack
Our advisory team recommends preparing a standardised digital dossier for every catalog:
Documents to Keep Ready
CA-Certified Local Content Certificate (LCC)
Component-wise cost sheet highlighting Indian inputs
Manufacturing licence / factory registration
Process flowchart proving local transformation
Purchase bills of raw materials
Specification sheet with Made in India declaration
OEM Authorisation Letter (if applicable)
Udyam Registration (mandatory for MSME benefits)
A well-built MII pack increases your response rate, reduces evaluation objections, and builds trust with procurement officers.
Activating Make in India Priority on GeM
To ensure GeM awards you the correct preference:
Step 1: Update Your GeM Profile
Select the correct MII classification
Upload supplementary MII documentation
Validate your product/service categories
Step 2: Accurate Catalogue Listing
Declare local content percentage
Add compliant technical specs
Attach updated CA certificates (validity checks are strict)
Step 3: Monitor MII-Specific Bids
Use GeM’s advanced filters:
“Class-I Supplier Only” “Local Content >50%” “Product Must Be Indian Manufactured”
“Class-I Supplier Only”Step 4: Participate in RA (Reverse Auction) Strategically
Buyers often revalidate MII compliance during RA. A strong MII claim keeps you eligible even when price pressure intensifies.
How Majority Local Suppliers Win Even Against Lower Bidders
Here’s where the real magic happens.
If you are a Class-I Local Supplier:
Even if a lower-priced bidder is Class-II or Non-Local, you may still be awarded the order
Buyers may invite you to match L1 within a 20% margin
Many bids have priority scoring models where MII is weighted
This is why smart Sellers focus on domestic value addition, not just price cuts.
Top Competitive Strategies to Maximise MII Advantage
As Leegal advisors, we’ve distilled the most effective tactics:
Push Your Local Content to 50%+
Push Your Local Content to 50%+Even a small shift (e.g., sourcing packaging locally) can elevate you from Class-II to Class-I.
Always Keep a Fresh CA-Certified LCC
Always Keep a Fresh CA-Certified LCCExpired certificates = auto-rejection.
Build Multi-Catalog Presence Across Categories
Build Multi-Catalog Presence Across CategoriesThe more products you list as Class-I, the wider your bid coverage.
Bid First on MII-Restricted Categories
Bid First on MII-Restricted CategoriesThese are high-winning-probability segments where competition is low.
Conduct Pre-Bid Clarification
Conduct Pre-Bid ClarificationAsk buyers to confirm MII scoring logic to avoid ambiguity.
Participate in RA Only When You Have Strategic Leeway
Participate in RA Only When You Have Strategic LeewayYour MII status already gives you leverage — use it smartly.
How Leegal Helps You Win with Make in India
Leegal offers end-to-end procurement enablement to maximise your GeM success:
MII documentation support
Local Content Calculation
CA-Certified LCC Coordination
Catalogue Creation & Optimisation
End-to-End Bid Filing
Drafting Responses for Buyer Objections
Reverse Auction Intelligence
Competitor Mapping
Post-Award Compliance
Our team ensures your Make in India status translates into real, consistent bid wins.
Final Thoughts: MII Priority Is Your Competitive Weapon
In a marketplace where thousands compete on price, Make in India allows you to compete on policy-backed preference.
When used strategically, MII transforms your GeM journey by:
Boosting win probability
Reducing dependence on being L1
Strengthening your OEM credibility
Enhancing your long-term government supply footprint
If you’re serious about procurement growth, MII isn’t just a compliance requirement — it’s your bid-winning accelerator.
Strategic Insight
Strategic Foundations: Delve into the core principles that underpin successful tendering, providing a strategic foundation for all subsequent stages.
Initiation to Award: Gain clarity on the overarching objectives, key decision points, and strategic considerations from the initiation of the process to the final award stage.
Risk Assessment: Understand how a strategic approach involves a thorough risk assessment, enabling organizations to proactively address potential challenges.
End-to-End Perspective
Holistic View: Explore the tendering process from an end-to-end perspective, ensuring a holistic understanding of how each phase contributes to the overall success of procurement.
Interconnected Phases: Examine the interconnected nature of initiation, planning, preparation, evaluation, and award, recognizing the dependencies that define a seamless procurement journey.
Strategic Decision-Making: Emphasize the strategic decision-making required at each stage, emphasizing the impact on subsequent phases.
Navigating Complexity
Clear Navigation Strategies: Uncover strategies for navigating the complexities of the tendering process, offering a clear roadmap for effective decision-making.
Communication Excellence: Highlight the role of effective communication in simplifying complex procedures, ensuring clarity for all stakeholders involved.
Guidance for All: Tailor content to be accessible for both seasoned professionals, providing strategic insights, and newcomers, offering foundational knowledge to demystify the process.
Breaking Down the Tendering Process
Navigate the tendering process seamlessly with our in-depth guide, breaking down the journey into distinct stages. Explore a step-by-step breakdown, delve into the intricacies of initiation, planning, preparation, and unravel the critical evaluation and award stages.
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- Expert Legal Guidance
- Comprehensive Compliance Assistance
- Tailored Tender Strategies
- Contract Review and Negotiation
- Dispute Resolution Support
- Identifying Suitable Tenders
Step-by-Step Breakdown
Comprehensive Overview: Dive into a comprehensive breakdown, offering a step-by-step guide to the entire tendering process.
Clarity in Action: Experience clarity as we dissect each stage, demystifying the complexities and providing a roadmap for successful navigation.
Strategic Insights: Gain strategic insights at each step, empowering you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions.
- Feature: Delve into a comprehensive breakdown that leaves no aspect of the tendering process untouched.
- Significance: Ensures a thorough exploration, providing readers with a complete understanding of the intricacies involved in tendering.
- Feature: Experience clarity in action as each stage is dissected, unraveling complexities for enhanced understanding.
- Significance: Visual clarity ensures that readers can grasp the tendering journey with precision, facilitating effective decision-making.
Feature: Gain strategic insights at every step, empowering readers to make informed decisions.
Significance: Provides readers with the knowledge and strategic acumen needed to navigate the tendering process with confidence and efficacy.
Feature: The breakdown offers a holistic understanding, connecting the dots between each stage for a seamless procurement journey.
Significance: Ensures that readers comprehend how each stage contributes to the overall success of the tendering process.
Feature: The chapter is crafted with an accessible learning approach suitable for newcomers and seasoned professionals alike.
Significance: Fosters an inclusive learning environment, making the intricacies of tendering accessible to a diverse audience.
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