New businesses often cannot meet tender conditions like three years of turnover. For DPIIT-recognised startups, central government rules give relief.
What startups get
- EMD exemption under Rule 170 of the General Financial Rules.
- Relaxed prior turnover and prior experience criteria under Rule 173(i).
- Similar relaxations are available on CPPP and GeM for eligible startups.
Conditions to keep in mind
- You need DPIIT recognition, not just a new company registration.
- Quality and technical specifications still have to be met.
- These rules apply to central ministries, departments and CPSEs. State governments have their own startup policies with different conditions.
- Some tenders state that relaxations do not apply. Read the eligibility clause carefully.
Mark your DPIIT certificate and startup status correctly on GeM and CPPP profiles so the benefit shows during evaluation.
Sources
- Startup India – Public procurement ↗
- General Financial Rules 2017 (as amended), Ministry of Finance ↗
SoftTender is a private consultancy. We are not affiliated with GeM, CPPP, NSIC or any Government department. Registration on official portals such as GeM is free; we charge only for our assistance service. We do not guarantee that any tender will be awarded.