**Policy Summary: Initiatives for SC/ST Entrepreneurs on E-commerce Platforms**
This report summarizes the Indian government's initiatives to integrate Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) entrepreneurs into the digital economy via e-commerce platforms. The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has implemented several programs to digitally empower SC/ST MSMEs, including:
* **Government eMarketplace (GeM):** A platform for digitizing government procurement. As of August 15, 2025, 59,390 SC/ST MSMEs have been onboarded.
* **MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (MSME TEAM):** This initiative focuses on onboarding MSMEs onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform. 304 SC/ST MSMEs are onboarded on MSME TEAM portal.
* **Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme:** Provides financial assistance for selling through e-commerce.
* **MSME Global Mart:** A B2B e-commerce platform developed by the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC). 24,970 SC/ST MSMEs are onboarded.
* **ekhadiindia.com:** A B2C e-commerce portal for Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC).
* **National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme:** Reimburses 80% of annual membership/subscription fees (up to Rs. 25,000) for government-promoted e-commerce portals to SC/ST MSEs.
The registered online sales revenue generated by SC/ST entrepreneurs on the GeM portal is as follows:
* 2022-23: Rs. 2689.31 crore
* 2023-24: Rs. 4287.63 crore
* 2024-25: Rs. 5134.44 crore
* 2025-26 (until 15.08.2025): Rs. 2310.37 crore
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: The Indian government ministry responsible for the formulation and administration of rules, regulations and laws relating to micro, small and medium enterprises in India.
SHRI SANATAN PANDEY: A member of Lok Sabha who posed a question regarding initiatives for SCST entrepreneurs on e-commerce platforms.
SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE: Minister of State for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises who provided the answer to the question about initiatives for SCST entrepreneurs.
Government eMarketplace (GeM): A government e-commerce platform for digitizing government procurement.
MSME Trade Enablement and Marketing (MSME TEAM): An initiative focusing on onboarding MSMEs onto the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform.
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC): A platform that MSME TEAM initiative onboards MSMEs.
Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme: A scheme that provides financial assistance to MSMEs for selling through e-commerce.
National Small Industries Corporation: An Indian governmental body that developed MSME Global Mart, a B2B e-commerce platform for MSMEs.
MSME Global Mart: A B2B e-commerce platform for MSMEs developed by the National Small Industries Corporation.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission: An organization that developed and manages ekhadiindia.com.
ekhadiindia.com: An e-commerce portal for B2C sales of Khadi and village industries products.
National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme: A scheme that reimburses a portion of the membership/subscription fee for Government-promoted e-commerce portals to SC/ST MSEs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4719
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 21.08.2025
E-COMMERCE PLATFORMS
4719. SHRI SANATAN PANDEY:
Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:
(a) whether any initiative has been taken to connect SC/ST entrepreneurs with e-commerce
platforms;
(b) if so, the number of entrepreneurs on-boarded on e-commerce platforms; and
(c) the increase in the registered online sales and revenue generated as a result thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a): The Government has taken several initiatives to digitally empower MSMEs including
SC/ST entrepreneurs for online marketing and e-commerce integration. These include
Government e-Marketplace (GeM) for digitizing Government procurement, MSME Trade
Enablement and Marketing (MSME TEAM) initiative which focuses on onboarding MSMEs onto
the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) platform and supporting in their e-commerce
journey; Procurement and Marketing Support (PMS) Scheme, which provides financial assistance
for selling through e-commerce; MSME Global Mart – a B2B e-commerce platform for MSMEs
developed by the National Small Industries Corporation to provide access to global trade leads,
tenders and other relevant information; and ekhadiindia.com, an e-commerce portal for B2C sales,
offering global reach and interactive features for khadi and village industries, developed and
managed by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
In addition, under National Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) Scheme,
80% of annual membership/subscription fee (upto Rs. 25,000/-) of Government promoted e-
commerce portals is reimbursed to SC/ST MSEs.
(b): As on 15.08.2025, 59,390 SC/ ST MSMEs are on-boarded on GeM Portal. Further, the
number of SC/ST MSMEs onboarded on MSME Global Mart and MSME TEAM portal are 24970
and 304, respectively.
(c): The registered online sales/revenue generated in terms of order value received on GeM
portal by SC/ST entrepreneurs during the last three years and current financial year (as on
15.08.2025) is as under:
Year Order Value (Rs. in crore)
2022-23 2689.31
2023-24 4287.63
2024-25 5134.44
2025-26
(till 15.08.2025) 2310.37
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