Overview
The Digital India BHASHINI Division and the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) signed an MoU on 15 June 2026 to make public procurement multilingual. The BHASHINI platform will provide AI-powered translation, speech recognition, and voice tools in 22 official languages. This will help MSMEs, startups, and sellers across India use GeM in their own language.
A Big Step for Language Inclusion
India has 22 official languages. But most government websites and portals are in English or Hindi. This makes it hard for people who speak Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, or other languages. They struggle to use online services. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a very important portal. It is used by government buyers and thousands of sellers to buy and sell goods and services. But until now, it was mostly in English. On 15 June 2026, that changed. The Digital India BHASHINI Division and GeM signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to make GeM multilingual. Now sellers and buyers can use GeM in their own language.
What is BHASHINI?
BHASHINI stands for the National Language Translation Mission under the Digital India programme. It is India’s National Language Digital Public Infrastructure. BHASHINI provides language technology services like:
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Translation from one Indian language to another
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Speech recognition (understanding spoken words)
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Voice-based digital interaction (talking to computers)
BHASHINI uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Generative AI to power these services. It is designed to help all Indians use digital services in the language they are most comfortable with. The platform is free for government use and aims to break down language barriers in governance.
What is GeM?
GeM stands for Government e-Marketplace. It is an online portal for public procurement. Government ministries, departments, Public Sector Units (PSUs), and other eligible buyers use GeM to purchase goods and services. Sellers, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), startups, and large companies, register on GeM to sell their products. GeM was launched to make government buying transparent, efficient, and paperless. It has thousands of products and services listed. But the language was a barrier for many sellers who are not comfortable with English.
The MoU: What Was Signed?
The MoU was signed on 15 June 2026 between the Digital India BHASHINI Division and GeM. The partnership operates under a programme called “BHASHINI for Seva/Sanchalan—A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program” . Under this MoU, BHASHINI will provide its AI-powered language technologies to GeM. This includes:
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Translation APIs (application programming interfaces) that will translate GeM content in real time
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Domain-specific language models (AI trained on procurement terms)
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Voice-enabled tools (speak instead of type)
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“Voice First” language technology – meaning users can talk to the portal in their language
The goal is to support interaction in all 22 official languages of India (listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution) and other regional languages as well.
How Will This Help Sellers and Buyers?
Imagine a small weaver from Tamil Nadu who wants to sell bedsheets to the government. She does not know English. She tries to register on GeM but cannot understand the forms. She gives up. After the MoU, she will be able to see the entire GeM portal in Tamil. She can fill forms in Tamil. She can even speak in Tamil and the system will convert her speech into text. The same applies to buyers. A government officer in West Bengal can search for products in Bengali. This will increase participation from all regions.
Benefits for MSMEs and Startups
MSMEs and startups are the backbone of India’s economy. Many of them are in small towns and rural areas. Their owners often speak only their mother tongue. By making GeM multilingual, the government is opening the doors for thousands of small businesses to become government suppliers. This will lead to more competition, better prices, and more jobs.
Technical Components of the Collaboration
The partnership includes:
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Integration of AI-powered language technologies into GeM’s existing platform.
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Translation APIs that work instantly – no waiting.
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Domain-specific language models – these are AI models trained on procurement vocabulary, so they translate technical terms correctly.
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Voice-enabled tools – users can speak their queries and the system responds.
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Generative AI solutions – these can create product descriptions, tender notices, and other content in multiple languages automatically.
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Co-creation and deployment of multilingual digital public resources – meaning that BHASHINI and GeM will work together to build new language tools specifically for procurement.
A Human Touch: The Voice of a Small Seller
Let me tell you about Ramesh, who runs a small packaging unit in Coimbatore. He speaks Tamil. He has been wanting to sell his products to the government for years. But every time he tried to use GeM, he got lost in English terms. “I did not understand ‘request for quotation’ or ‘technical bid’,” he said. “Now I hear that GeM will come in Tamil. I am very happy. I will definitely register.” Ramesh represents millions of small business owners across India. This MoU is for them.
The Bigger Picture: Digital Governance for All
The government’s Digital India programme aims to make all services available online. But online does not mean accessible. A service is only truly accessible if it is in a language the user understands. BHASHINI is the infrastructure that will power language inclusion across all government portals. GeM is the first major e-governance platform to fully integrate BHASHINI. Others will follow.
Exam-Focused Points
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MoU signed on: 15 June 2026.
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Parties: Digital India BHASHINI Division and Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
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BHASHINI stands for: National Language Translation Mission under Digital India.
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BHASHINI is: India’s National Language Digital Public Infrastructure.
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Services offered by BHASHINI: Translation, speech recognition, voice-based interaction.
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GeM: Government e-Marketplace – online public procurement portal.
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GeM users: Government buyers, MSMEs, startups, PSUs, sellers.
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Programme name: BHASHINI for Seva/Sanchalan – A BHASHINI Sahayogi Program.
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Languages supported: 22 official languages (Eighth Schedule) plus other regional languages.
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Key technologies: AI-powered translation APIs, domain-specific language models, voice-first tools, Generative AI.
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Constitutional reference: Eighth Schedule lists 22 official languages.
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Generative AI: AI that creates text, speech, or other content.
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Purpose: Enable multilingual access to public procurement for all Indian language speakers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is BHASHINI?
A: BHASHINI is India’s National Language Digital Public Infrastructure under the Digital India programme. It provides translation, speech recognition, and voice interaction services in Indian languages.
Q2: What is GeM?
A: GeM (Government e-Marketplace) is an online portal where government buyers and sellers transact for goods and services. It is used by ministries, PSUs, and other government entities.
Q3: How will this MoU help small businesses?
A: Small businesses can now register, list products, and bid for government contracts in their own language. This removes the language barrier that prevented many from participating in public procurement.
Q4: Which languages will be supported?
A: All 22 official languages under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, plus other regional languages as needed.
Q5: What is Generative AI and why is it used?
A: Generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can create new content (like text or speech). It is used to automatically generate product descriptions, tender documents, and other procurement content in multiple languages without manual translation.