Common Listing Mistakes on GeM & How to Avoid Them

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) gives sellers, manufacturers, service providers, and MSMEs a powerful opportunity to sell products and services directly to government buyers. But creating a high-quality, compliant listing is often the biggest challenge. Most sellers face GeM listing mistakes, get stuck with GeM product listing errors, or experience GeM service listing issues that delay or block their catalog approval.

If you’ve ever wondered why GeM listing gets rejected, what the approval team actually checks, or how to fix GeM listing errors, this guide is for you.

Below is a complete breakdown of the most common listing mistakes on GeM, real reasons behind rejection, compliance requirements, and step-by-step ways to avoid these issues.

Let’s begin.

Here are the most common listing mistakes on GeM

1. Wrong or Irrelevant Product Category Selection

This is the #1 GeM listing mistake and the most common reason for rejection.

Many sellers carelessly select a category just to complete the listing quickly. But GeM categories are strict and highly specific. If your item does not match the selected category, the listing will be rejected.

Examples of Wrong Category:

• Selling A4 paper under “Office Equipment” instead of “Paper Products”
• Listing a laptop bag under “Leather Goods” instead of “Computer Accessories”
• Adding manpower services under product-based categories
  
   

How to Avoid It

✔ Study the category tree
 ✔ Search what similar sellers use
 ✔ Use filters like brand, model, service type
 ✔ Avoid “fitting by force” just to publish

Correct category selection improves compliance, visibility, and ranking.

2. Poor-Quality Images or Non-Compliant Photos

Buyers rely heavily on images before purchasing. One major GeM listing rejection reason is low-quality, blurred, or copied images.

Common photo-related mistakes:

• Using images taken from other websites
• Using watermarked photos
• Having background clutter
• Only 1 image for a product that needs multiple angles
• No technical or dimension images
  
   

How to Fix This

✔ Use a white/clean background
 ✔ Use real product photos, minimum 800×800 px
 ✔ Upload 3–5 images: front, back, side, close-up
 ✔ Add dimension/spec diagrams where needed
 ✔ Avoid Canva or stock-style photos

High-quality images instantly reduce GeM product listing errors and increase approval chances.

3. Incomplete or Incorrect Product Specifications

Government buyers compare products strictly with specifications. Wrong specs = immediate rejection.

Mistakes Sellers Make

• Copy-pasting specs from online sites
• Leaving fields blank
• Writing specs in random formats
• Using promotional words like “best quality,” “super performance,” “top rated”
• Incorrect sizing/weight/technical values
   

Why This Causes Rejection

Specs must match the technical nature of the product and comply with buyer standards.

How to Avoid This

✔ Use manufacturer datasheets
 ✔ Write specs in clear technical format
 ✔ Avoid marketing or sales language
 ✔ Fill all mandatory technical fields
 ✔ Cross-check values carefully

Strong specifications improve GeM listing compliance and visibility.

4. Using Brand Names Without Authorization (For Resellers)

If you are a reseller, you must upload brand authorization or OEM approval. Sellers often skip this and face GeM listing rejection reasons like:

• “No authorization letter provided”
• “Brand ownership mismatch”
  
   

How to Fix It

✔ Upload a valid authorization letter on company letterhead
 ✔ Ensure it includes product categories, validity, and signature
 ✔ Use only approved brand names

This is a major step in avoiding listing mistakes on GeM.

5. Duplicate Listings

Many sellers duplicate the same listing thinking it increases visibility.

It reduces catalog score and may trigger catalog suspension.

How to Avoid

✔ Update existing listing instead of duplicating
 ✔ Use unique model numbers
 ✔ Never create multiple listings for the same SKU

6. Pricing Errors & Violations

GeM checks market price, GST applicability, discounts, and margin transparency.

Common Pricing Errors

• Price too high compared to the market
• Price significantly lower (considered suspicious)
• Wrong GST percentage
• Different MRP on packaging and listing
   

How to Fix Pricing Issues

✔ Check competitor pricing
 ✔ Use government-compliant GST values
 ✔ Keep consistent MRP and listing price
 ✔ Avoid unrealistic discounts

Correct pricing helps you avoid GeM product listing errors and increases order chances.

7. Incomplete Service Listing Information

For service providers, GeM service listing issues occur due to incomplete details like:

• No manpower details
• No service description
• Missing SLAs
• Missing compliance documents
• Vague scope of work

How to Avoid This

✔ Add detailed service description
 ✔ Mention deliverables and SLAs
 ✔ Add manpower profiles (if manpower-based)
 ✔ Upload mandatory certifications
 ✔ Define scope clearly

Service listings are reviewed more strictly than product listings.

8. Non-Compliant Document Uploads

Incorrect or missing documents are a frequent cause of why GeM listing gets rejected.

Mistakes Include

• Uploading an expired certificate
• Using scanned photos instead of PDFs
• Missing ISO/BIS/brand approvals
• Wrong bank details
   

Solution

✔ Scan documents properly
 ✔ Check validity dates
 ✔ Upload latest certificates
 ✔ Use correct formats like PDF, JPG, PNG

Correct documentation increases your catalog’s trust score.

9. Using Marketing Language Instead of Technical Information

GeM listings must be 100% technical and factual.

Avoid words like:

• “Best in market”
• “Premium quality.”
• “No. 1 product”
• “Superior performance.”
  
   

How to Avoid Rejection

✔ Use strictly technical details
 ✔ Mention use-case, material, dimensions
 ✔ Avoid emotional or sales language

GeM is a government procurement platform—accuracy matters.

10. Missing Compliance Requirements

The biggest hidden reason behind GeM listing mistakes is ignoring compliance.

Examples:

• No warranty details
• Missing user manual
• Incorrect safety certifications
• No BIS number where mandatory
• Missing environmental complianc
   

How to Stay Compliant

✔ Read compliance requirements per category
 ✔ Upload mandatory documents
 ✔ Add test reports if needed
 ✔ Clearly mention warranty/guarantee

This is essential for strong GeM listing compliance.

11. Lack of Keyword Optimization

A common mistake is NOT using the right keywords inside listing titles and descriptions.

Use keywords like:

• GeM product listing
• GeM catalog
• Government procurement keywords
• Buyer search terms
   

This improves organic visibility.

12. Inaccurate Product Titles

Incorrect naming is a common reason for GeM product listing errors.

Wrong Example:

“Best Stainless Steel Water Bottle – Superior Quality”

Correct Example:

“Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 1 Litre, Double Wall, Grade 304 Steel”

Use:
 ✔ Product name
 ✔ Capacity
 ✔ Material
 ✔ Variant

No marketing words.

13. Not Updating Listings Regularly

Outdated listings cause ranking drops, limited visibility, or suspension.

Update When Needed

✔ Price changes
 ✔ Warranty changes
 ✔ New images
 ✔ Updated specs
 ✔ New batch/stock availability

This reduces future GeM listing mistakes.

14. Skipping Important Attributes (Colour, Size, Model)

Missing essential attributes makes the listing incomplete.

Fix

✔ Add all model details
 ✔ Mention size, colour, material
 ✔ Include variants

15. Not Following GeM’s Mandatory Template Format

GeM has strict templates for certain categories.

Not following this leads to rejection.

Download the official category template & follow it exactly.

Conclusion: Fixing GeM Listing Mistakes Is Easy When You Follow the Rules

Creating a high-quality listing on GeM is not difficult—but it requires accuracy, compliance, and attention to detail. Most common listing mistakes on GeM happen because sellers rush the process or overlook technical requirements.

If you avoid these issues:
 ✔ Your catalog gets approved faster
 ✔ You rank higher in search results
 ✔ Buyers trust your product more
 ✔ You get more orders

Strong GeM listing compliance is the key to success on the platform.

FAQs

1. Why does my GeM listing get rejected repeatedly?

Because of wrong categories, poor images, missing specs, or compliance issues. Fix these to avoid rejection.

2. How do I fix GeM product listing errors?

Correct category, specs, images, documents, pricing, and ensure technical accuracy.

3. What are the most common GeM listing mistakes?

Wrong category, low-quality images, incorrect specs, missing documents, pricing errors, and duplicate listings.

4. Why are my GeM service listings not getting approved?

Usually because of incomplete scope of work, missing SLAs, or missing compliance documents.

5. What is GeM listing compliance?

It refers to the set of technical, category, pricing, and document requirements that your listing must meet to be approved.