COVID-19: Govt eases procurement norms for select ministries, depts till next month

The government has relaxed mandatory public procurement norms for five departments and ministries, including health and textiles, till April for buying products that are key to deal with COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of Expenditure through a notification also allowed these 5 departments and ministries to decide themselves on items which could be classified as essential supplies.

Generally government departments and agencies have to mandatory procure goods and services from government e-marketplace (GeM) portal managed by the Commerce Ministry.

These relaxations would be for the five departments and ministries Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Textiles, Department of Consumer Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation