Asymmetric Federalism

• Federalism is a system of government where power is divided between a central authority (national government) and various regional governments (states, provinces, etc.)

• Asymmetrical federalism signifies a federal system where the constituent states or regions hold unequal and varying degrees of autonomy and legislative powers.

• The asymmetry in power sharing recognizes and addresses the unique needs of India's diverse regions, promoting stability and development through tailored governance

• In the Indian Constitution, Article 370, Article 371 and its subsections, the Fifth and Sixth Schedules correspond to asymmetrical federalism

Government e Marketplace (GeM)

• GeM, launched in 2016 and overseen by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is an online platform for public procurement in India. 

• It is a 100% government-owned Section 8 company under the Department of Commerce, designed for government ministries, departments, and CPSEs to procure common use goods and services.

• GeM offers e-bidding and reverse e-auction tools to help government buyers get the best deals

• e-bidding: Similar to a traditional auction, sellers submit bids electronically, allowing the government to choose the most competitive offer that meets their requirements.

• Reverse e-auction: The government sets a price range, and sellers compete by lowering their prices electronically. This can lead to even better deals compared to e-bidding.

• GeM also offers a forward auction where sellers compete to offer goods or services to the highest bidder, typically government departments, ministries, and CPSEs.