Scientific Procurement Reform

In a significant policy shift, the Government of India has allowed scientific institutions to bypass the Government e-Marketplace (GEM) for procuring research materials and equipment. This move has been hailed as “revolutionary” by the scientific community for restoring institutional autonomy and easing critical bottlenecks in India's research ecosystem, particularly post the 2020 mandate requiring all government purchases through GEM.

Limitations of GEM for Scientific Research

• GEM’s Lowest-Cost Mandate: The GEM system mandates procurement based on the lowest cost, ignoring quality specifications vital to scientific research. For instance, even basic lab-grade sodium chloride varies in purity—crucial for reproducibility in experiments.
• Loss of Experimental Fidelity: Research demands fidelity to original materials for reproducibility. Forced substitutions due to GEM constraints lead to failed experiments, wastage of time and resources, and compromised research outcomes.
• Incompatibility with Specialised Needs: Scientific research often requires customised, precision equipment (e.g., biological molecules, diamonds, or lab tools) unavailable or unsuitable via GEM vendors, underlining the policy’s mismatch with research demands.

Systemic Impediments to Scientific Autonomy

• Known Industrial Limitations Ignored: India’s weak manufacturing base for high-end scientific instruments made it foreseeable that a blanket GEM policy would hinder research. Despite this, GEM was made mandatory in 2020.
• Hammer-and-Nail Policy Approach: The GEM procurement regime treated all purchases with a one-size-fits-all approach, equating lab tools with generic office supplies, ignoring the specialised nature of research inputs.
• Consequences of Delayed Realisation: The delay in acknowledging GEM’s shortcomings has caused cumulative losses—delayed research, reduced innovation output, and decreased global competitiveness in R&D.

Restoring Institutional Autonomy and Vision

• Reinstating Procurement Autonomy: The exemption re-empowers institutions to choose vendors based on reliability, quality, and relevance—factors fundamental to meaningful scientific progress and international collaboration.
• Science Ministries Led by Scientists: Unlike other ministries run by bureaucrats, India’s science ministries are helmed by domain experts—a legacy that recognises science as a discipline needing autonomy, not routine control.
• Nurturing Science for Nation-Building: The policy correction reflects India’s foundational belief that science must be nurtured beyond administrative constraints if it is to contribute meaningfully to national development and global innovation.

Practice Question:

Q. “The Government e-Marketplace (GEM) aimed to promote transparency and indigenisation in public procurement, yet it posed critical challenges to India’s scientific research ecosystem.” Critically examine the rationale behind exempting scientific institutions from GEM procurement norms. Suggest institutional safeguards to balance transparency with research autonomy.