The payment chain in one line
Delivery → provisional receipt (PRC) → inspection and acceptance → CRAC → bill → payment by the paying authority. Payment on GeM is driven by these steps on the portal, so knowing where your order is in the chain tells you whom to follow up with.
Step 1: delivery and PRC
Deliver to each consignee in the contract within the delivery period, with invoices and delivery challans. The consignee confirms receipt on GeM by issuing a Provisional Receipt Certificate (PRC). PRC is not acceptance — it records that goods arrived and are pending inspection. Get signed, dated receipts on paper as well; they settle disputes later.
Step 2: inspection and CRAC
The consignee (or an inspecting authority, if the contract requires) checks quantity, quality and, where relevant, installation. If everything is in order, the consignee issues the Consignee Receipt and Acceptance Certificate (CRAC) on GeM. If something is rejected, the reasons are recorded and you will have to replace or rectify. CRAC is the single most important step for payment: no CRAC, no bill.
Step 3: bill and payment
After CRAC, the bill for the order is generated/submitted on GeM and goes to the buyer's paying authority — often the Drawing and Disbursing Officer (DDO). Central government buyers commonly pay through PFMS; state governments, PSUs and others use their own systems. Penalties for late delivery, if any, are deducted as per the contract. Keep your bank details on GeM validated, since payment goes there.
How long it should take
GeM's terms set time limits for buyers to issue CRAC and to make payment after it, and GeM monitors delays. The exact days are in GeM's current terms and your contract, so check them there. For MSEs, the MSMED Act also protects against delayed payment by buyers, and the MSME Samadhaan portal can be used to file a delayed-payment case.
Where delays usually happen — and what to do
- ✓CRAC pending: follow up with the consignee with contract number and delivery proof
- ✓Rejection or shortfall at inspection: rectify fast and ask for a fresh CRAC
- ✓Bill pending with paying authority: write to the buyer quoting contract number, CRAC date and bill details
- ✓Bank details not validated: fix them on GeM before the bill is processed
- ✓Still unresolved: raise the issue through GeM's grievance/incident mechanism for the order
Plan your working capital
Even when the process works smoothly, there is a gap between buying stock and getting paid — delivery, inspection, CRAC and payment all take time. Price that cost into your bids, especially on large multi-consignee orders where each consignee's CRAC can arrive at a different time.
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Frequently asked questions
What is CRAC on GeM?
CRAC (Consignee Receipt and Acceptance Certificate) is issued on GeM by the consignee after goods or services are received and accepted. The bill and payment process starts after it.
Who makes the payment on GeM?
The buyer's paying authority, often the DDO, using the government's payment system — PFMS for many central government buyers, other systems for states and PSUs. GeM itself does not pay the seller from its own funds.
What can I do if a GeM payment is delayed?
Find the stuck step (CRAC, bill or payment), follow up with the consignee or paying authority with contract details, and use GeM's grievance mechanism if needed. MSEs can also approach the MSME Samadhaan portal.
Do I get paid per consignee or for the whole order?
Payment generally follows each consignee's acceptance and bill, so in a multi-consignee contract payments can arrive in parts.
Related guides
Rules change. Always confirm the details in the bid document and on gem.gov.in before you bid. · Updated 2026-11-02
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