GeM AABHAR Collection Lists 294 Artisan Gift Products

The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is pushing The AABHAR Collection, a dedicated digital storefront of curated gift items and hampers drawn from India's crafts. The idea is to give government buyers an easy route to distinctive regional products while putting money in the hands of artisans, weavers, rural entrepreneurs and women-led enterprises.

What the storefront carries

The collection holds 294 product catalogue listings contributed by 10 State and Central handloom and handicraft emporiums. Many of the items are linked to the One District, One Product (ODOP) initiative or carry a Geographical Indication (GI) tag. The range runs from handicrafts and handlooms to artisanal foods, pantry goods and personal care products.

The ten emporiums on board

• COTTAGE of the Central Cottage Industries Emporium and KHADI INDIA of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
• Garvi Gurjari of Gujarat, Himcrafts of Himachal Pradesh and Jharcraft of Jharkhand.
• Cauvery of Karnataka, Mrignayani of Madhya Pradesh and Marhati of Maharashtra.
• Purbashree of the North East and Poompuhar of Tamil Nadu.

Seven more joining

Another seven government emporiums and organisations are in the last stage of seller onboarding, after which their catalogues will also appear on the storefront. They are the Coffee Board, Manjusha and Biswa Bangla of West Bengal, the Jammu and Kashmir Handloom and Handicrafts Marketing Corporation, Merakai of Nagaland, Utkalika of Odisha and Panthoibi of Manipur. Their addition is expected to widen both the regional spread and the product range.

Who can buy and why it matters

Ministries, departments, public sector undertakings and other government buyers can use the collection for official ceremonies, conferences, State events, gifts to foreign delegations, employee recognition, retirement functions and festive occasions. GeM Chief Executive Officer Shri Mihir Kumar described the collection as a step forward in making indigenous arts and crafts more visible and in strengthening seller groups that have had little access to large markets. Additional Chief Executive Officer Shri Ajit B. Chavan, who looks after social inclusion at GeM, said the storefront was begun in July 2024 to connect the country's artisanal ecosystem with public procurement through a Vocal for Local route. Public procurement is a large and steady source of demand, so a listing on GeM can give a craft cluster a buyer base that a seasonal fair cannot.