What is a show cause notice (SCN)?
An SCN is a formal notice from GeM when a seller violates platform rules — late delivery, quality issues, documentation gaps, or policy deviations.
Under GeM's Incident Management Policy (2025), sellers must respond within a strict deadline or face automatic suspension.
Response deadlines by severity
Mild deviations: 5 calendar days to respond. Moderate: 3 days. Severe: 1 day.
Silence equals admission. If you do not respond, suspension is automatic — typically 30 to 90 days depending on severity.
How to respond effectively
Acknowledge the notice, explain mitigating circumstances with evidence (delivery proofs, communication logs, force majeure), and propose corrective action.
GemSetu Pro and Growth plans include AI-drafted SCN responses you can review and submit — saving critical hours during the countdown.
Prevention
Maintain on-time delivery rates above 95%, keep catalogue documents current, and monitor your seller rating dashboard.
Use GemSetu's SCN tracker to never miss a deadline — gemsetu.com/demo.