Which commercial bank listed below signed an agreement with the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) platform to facilitate various banking and payment services for central and state government organisations using this public procurement portal?

Introduction / Context:
Government e-Marketplace, commonly known as GeM, is an online platform created by the Government of India to facilitate transparent and efficient procurement of goods and services by government departments and public sector organisations. To streamline payments, integrate financial services, and support the procurement process, GeM often partners with banks. This question asks which bank entered into an agreement with GeM to provide a range of services to users of the portal.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The platform involved is Government e-Marketplace (GeM).
• An agreement was signed with a commercial bank.
• The purpose is to facilitate services to central and state government organisations using GeM.
• Options include ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, and State Bank of India.

Concept / Approach:
The correct answer is based on a specific partnership announcement widely covered in business news. Among the options listed, ICICI Bank signed such an agreement with GeM to offer services including payment solutions and integration for procurement transactions. Although other major banks also work with government platforms, the exam oriented fact tested here points specifically to ICICI Bank as the bank connected to this GeM agreement.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that the question is about a notable agreement between GeM and a private or public sector bank. Step 2: Recall from business news that ICICI Bank entered into a partnership with GeM to support transactions and financial services on the portal. Step 3: Compare this memory with the list of options: ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, and State Bank of India. Step 4: Recognise that while banks like State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda also work closely with the government, the specific GeM partnership highlighted in many exam sources involves ICICI Bank. Step 5: Select ICICI Bank as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can remember that GeM aims to bring in multiple banks over time, but initial agreements announced in the news often focus on one bank at a time. ICICI Bank's collaboration with GeM was reported as a significant step because of the bank's strong digital capabilities. If you have read government and banking current affairs compilations, you would likely have seen ICICI Bank mentioned alongside GeM in exactly this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
HDFC Bank, Bank of Baroda, and State Bank of India are major players in the Indian banking sector, but the question focuses on a specific agreement that exam preparatory material attributes to ICICI Bank. While these banks may have their own government partnerships, they are not associated with this particular fact in the same way. Choosing them would not match the detail typically tested by this question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes default to choosing State Bank of India when they see any question involving government platforms because it is a large public sector bank. Others may select HDFC Bank due to its strong digital image. Without careful recall of the exact current affairs item, it is easy to guess incorrectly. Keeping a list of major bank government tie ups and reviewing them regularly can help avoid such confusion in exams.

Final Answer:
The lender that signed an agreement with Government e-Marketplace to facilitate services on the portal is ICICI Bank.