Amateur radio licence categories in India

Last updated

The 1978 regulations established five categories of Amateur radio licence in India. The regulations were revised in 2009 and now only two categories are issued.

Contents

Categories in 1978

The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978 listed five licence categories:

  1. Advanced Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station License
  2. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station License, Grade–I
  3. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station License, Grade–II
  4. Restricted Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station License
  5. Short Wave Listener's Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station License

To obtain a licence in the first four categories, candidates had to pass the Amateur Station Operator's Certificate examination. [1] This examination is held monthly in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, every two months in Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Hyderabad, and every four months in some smaller cities. [2] The examination consists of two 50-mark written sections: Radio theory and practice, Regulations; and a practical test consisting of a demonstration of Morse code proficiency in both sending and receiving. [3] After passing the examination, the candidate must then clear Local Police and Central Home Department verification. After clearance, the WPC grants the licence along with the user-chosen call sign (if available). This procedure on an average takes 12 months. [4]

Licence categoryAge [5] Power [6] Examination [7] Privileges
Short Wave Listener's Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence12—Obtained without appearing for the examination.A user can monitor the airwaves on short wave frequencies.
Restricted Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence1210 WMinimum score of 40% in each section of the written examination, and 50% overall.Terrestrial radiotelephony transmission in two VHF frequency bands.
Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Grade–II1250 WMinimum score of 40% in each section of the written examination, and 50% overall. In addition, a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at five words a minute.Radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission in 11 frequency bands.
Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Grade–I14150 WA minimum of 50% in each section of the written examination, and 55% overall, and a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at 12 words a minute.Radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission in 14 frequency bands. In addition, satellite communication, facsimile, and television modes are permitted.
Advanced Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence18400 WA candidate must pass an advanced electronics examination, in addition to the passing the Rules and Regulations section, and a Morse code proficiency at 12 words per minute.The maximum power permitted is 400 W in selected sub-bands.

Grade II Restricted and Grade II are now merged with Restricted Grade since 13 August 2010. Grade 1 and Advance Grade have been merged with General Grade.

2005 and 2009 Amendments

In a 2005 notification, the WPC proposed an amendment to the 1978 Amateur Service Rules in the rationalization of the licence categories to only two: the Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (General) and the Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (Restricted). [8]

The Indian Wireless Telegraph (Amateur Service) Rules, 2009 lists two licence categories: [9]

  1. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, General
  2. Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence, Restricted

By the 2009 Amendment, Licences can be renewed up to twenty years for a fee of Rs.1000/- and lifelong for Rs.2000/-

To obtain a licence, candidates must clear the Amateur Station Operator's Certificate exam, held monthly at the four metropolitan cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai), and quarterly in other smaller towns. The exam consists of two 100-mark written sections: Radio theory and practice, Regulations; and a practical consisting of demonstration of Morse proficiency (sending and receiving).

Licence categoryAge [9] Power [6] Examination. [7] [8] Privileges
Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (Restricted Grade) (Formerly Grade II)1210 W on VHF and UHF

50 W on HF

Minimum score of 40% in each section of the written examination, and 50% overall.Terrestrial radiotelephony transmission in VHF and UHF frequency bands and 12 HF Bands.
Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (General Grade) (Formerly Grade I and Advanced)1225 W on VHF and UHF

400 W on HF

Minimum score of 50% in each section of the written examination, and 55% overall. In addition, a demonstration of proficiency in sending and receiving Morse code at eight words a minute.Radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony transmission VHF and UHF frequency bands and 12 HF Bands.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communications in Gibraltar</span>

Communications in Gibraltar comprise a wide range of telephony systems, Internet access, broadcasting and satellite control. There is also printed and online media. Regulation of telecommunications and broadcasting are the responsibility of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority (GRA), established by means of the Gibraltar Regulatory Authority Act in 2000.

India's telecommunication network is the second largest in the world by number of telephone users with over 1.1 billion subscribers as of December 2023. It has one of the lowest call tariffs in the world enabled by multiple large-scale telecom operators and the ensuant hyper-competition between them. India has the world's second largest Internet user-base with over 904 million broadband internet subscribers as of December 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communications in Japan</span> Japanese government body of communication

The nation of Japan currently possesses one of the most advanced communication networks in the world. For example, by 2008 the Japanese government's Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry stated that about 75 million people used mobile phones to access the Internet, said total accounting for about 82% of individual Internet users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wireless telegraphy</span> Method of communication

Wireless telegraphy or radiotelegraphy is the transmission of text messages by radio waves, analogous to electrical telegraphy using cables. Before about 1910, the term wireless telegraphy was also used for other experimental technologies for transmitting telegraph signals without wires. In radiotelegraphy, information is transmitted by pulses of radio waves of two different lengths called "dots" and "dashes", which spell out text messages, usually in Morse code. In a manual system, the sending operator taps on a switch called a telegraph key which turns the transmitter on and off, producing the pulses of radio waves. At the receiver the pulses are audible in the receiver's speaker as beeps, which are translated back to text by an operator who knows Morse code.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dakshin Gangotri</span> Indian Antarctic research station

Dakshin Gangotri was the first scientific base station of India situated in Antarctica, part of the Indian Antarctic Programme. It is located at a distance of 2,500 kilometres (1,600 mi) from the South Pole. It is currently being used as a supply base and transit camp. The base is named after Dakshin Gangotri Glacier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wireless Institute of Australia</span> National amateur radio society

The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) was formed in 1910, and is the first and oldest national amateur radio society in the world. It represents the amateur radio operators of Australia as the AR "peak body" in dealings with the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the authority under the government of Australia that administers communications within and external to Australia. The WIA publishes a bi-monthly journal for its membership called Amateur Radio. The organisation is the national society representing Australia in the International Amateur Radio Union. The WIA holds regular meetings with the ACMA to inform the Authority on matters concerning the Australian amateur radio community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilasa Devi Kevat Airport</span> Airport in Chhattisgarh India

Bilasa Devi Kevat Airport, also known as Bilaspur Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India. It is located at Chakarbhata, 10 km (6.2 mi) south from the city centre. The airport made by the Royal Indian Air Force in 1942, making it the first and oldest airport of Chhattisgarh. It is owned by the Airports Authority of India. In 1980s, the airport was used by Vayudoot to provide flights to Bhopal, Nagpur, Mumbai and Delhi. Currently, commercial scheduled flights are operated by Alliance Air to Bhopal, Delhi, Jabalpur and Prayagraj. It is named after Bilasa Bai Kevtin, a renowned 16th-century personality known for her bravery and courage to fight against difficult situations, who belonged to a fishermen tribe residing near the Arpa River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mumbai Amateur Radio Society</span> Indian amateur radio organization

The Mumbai Amateur Radio Society or MARS is an amateur radio club based in Mumbai, India. The club was founded on 7 August 2000 by a group of 25 active hams. Since then it has grown to over two hundred members and is the largest such club in the metropolis. MARS is a registered 80G tax-deductible non-profit organization.

Call signs in India are unique identifiers for telecommunications and broadcasting in India. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology regulates call signs nationally, and the International Telecommunication Union regulates call signs internationally.

Amateur radio or ham radio is practised by more than 22,000 licensed users in India. The first amateur radio operator was licensed in 1921, and by the mid-1930s, there were around 20 amateur radio operators in India. Amateur radio operators played an important part in the Indian independence movement with the establishment of illegal pro-independence radio stations in the 1940s. The three decades after India's independence saw only slow growth in the number of operators until the then Prime Minister of India and amateur radio operator, Rajiv Gandhi (VU2RG), waived the import duty on wireless equipment in 1984. Since then, numbers have picked up, and as of 2007, there were more than 16,000 operators in the country. Amateur radio operators have played a vital role during disasters and national emergencies such as earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, floods, and bomb blasts, by providing voluntary emergency communications in the affected areas.

The Indian Wireless Telegraphs Rules, 1978 is an act that governs amateur radio services in India. The Act covers the syllabus, rules and regulations and contains the various forms necessary to obtain a licence and handling equipment. The act is a sub part of Indian Wireless Telegraph Rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indian Telegraph Act, 1885</span>

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 was the enabling legislation in India which governed the use of wired and wireless telegraphy, telephones, teletype, radio communications and digital data communications. It gives the Government of India exclusive jurisdiction and privileges for establishing, maintaining, operating, licensing and oversight of all forms of wired and wireless communications within Indian territory. It also authorizes government law enforcement agencies to monitor/intercept communications and tap phone lines under conditions defined within the Indian Constitution. The act came into force on 1 October 1885. Since that time, numerous amendments have been passed to update the act to respond to changes in technology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Citizens band radio in India</span>

Citizens band radio is a system of short-distance radio communications between individuals on a selection of channels within the 27-MHz band. In India, this frequency band extends from 26.957 MHz to 27.283 MHz. There are several different channel plans in use. Citizens band is distinct from the Family Radio Service, GMRS, Multi-Use Radio Service and amateur radio (Ham). In many countries CB operation does not require a license, and it may be used for business or personal communications. Like many other two-way radio services, any citizens band channel is shared by many users. Only one station may transmit in a channel at a time; other stations must listen and wait for the shared channel to be available. Also, the system works in half-duplex mode, which means we may transmit and receive information, but not both at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amateur radio</span> Use of radio frequency spectra for non-commercial purposes

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is the use of the radio frequency spectrum for purposes of non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, private recreation, radiosport, contesting, and emergency communications. The term "amateur" is used to specify "a duly authorized person interested in radioelectric practice with a purely personal aim and without pecuniary interest" ; and to differentiate it from commercial broadcasting, public safety, or professional two-way radio services.

The Indian Telecommunication Service, widely known as ITS, and earlier known as Telegraph Engineering Service Class I is one of the Central Civil Services under Group 'A' of the executive branch of the Government of India. The appointment to this service is done through Combined Engineering Services Exam held every year by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) of India. The service was created to meet the techno managerial needs of the government in areas related to telecommunications. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had been managed for years by the officers of this permanent cadre, called the Indian Telecommunications Service (ITS). The officers of ITS work under restrictions and rules of Central Civil Services (Conduct) rules.

In India, the Civil Service is the collection of civil servants of the government who constitute the permanent executive branch of the country. This includes servants in the All India Services, the Central Civil Services, and various State Civil Services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driving in India</span> Overview of driving in India

Driving in India is governed by various legal powers and in some cases is subject to the passing of a driving test. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a branch of the Government of India, is the apex body for formulation and administration of the rules, regulations and laws relating to road transport, national highways and transport research, in order to increase the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in India. Indian traffic drives on the left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">S. P. Chakravarti</span> Indian engineer and educator

Prof. Siddheshwari Prasad Chakravarti was an Indian engineer, researcher, and educator. He was known as the father of electronics and telecommunications engineering in India.

References

  1. ↑ Section 7 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  2. ↑ Appendix II "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  3. ↑ Annexure III, Appendix I, Section 2.3 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  4. ↑ "Ham operators are a cut above the rest". The Times of India . 2007-05-21. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2008-07-25.
  5. ↑ Section 5 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  6. 1 2 Annexure V "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  7. 1 2 Annexure III, Appendix I "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 1978" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 1979. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
  8. 1 2 "Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules, 2005" (doc). Wireless and Planning and Coordination Wing, Government of India. 2005-06-09. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  9. 1 2 Section 5 "The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Radio) Rules, 2009" (PDF). Ministry of Communications, Government of India. Controller of Publications, Civil Lines, New Delhi. 2009. p. 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-10-10. Retrieved 2008-08-03.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.