FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs) REGARDING AMATEUR
EXAMINATION/LICENCE
1. Who can become a HAM?
Answer: Any citizen of India who is above 12 years of age can become a ham by qualifying
the Amateur Station Operators Licence (RESTRICTED) examination and obtaining a valid
license.
2. Can I apply for the examination if I am below 18 years?
Answer: Yes. Applicants between 12-18years can apply for the RESTRICTED grade
examination by providing an Undertaking by the parent/guardian in the prescribed format.
For GENERAL grade- Applicants between 12-18years can apply for the GENERAL grade
examination by providing an Undertaking by the parent/guardian in the prescribed format.
Applicant above the age of 18 years can apply for both without any undertaking.
3. What are the various categories and fees of examination?
Answer: A candidate can apply for any of the below categories:
S. No. Category Examination Fee
1 Restricted Rs. 100/-
2 General Rs 100/-
3 General & Restricted Rs 200/-
4. What are the examination centres?
Answer: Examination may be conducted at any of the Wireless Monitoring
Station/International Monitoring Station in India.
The list of Monitoring Stations is given below:
1. Ahmedabad
2. Ajmer
3. Bengaluru
4. Bhopal
5. Bhubaneswar
6. Chennai
7. Dehradun
8. Dibrugarh
9. Goa
10. Gorakhpur
11. Hyderabad
12. Jalandhar
13. Jammu
14. Kolkata
15. Lucknow
16. Mangalore
17. Mumbai
18. Nagpur
19. New Delhi
20. Patna
21. Raipur
22. Ranchi
23. Shillong
24. Siliguri
25. Thiruvananthapuram
26. Vijayawada
27. Vishakapatnam
5. What is the pattern and duration of examination?
Answer: The examination consists of two parts; Part A: Basic Electronics and Part B: radio
Regulations.
The Restricted Grade examination consists of 25 Questions each in Part A and Part B and is
for one hour. The General Grade Examination consists of 50 Questions each in Part A and
Part B and is for two hours. The General Grade candidates will have to additionally
undertake an examination in Transmission and Reception of Morse Code.
For detailed syllabus, please refer to the circulars.
6. How many marks are needed to pass the examination?
Answer: For Restricted Grade, the maximum marks will be 100 and candidate must secure
at least 40 % in each section and 50% in aggregate for a pass.
For General Grade, the maximum marks will be 100. A candidate must secure at least 50%
in each section and 60% in aggregate for a pass. In addition, a candidate shall have to pass
both Morse Reception and Sending simultaneously.
7. Can I take the examination at any centre?
Answer: The applicant can choose the examination centre at any Wireless Monitoring
Station/International Monitoring Station as per their convenience. However, no change will be
allowed after submission of application.
8. Can I change the centre of examination after application?
Answer: No change in Exam Centre is permitted after submission of application.
9. Can I change the category of examination after submission of application?
Answer: No change in category will be permitted after submission of the application.
10.Can I apply for both GENERAL and RESTRICTED?
Answer: Yes. A candidate can apply for both General and Restricted categories. If a
candidate passes in Part I and II, he/she will be issued a GENERAL Licence. If a candidate
passes only in Part I of the examination he/she will be issued a RESTRICTED Licence.
11.Can I take the General Grade examination after passing Restricted Grade?
Answer: Yes. You will need to apply again for General Grade after the completion of the
Restricted Grade examination.
12.Are there any exemptions from the exam?
Answer: Candidates having the following Qualifications are exempted from appearing in Part
A of the Examination
(i) B. Tech/BE Degree in Electronics or Telecommunication
(ii) B.Sc/M.Sc with Electronics or Telecommunication
(iii) Diploma in Engineering with Electronics or Telecommunication
13.How do I check the status of application?
Answer: The status of the application can be checked on the Saral Sanchar portal.
14.When will the examination be conducted?
Answer: The Date, Venue and Time of the examination will be intimated to the candidate by
the respective Monitoring Station. The examination will be conducted as and when there are
sufficient number of candidates.
15.What if I reside in another city in which no monitoring station is situated?
Answer: For examination venues in cities other than where Wireless Monitoring Stations/
International Monitoring Stations are situated, there should be a minimum of 20 candidates
and the centre should be either a School/University/Education Centre/Amateur Radio Society
or Club. The application may be submitted to the nearest monitoring station.
16.What documents do I need to carry for the examination?
Answer: The Admit Card is to be produced for verification at the time of the test. At least one
original valid Photo Identification Card (such as Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence, Passport,
PAN Card, Voter ID,) should also be presented.
Date of Birth Proof, Address proof, Proof for Exemption in Part A and Undertaking certificate
(For students between ages 12 and 18) may also be produced to the examiner for
verification.
17.Does WPC provide any training?
Answer: No, WPC does not provide any training for the examination.
18.What should I do after passing the examination?
Answer: After passing the examination, you may apply for Amateur Wireless Telegraph
Station Licence/ Certificate on the Saral Sanchar Portal.
19. Can I choose my own call sign?
Answer: You can give a choice of 3 callsigns. Based on availability, a callsign would be
assigned.
20.What is the licence fee?
Answer: A licence fee as below is payable after passing the examination.
Category of Licence Fees
21.Do I need to take permission to participate in a hamfest at some other location?
Answer: No permission is required for a temporary change of location.
22.Do I need to inform WPC for a permanent change of address?
Answer: Yes, you need to intimate WPC when there is a permanent change of location.
You can apply on the Saral Sanchar portal when there is a permanent change of location
and pay the requisite fee of Rs 200/- for re-issue of the licence.
23.Can I get a duplicate copy of the licence?
Answer: Yes. In case of loss/damage of original licence, you can apply for a Duplicate copy
of licence on the Saral Sanchar Portal and pay the requisite fee of Rs 100/-.
24.How can I get a special call sign?
Answer: The following documents may be submitted to WPC Wing for the issue of special
call sign.
a) Application
b) Individual Consent
c) Copy of valid Amateur License
25.How to pay the examination fee?
Answer: The prescribed license fee is to be paid through Non Tax Receipt Portal (NTRP)
available on webpage http://bharatkosh.gov.in under the following accounts heads:
a. Purpose head: “Amateur Exam conducted by Wireless Monitoring Stations and RHQs b.
Payment type: “Exam fee”
c. Function head: “127500103050100 – Proficiency Certificate”
d. PAO and DDO details are as under: –
Regional
Headquarters
Name of the pay & Account Office (PAO) under NTRPCorresponding Centreof Examinations
(Monitoring Stations)
Western Regional
Hq, Mumbai
077148-Controller of
Communication Accounts,
Maharashtra Drawing &
Disbursing Officer: – 201562
DDO CCA
Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Goa, Mumbai, Nagpur, Raipur
Northern Regional
Hq, New Delhi
077177-Controller of
Communication Accounts,
New Delhi Drawing &
Disbursing Officer:- 201540
DDO CCA
Ajmer, Dehradun, Gorakhpur, Jalandhar,Jammu, Lucknow, New Delhi
Southern Regional
Hq, Chennai
077153-Controller of
Communication Accounts,
Tamil Nadu Drawing &
Disbursing Officer: – 201579
DDO CCA
Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram,Vijayawada, Vishakhapatnam
Eastern Regional Hq,
Kolkata
077155-Controller of
Communication Accounts,
West Bengal. Drawing
Disbursing Officer: – 201589
Bhubaneswar, Dibrugarh, Kolkata, Patna, Ranchi, Shillong, Silliguri DDO CCA
26.How to pay the license fee?
Answer: For issue of licence, renewal, issue of duplicate licence, issue of reciprocal licence
or change of location, the details of payment head for making payment through NTRP is as
under:
a) Purpose: Amateur license
b) Payment Type: License Fee/ License Renewal Fee/ Late Fee/ Fee for issue of duplicate
license
c) Pay & Account Office (PAO): 077188-Controller of Communication Accounts, PAO HQ
d) Correspondence Address: Assistant Wireless Adviser (COP), WPC Wing, DOT, 6th Floor,
Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashok Road, New Delhi-110001
27.Whom should I contact for any further queries?
Answer: For any further queries, please reach us on 011-2303 6534; 65