Frequently asked Questions
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.
. 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.
What are the various categories and fees of examination?
Answer: A candidate can apply for any of the below categories:
Examination Fee details:-
1 Restricted Rs. 100/-
2 General Rs 100/-
3 General & Restricted Rs 200/-
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:
Ahmedabad
Ajmer
Bengaluru
Bhopal
Bhubaneswar
Chennai
Dehradun
Dibrugarh
Goa
Gorakhpur
Hyderabad
Jalandhar
Jammu
Kolkata
Lucknow
Mangalore
Mumbai
Nagpur
New Delhi
Patna
Raipur
Ranchi
Shillong
Siliguri
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Vishakapatnam
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.in WPC Website
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 simultaneouslyea aperiam
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.
Can I change the centre of examination after application?
Answer: No change in Exam Centre is permitted after submission of application.
Can I change the category of examination after submission of application?
Answer: No change in category will be permitted after submission of the application.
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.
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.
.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
How do I check the status of application?
Answer: The status of the application can be checked on the Saral Sanchar portal.
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.
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.
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.
.Does WPC provide any training?
Answer: No, WPC does not provide any training for the examination.
.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.
Can I choose my own call sign?
Answer: You can give a choice of 3 callsigns. Based on availability, a callsign would be
assigned.
What is the licence fee?
Answer: A licence fee as below is payable after passing the examination.
Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence ( General & Restricted)
for 20 Years Rs.1000/- Life Long (up to 80 years) Rs. 2000/-
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.
.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
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/-.
.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
Whom should I contact for any further queries?
Answer: For any further queries, please reach us on 011-2303 6534; 6539