The [Section 4 of The Indian Wireless Telegraph 1885 ](https://www.indiacode.nic.in/show-data?actid=AC_CEN_37_58_00003_188513_1523273054156§ionId=42858§ionno=4&orderno=4) grants the Central government powers to formulate rules for licensing of radio frequency use. I applied for a licensing examination that is conducted by the [Wireless Planning and Coordination wing of the Department of Telecommunications](https://dot.gov.in/wireless-planning-coordination-wpc). As per [*The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules, 2009* ](https://upload.indiacode.nic.in/showfile?actid=AC_CEN_37_58_00003_188513_1523273054156&type=rule&filename=g_s_r_280(e)_amateur_amendment_2009.pdf), two types of licenses are eligible to be given to amateur radio operators for operating radio stations. I applied and obtained the *Amateur Wireless Telegraph Station Licence (General)* and was assigned a unique call-sign to identify myself on the airwaves: **Victor Uniform 2 Juliet Whiskey Delta**.
### Legal framework governing ham radio operations in India
1. See the [latest Amateur radio rules & regulations in India](http://www.niar.org/downloads/ham-downloads/Amateur-Radio-Rules.pdf) provided by the *National Institute of Amateur Radio* (NIAR)
### Resources for the licensing exam
1. [Study manual](http://www.niar.org/downloads/Study-Manual-General-Grade-22.pdf) by NIAR
2. *Gateway to Ham Radio* book by Joseph Mattappally who's been a ham radio operator since 1984; this is an indispensible book for studying for the exam. Appears to be currently unavailable on [Amazon India](https://www.amazon.in/GATEWAY-HAM-RADIO-Joseph-Mattappally/dp/819388681X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=39BHGSCZEWOEJ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._RvIFWchGZ4FB-Na1So_UjYyW2qAPCS_H87htPicep9qC-LfThVB4WuP30bZO1MumPpdMCkr0gwby2-YFBpWUuSxOEHy9XV8BtTAnvI-dNhqhSOV0CBkYIaAxr2rjri_EPooKi7lBJR2QM1IPSXxpa74IyVDuwj06ypLbsejTF5iAn1nXfItIjocvqLrf0fi.QNpCWIgCdDk3zPdxQCQAMFqyvn_QKj_pawTUI59kBqQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=gateway+to+ham+radio&qid=1735376319&sprefix=gateway+to+ham+ra%2Caps%2C328&sr=8-1) but often available in one or the other online retailers (see for eg. [here](https://indianthoughts.in/books/gateway-to-hamradio/)). More about Joseph Mattappally [here on hamphotos](https://hamphotos.com/VU2JIM)
3. Best to learn/apprentice with a veteran ham such as Ganesh who lives at Watapi/BR Hills (VU2TS) who for me was an early inspiration to try out amateur radio. Can listen to Ganesh explain his journey into ham in 1959 when there were hardly any operators in India on this series of QSO Today
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eupXHiNxwEo?si=68WugfPN2gCJqkPR" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>