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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-01112024-258404
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 617]
NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2024/KARTIKA 8, 1946
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
(Department of Telecommunications)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 29th October, 2024
[No.24-09/2024-UBB]
DEVENDRA KUMAR RAI, Jt. Secy.
G.S.R. 675(E).— Whereas a draft of the Telecommunications (Amateur Station Operator) Rules,
2024, which the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by section 47
read with clause (zi) of sub-section (2) of section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), was
published as required by sub-section (1) of section 56 of the said Act vide notification of the Government of
India in the Ministry of Communications, Department of Telecommunications number G.S.R. 447(E), dated
the 24th July, 2024, in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, section 3, sub-section (i) dated the 24th
July, 2024, inviting objections and suggestions from the persons likely to be affected thereby, before the
expiry of the period of thirty days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette containing the
said notification were made available to the public;
And whereas copies of the said Official Gazette were made available to the public on the 25th July,
2024;
And whereas the objections and suggestions received from the public in respect of the said draft
rules have been duly considered by the Central Government;
Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 47 read with clause (zi) to sub-section
(2) of section 56 of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), and in supersession of the Indian
Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Rules, 1978, except as respects things done or omitted to be done
before such supersession and without overriding the terms and conditions of existing arrangements under
those rules till the date of expiry of such arrangements, the Central Government hereby makes the following
rules, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement. – (1) These rules may be called the Telecommunications (Amateur
Services) Rules, 2024.
(2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Definitions. – (1) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "Act" means the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023);
(b) "amateur radio equipment” means a radio equipment required for operating an amateur station;
(c) “amateur services" means radio communication services for the purpose of self-training,
intercommunication and technical investigations carried out by an amateur, that is, by a duly
authorised person interested in radio technique, solely with a personal aim and without any
pecuniary interest;
(d) "amateur station” means a radio station operated by an amateur for amateur services;
(e) "Amateur Station Operator Certificate” or ASOC, means the ASOC (General) or the ASOC
(Restricted), as specified under sub-rule (2) of rule 3, and an “ASOC holder” means the person
who has been granted such certificate under sub-rule (1) of rule 6;
(f) “International Telecommunication Convention" means the Convention of the International
Telecommunication Union signed at Geneva in 1992 or any subsequent revision or modification
thereof, which the Government of India has ratified or accepted;
(g) "portal" means the portal to be notified by the Central Government under rule 15 of these rules;
and
(h) "Radio Regulations" means the regulations adopted by the World Radiocommunication
Conference (Geneva 1995) and includes every revision or modification thereof, which the
Government of India has ratified or accepted;
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined herein but defined in the Act, shall have the meanings
respectively assigned to them in the Act.
3. Scope. - (1) No person shall install or operate an amateur station except under and in accordance with
the terms and conditions of an ASOC granted under these rules.
(2) There shall be the following two categories of ASOC, which may be granted by the Central Government
under sub-rule (1) of rule 6, namely,-
(a) Amateur Station Operator Certificate- General, or ASOC (General); and
(b) Amateur Station Operator Certificate- Restricted, or ASOC (Restricted).
4. Eligibility conditions for obtaining an Amateur Station Operator Certificate. – (1) The ASOC
(General) or the ASOC (Restricted), as the case may be, shall be granted under sub-rule (1) of rule 6 to
any person, being a citizen of India, who,-
(a) is not less than twelve years of age; and
(b) qualifies the examination specified under rule 5 for the grant of an ASOC:
Provided that the Central Government may, subject to administrative clearance and such terms and
conditions as it may specify from time to time, permit a person, not being a citizen of India, to undertake
the examination under rule 5 for consideration of the grant of an ASOC, or grant him such certificate,
subject to the provisions of sub-rule (2).
(2) The Central Government may, subject to the terms and conditions and administrative clearance of the
Ministry of External Affairs, permit any person, not being citizen of India, who holds a certificate issued
by a competent authority of that country similar to that granted under rule 6, to apply for grant of ASO
Certificate under these rules, in the form as may specified for this purpose in the portal along with a fee
of one thousand rupees.
(3) The Central Government may specify the list of countries, the certificates granted by which, may be
considered for grant of ASOC under sub-rule (2).
5. Amateur station operator examination. – (1) Any person satisfying the eligibility criteria set forth
under rule 4, as may be applicable, may make an application for appearing in the amateur station
operator examination for obtaining the ASOC, to the Central Government, in the form specified for this
purpose in the portal, one month before the date of such examination.
(2) An application under sub-rule (1) shall be accompanied by examination fee of one hundred rupees.
(3) The Central Government shall publish the syllabus, place, manner, date and time for the examination for
obtaining the ASOC in either category as specified under sub-rule (2) of rule 3, including the date of
announcement of the results of such examination.
(4) The language of such examination shall be English, and examination for ASOC (General) shall also
require such proficiency in Morse Code as may be specified by the Central Government.
(5) The successful completion of the examination under this rule shall require a minimum of forty per cent of
the total marks in respect of each category of ASOC.
6. Grant and validity of the Amateur Station Operator Certificate. – (1) The Central Government shall,
upon successful completion of the examination under rule 5, issue any of the following categories of
certificate, as applied for, along with unique call signs for amateur station operators, subject to payment
of fees as specified below,-
+---------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| Category of certificate | Fees |
+=====================+=======================================================+
| ASOC (General) | (i) One thousand rupees for validity period of twenty years; |
| | (ii) Two thousand rupees for lifetime validity. |
+---------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
| ASOC (Restricted) | |
+---------------------+-------------------------------------------------------+
Explanation. - For the purposes of this sub-rule, the expression “lifetime” means till the ASOC holder
attains the age of eighty years.
(2) On successful completion of the examination by the applicant, payment for the grant of ASOC of either
category shall be made within a period of two years from the date of declaration of results of the
examination under rule 5, failing which no certificate shall be granted to such applicant:
Provided that such applicant, who becomes ineligible for grant of ASOC may apply for reappearing in
the examination referred to in rule 5 for grant of the said certificate.
(3) In respect of applications for grant of ASOC under sub-rule (2) of rule 4, the Central Government may,
after consideration of such applications, grant an ASOC for a duration that is co-terminus with the
duration of the visa of such person, or for a period of twelve months, whichever is lesser.
7. General conditions applicable to an amateur station operator. – (1) An ASOC holder shall operate
amateur stations on such frequency bands and emissions and transmit power as specified by the Central
Government in respect of each category of ASOC, and the holder of ASOC (General) shall be permitted
use of more emission types and higher power as may be specified in his ASOC, than the holder of ASOC
(Restricted).
(2) Every amateur station shall be installed and operated at the location specified in the ASOC in accordance
with,-
(a) the provisions of the Act and any rules made thereunder, as may be applicable;
(b) the terms and conditions specified in Annexure A to these rules; and
(c) the provisions of the International Telecommunication Convention or Radio Regulations.
(3) An ASOC holder shall not require a separate authorisation for the import of amateur radio equipment.
(4) The Central Government may modify, vary, cancel or revoke any of the conditions of the ASOC at any
time either by specific notice in writing to the ASOC holder, or by uploading the said notice in the
portal.
(5) The ASOC holder shall not claim any expense to give effect to any variations in the conditions of the
ASOC as may be notified by the Central Government.
(6) The ASOC holder may apply for issuance of a duplicate of his ASOC or apply to change the location of
the amateur station, upon payment of fees of one thousand rupees.
(7) The ASOC holder shall provide radio communication services in amateur services frequency band, at the
request of the Central Government, or a State Government, or any officer specially authorised in this
behalf by the Central Government or a State Government, during natural calamities and disasters,
without any fees or charge.
(8) The ASOC holder may be permitted to install and operate an amateur station on board a ship registered in
India, upon placing a specific request in the form as may be specified for this purpose in the portal, by
the Central Government.
8. Renewal of Amateur Station Operator Certificate. – (1) An ASOC holder may apply for renewal of
his ASOC by making an application in the form specified for this purpose in the portal, at least twelve
months prior to the date of expiry of such certificate, along with payment of fees as specified in sub-rule
(1) of rule 6:
Provided that any application for renewal after the expiry of such time period and up to two years after
the date of such expiry, may be made upon payment of late fees of one thousand rupees:
Provided further that no application for renewal shall be considered if received after two years from the
date of expiry of the ASOC.
(2) An ASOC with lifetime validity may be extended for ten years at a time, without any additional fees,
upon specific request made by the ASOC holder in the form specified for this purpose.
9. Suspension or cancellation of ASOC. – The Central Government may suspend or cancel an ASOC, if
in its opinion, the ASOC holder has, -
(a) failed to comply with the terms and conditions of the ASOC granted under these rules, or the rules
applicable in respect of operation of radio equipment, or any other provision of the Act; or
(b) failed to comply with the applicable provisions of the International Telecommunication Convention
or the Radio Regulations; or
(c) wilfully furnished incorrect or false information to the Central Government:
Provided that no order of suspension or cancellation under this rule shall be made unless the ASOC
holder has been given a reasonable opportunity of making a representation and being heard against such
suspension or cancellation.
10. No refund of fees. – No compensation or refund of fees shall be applicable as a result of any suspension
or cancellation of the ASOC for any reason whatsoever, or for any modification, variation, cancellation
or revocation of terms and conditions of the ASOC.
11. Transfer or surrender of ASOC. – (1) The ASOC shall be non-transferable.
(2) The ASOC holder shall be permitted to surrender such ASOC at any point of time, provided that no
refund of fees shall be granted for such surrender.
12. Use of ASOC for activities of an amateur society. – (1) A group, comprising a minimum of four
ASOC holders may submit an application in the form specified for this purpose in the portal, and
payment of fees of two thousand rupees, to form an amateur society, for the purpose of installation and
operation of an amateur station.
(2) The application under sub-rule (1) shall specify one of the applicant ASOC holders as the custodian of
the proposed amateur society and any change of custodianship of such amateur society to any other
ASOC holder within such society, shall, within a period of thirty days of such change, be communicated
to the Central Government in such form as may be specified for this purpose in the portal.
(3) Upon receipt of the application under made sub-rule (1), the Central Government may grant permission
subject to such terms and conditions as it may specify for the amateur society, along with a unique call
sign, which shall be valid for a period of twenty years, or co-terminus with the validity of the ASOC of
the custodian of such amateur society, whichever is lesser.
(4) If any of the applicant under sub-rule (1) leaves the amateur society, the same shall be communicated
within a period of thirty days from the date of leaving such society to the Central Government in the
form specified for this purpose in the portal.
(5) The permission granted under this rule shall continue to remain valid so long as at least four of the
applicant ASOC holders under sub-rule (1) continue as members of the amateur society.
13. Issue of special call signs for specific events. – (1) The Central Government may assign a special call
sign for a specific event to ASOC holders and to the amateur societies constituted under rule 12, on
receipt of an application in such form as may be specified for this purpose in the portal, and on payment
of fees of two hundred rupees.
(2) The application referred to in sub-rule (1) may be submitted at least ninety days before the specific event.
(3) A special call sign assigned under sub-rule (1) shall be valid for a period of ninety days from the date of
commencement of the specific event:
Provided that where the specific event extends beyond the said period of ninety days, the ASOC holder
or the amateur society may apply for the special call sign by making a fresh application under
sub-rule (1).
14. Inspection of records and calling for information. It shall be the duty of every ASOC holder to
produce for inspection, records, as well as, amateur radio equipment, and to give any other information
in connection therewith as may be required by an officer authorised for this purpose by the Central
Government.
15. Digital implementation of these rules. – The Central Government shall, in furtherance of section 53 of
the Act, notify a portal for the digital implementation of these rules, including for submission of
applications, publication of syllabus, place, manner, date and time of examination, declaration of results
of examinations, and grant of ASOC and other permissions as specified under these rules.
Annexure A
(See rule 7(2)(b))
Terms and conditions for the installation and operation of amateur station
1. Use of the amateur station. The amateur station may be used for the purpose of receiving
transmissions in the Standard Frequency and Time Signal Service to facilitate operation of the amateur
station within the authorised frequency bands.
2. Messages. - (1) (a) Radio communications may be exchanged with other authorised amateur stations.
The amateur stations shall not communicate with amateur stations of countries whose administrations
have notified the International Telecommunication Convention of their objection to such radio
communications;
(b) Transmissions shall be made in plain language and limited to messages of a technical nature.
(2) The authorised entity shall not transmit messages containing, -
(a) reproduction of broadcast programmes, tape recordings or transmissions of entertainment value
or music;
(b) false or misleading calls, signals, news, advertisements, communications of business, statements
on topics of political or industrial controversy, or third party messages; or
(c) use of indecent, obscene, offensive language, or signals.
(3) In case of failure of normal telecommunication facilities, an ASOC holder maybe permitted by the
Central Government or State Government to handle third party messages pertaining to natural or
manmade calamities, originating from and addressed to a competent civil authority namely, District
Magistrates or Deputy Commissioners or Collectors of the district or any other officer authorised by
them.
3. Frequencies, emissions and power. - The amateur station shall be operated on frequencies that are
within the frequency bands authorised to respective categories of certificates and on such classes of
emissions and power as specified by the Central Government.
4. Frequency control and measurement. – (1) The transmitting apparatus shall be tuned as accurately as
possible to ensure that no energy is radiant on any frequency outside the limits of the authorised
frequency bands.
(2) The ASOC holder shall have at the authorised amateur station, a reliable frequency measuring
equipment to verify, each time the frequency of the transmitter is changed and whenever it is necessary
to check that the emissions in the transmitted frequency, are within the authorised frequency bands. The
ASOC holder shall take all steps necessary to maintain the accuracy of the frequency measuring
equipment.
(3) The Standing Advisory Committee for Frequency Allocation (SACFA) clearance shall be required for
an amateur station, as applicable.
5. Non-Interference. - (1) The amateur station shall be so designed, constructed, erected, maintained and
worked so as not to cause interference with any authorised radio communication service.
(2) In the event of interference being caused by the station, the ASOC holder shall discontinue, or restrict
transmissions, pending adjustment of the equipment, on request from the Central Government or any
land station.
(3) The ASOC holder shall not use such emissions (damped waves) as may be specified by the Central
Government.
6. Log diary of the radio service. – (1) A chronological record of all transmissions emanating from or
received at the amateur station shall be kept in bound book (not loose-leaf) showing the following,
namely: -
(a) date and time of each transmission;
(b) summary of the communications exchanged;
(c) brief description of the experiments and tests undertaken;
(d) call sign of station or stations with which messages have been exchanged, times and type of
emission employed in each case;
(e) time of opening and closing down the amateur station; and
(f) in case of portable or mobile amateur station, the particulars of temporary location.
(2) All times in the log shall be stated in the Indian Standard Time.
(3) No gaps shall be left between entries in the log, and they shall be made at the time of receiving and
transmitting.
(4) ASOC holder shall preserve the log for a period of one year from the date of last entry therein before it
is destroyed:
Provided that no log shall be destroyed for such further period as the Central Government may direct.
7. Amateur radio equipment – (1) The amateur station shall be equipped for reception as well as
transmission.
(2) The amateur radio equipment and other accessories used or intended to be used by the ASOC holder
shall be so arranged as not to endanger the safety of any person or interrupt any services.
(3) The amateur radio equipment shall be kept in a safe condition and housed in such manner as to
preclude access to unauthorised persons.
(4) Each ASOC holder shall maintain records of amateur radio equipment used by such holder in the form
specified below:
+-------+----------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+
| S. No.| Particulars of Apparatus | Name and address of the person | Date of |
| | | from whom received (in case assembled by Authorised entity | Receipt or |
| | +---------+--------------+--------+ write self-made) | assembly |
| | | Make | Model and | Serial | | |
| | | | Type | No. | | |
+=======+=========+==============+========+=============================================================+=======================+
| (1) | | (2) | (3) | (4) | |
+-------+---------+--------------+--------+-------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------+
| In case of | Name and address of the person to | Date of sale | Particulars of | Remarks |
| purchase, give| whom sold or transferred | or transfer | the certificate | |
| receipt no. and| | | issued in the | |
| indicate the | | | name of the | |
| certificate no.| | | purchaser | |
| of the seller | | | | |
+=======+===================================+===============+=======================+===========+
| (5) | (6) | (7) | (8) | (9) |
+-------+-----------------------------------+---------------+-----------------------+-----------+
8. Secrecy of correspondence. - If any message which a ASOC holder is not entitled to receive, is
received, such ASOC holder shall not make known or allow to be made known its contents, its origin or
destination, its existence or the fact of its receipt to any person (other than to an officer duly authorised
for this purpose by the Central Government or a court of law) and such ASOC holder shall not
reproduce in writing, copy or make any use of such message or allow the same to be reproduced in
writing, copied or made use of.
9. General radiocommunication procedure. - (1)(a) Before transmitting, the station shall take
precautions to ensure that its emissions will not interfere with transmissions already in progress. If such
interference is likely, the transmission shall not commence till there is an appropriate break in the
communications in progress.
(b) The call sign endorsed in the certificate shall be sent for identification at the beginning and at the end
of each period of transmission. When the period of transmission exceeds ten minutes the call sign shall
be repeated. ASOC holder shall not make transmission without identification or with false identification.
(c) Prolonged calls and transmissions shall be avoided.
(d) When it is necessary to spell out call sign, certain expressions, difficult words, abbreviations, figures
etc., the phonetic alphabet and figure code given in the International Telecommunication Convention
shall be used.
(2) Call and Reply Procedure:
(a) The call shall consist of the call sign of the station called not more than three times; the word DE (in
case of Morse transmission) and the words "This is" (in case of telephony), the call sign of the
calling station, not more than three times.
(b) The reply to call shall consist of - the call sign of the calling station not more than three times; the
word DE (in case of a Morse transmission) and the words "This is" (in case of telephony), the call
sign of the station called, not more than three times.
(c) The call may be sent three times at intervals of two minutes; thereafter it shall not be repeated until
an interval of 10 minutes during which the operator shall listen in the frequency band in which the
call has been made.
(d) In case of general call to all stations the signal ‘CQ' (in case of radiotelegraphy) and the words
'Hello all stations' or the signal ‘CQ' (in case of radiotelephony) shall replace the call sign of the
station called in the calling procedure.
(3) End of Transmission and Work:
(a) Transmission of a message shall be terminated by the signal AR (in case of Morse transmission) and
the word 'Over' (in case of telephony).
(b) The end of work between two stations shall be indicated by each of them by means of signal VA (in
case of Morse transmission) and by the word 'OUT' (or VA spoken as Victor Alfa) in case of
radiotelephony.
(4) Tests:
(a) When it is necessary to make test signals either for the adjustment of a transmitter or a receiver or for
any experiment, such signals shall not be continued for more than 30 seconds and shall be composed
of series of VVV followed by the call sign of the station emitting the test signals. In case of
radiotelephony, series of VVV shall be replaced by the figures 1,2,3,4... spoken in the figure code.
(b) For tests exceeding 30 seconds, an artificial aerial shall be used.
(c) The ASOC holder shall not emit carrier wave unless such carrier wave is subjected to intelligible
modulation.
10. Inspection. - (1) Any officer authorised by the Central Government in writing, to carry out an
inspection, may inspect, examine, or test any apparatus, and the ASOC holder shall produce the
certificate, the station log or other records for examination by the inspecting officer.
(2) The ASOC holder when called upon to do so by the Central Government shall arrange to forward the
certificate, the log book, or any other record or data for examination by the Central Government.
The ASOC holder shall indemnify the Central Government against all actions, claims and demands
which may be brought or made by any person in respect of any injury arising from any act permitted by the
certificate.
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