RTR(A): the aviation radio licence, now run by DGCA
To operate an aircraft radio you need the Radio Telephony Restricted (Aeronautical) licence, RTR(A). The important recent news is that it changed hands: from late 2025, DGCA took the exam over from the WPC wing of the Ministry of Communications, and it is now an online exam run through the same Pariksha portal as your other papers. A lot of older guides still describe the old WPC route, so read the current process carefully.
From Regular Session 04 of 2025 (December) onwards, DGCA conducts the RTR (Restricted) exam itself, online, having taken it over from WPC. It now has two parts: a written paper (multiple-choice, on the Pariksha portal) and a practical test (on the eGCA portal). You need a Computer Number, the same one you use for your ground exams, to apply.
What changed, and why it matters
For years, RTR(A) was run by the WPC (Wireless Planning and Coordination) wing under the Ministry of Communications, on a separate portal. As of the December 2025 session, DGCA's Central Examination Organization runs it, online, through Pariksha and eGCA. Practically, that means one authority, one Computer Number, and a clearer split between a written and a practical stage. If a coaching page tells you to register on a WPC or Saral Sanchar portal, it is describing the old system.
What it is for
Aviation communication is precise and standardised for safety; you cannot just talk on the frequency casually. RTR(A) certifies that you can transmit correctly, understand radio procedures, and handle communication, including emergencies, using standard phraseology.
The two parts
Under DGCA's current RTR requirements, the exam has a written stage and a practical stage, and you must pass both to be issued the certificate and licence (unless you qualify for an exemption).
| Part | Format | Where you apply |
|---|---|---|
| Written | Online, computer-based multiple-choice questions on radio regulations, procedures and principles, in English | Pariksha portal |
| Practical | A short simulated flight-radiotelephony test: sending and receiving messages correctly, plus knowledge of procedures and regulations | eGCA portal |
You clear the written part first; passing it makes you eligible to book the practical. The practical is a live assessment, not a written one, so it rewards fluent, confident delivery. The written pass has its own validity window, and the practical allows a limited number of attempts before you must re-sit the written, so do not let the two drift far apart.
Because DGCA only took RTR over in late 2025, the exact fees, pass marks, question count, attempt limits and session dates are still settling in and are best confirmed at the source. Check the current RTR notices on Pariksha and the eGCA portal before you plan around any specific figure, rather than relying on an older WPC-era description.
How to prepare
- Learn standard phraseology cold. The ICAO and standard words and phrases, read-back rules, and the phonetic alphabet must be automatic.
- Know the emergency procedures and Q-codes: distress and urgency calls, what to say and in what order.
- Understand basic radio principles, enough theory to answer the "how it works" questions in the written paper.
- Practise speaking aloud. The practical rewards fluent, confident delivery, so rehearse real exchanges rather than just reading them.
Between the written stage, the practical booking, and the licence issue on eGCA, RTR can take time. Treat it as a parallel track to your DGCA papers rather than leaving it to the end, so it does not hold up your licence later.
Frequently asked questions
Who conducts the RTR(A) exam now?+
DGCA. From Regular Session 04 of 2025 (December) onwards, DGCA's Central Examination Organization took the RTR (Restricted) exam over from WPC and now runs it online through the Pariksha and eGCA portals.
What is the format of the new DGCA RTR exam?+
Do I need a Computer Number for RTR?+
Yes. Under the new system you apply with the same Computer Number you use for your DGCA ground exams, so if you already have one, you are set.
Is the old WPC RTR process still valid?+
No. The exam has moved to DGCA as of the December 2025 session. Any guide pointing you to a WPC or Saral Sanchar registration is describing the old system; use the Pariksha portal instead.
Key takeaways
- RTR(A) is the licence to operate an aircraft radio, and since late 2025 DGCA runs it, online, not WPC.
- It has a written stage (Pariksha) and a practical stage (eGCA); you must clear both.
- You apply with the same Computer Number as your ground exams.
- The process is brand new, so confirm fees, dates and pass marks on the official portals.
- Learn phraseology and emergency calls cold, and practise speaking aloud for the practical.
Before you move on
With your exams falling and your radio licence in hand, the knowledge gate is behind you. It is the theory that most people never even reach, and a strong ground-exam record is something you will be glad to point to much later, when you are preparing for airline interviews.
Prepping for the airline assessments? Be Airline Ready is coming soon.Now for the part everyone actually pictures: flight training and building to your CPL.