Who is exempt, exactly (CAR §5.1)
The CAR’s exemption clause names these categories:
- Defence pilots — pilots from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Army and Indian Coast Guard who hold a Class I Aircraft Radio Operator Certificate and have 1,000 hours of flying experience on aircraft fitted with radio communication equipment.
- Holders of a valid RTR certificate issued under the Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operator’s Certificate of Proficiency and Licence to Operate Wireless Telegraphy) Rules, 1954 — the WPC-era certificate, provided it is still valid.
- Holders of a valid FRTOL or equivalent issued by a Commonwealth country or the Philippines.
- Holders of a valid FRTOL issued by DGCA — covered by the CAR’s note to §5.1, following Rule 8 of the 2025 Rules.
One correction worth making loudly: an earlier draft of this CAR, and a great many social-media posts quoting it, give the defence-pilots figure as 1,500 hours. The CAR as issued says 1,000 hours. Plan on 1,000 — and if your own case is argued either way, get DGCA’s confirmation rather than a forum’s.
What you skip, and what you never skip
| Category | Written exam | Practical exam |
|---|---|---|
| Defence pilot, Class I certificate + 1,000 hrs | Exempt | Required |
| Valid 1954-Rules (WPC) RTR certificate | Exempt | Required |
| Commonwealth / Philippines FRTOL (valid) | Exempt | Required |
| Valid DGCA-issued FRTOL | Exempt | Required |
| Everyone else | Required | Required |
Who is not exempt — the common wrong assumptions
Holding a CPL by itself does not exempt you: CPL holders appear in §5.1 only if they separately fall into a listed category (a DGCA FRTOL, for instance). An ATPL or FRTOL from a country outside the Commonwealth and the Philippines is not on the list. AME licence holders are not on it. And an expired 1954-Rules certificate is not a “valid” certificate — the exemption is written for valid ones. If you are a WPC-certificate holder wondering where you stand after the DGCA takeover, the WPC validity guide works through your position in full.
How to claim the exemption
The exemption is not automatic — you apply for it on eGCA, where the written-exemption application lives (CAR §5.3). Once granted, the exemption is valid for three years: your practical must be passed inside that window. Keep the underlying proof ready in the form the portal asks for — the certificate or licence you are relying on and, for the defence category, the record of your flying experience. Apply early: exemption processing is not the place to discover a missing document in the week you wanted to book the practical.
The limits that still apply to you
Exemption changes one thing only. CAR §5.2 and §7.1 are plain that the practical examination stands for every candidate for the certificate and licence — about 30 minutes of radiotelephony, passed at 50%, with up to three attempts (§7.3–7.5). The practical fee (₹500) and, after you pass, the licence issue fee (₹5,000) still apply. In other words, your preparation problem is smaller, not gone: it is entirely the spoken half of the exam. The radio scenarios are the rehearsal for it, and the passes open the complete set.
Checked against DGCA CAR Section 7, Series G, Part VI, Issue I (27 November 2025), §5, and Rules 8 of the RTR Certificate and Licence Rules, 2025 — 13 November 2026.
Quick answers
I have a CPL — am I exempt from the RTR written exam?
Not by the CPL alone. You are exempt only if you also fall in a CAR §5.1 category — most commonly, holding a valid DGCA-issued FRTOL. Otherwise you sit the written paper like every other candidate.
Do defence pilots have to give the RTR exam?
Pilots from the IAF, Navy, Army or Coast Guard with a Class I Aircraft Radio Operator Certificate and 1,000 hours of flying experience on radio-equipped aircraft are exempt from the written examination. The practical is still required — it is required of everyone.
I hold an FRTOL from another country — does it exempt me?
Only if the issuing country is a Commonwealth country or the Philippines, and the licence is valid (CAR §5.1). A DGCA-issued FRTOL also qualifies. Other countries’ licences are not on the exemption list.
How long is the written exemption valid?
Three years from when it is granted (CAR §5.3). Your practical must be passed inside that window; afterwards the exemption lapses and the written examination applies again.
Answer questions on this topic, or run a full radio call out loud.
This guide is general study help written by RTR Exam. It is not an official publication of DGCA or ICAO. Confirm rules, fees, dates and syllabus with DGCA's latest notice.