Tripura HAM Radio Club Represents the State at HAMFEST India 2025 in Goa: 35th Edition Celebrates Global Amateur Radio Fraternity
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, October 13, 2025
The prestigious HAMFEST India 2025, the 35th national convention of amateur radio enthusiasts, concluded successfully in Goa on Sunday, marking another milestone in India’s HAM radio movement. The two-day event, organized by the Goa Radio Amateur Society (GRAS) in association with the Goa College of Engineering (GEC), witnessed active participation from more than 700 delegates across India and abroad, including representatives from Tripura HAM Radio Club, proudly representing the state’s growing amateur radio community.
This year’s edition celebrated 35 years of India’s HAMFEST legacy, which began with the first-ever convention held at Kuttikkanam, Kerala, in December 1991. The inaugural ceremony was attended by several eminent dignitaries, including Rohan Khaunte, Minister for Tourism, Information Technology, Electronics & Communication, and Printing & Stationery, Government of Goa, as the Chief Guest. The event also featured Nitin V. Raiker, Director of Fire & Emergency Services, as Guest of Honour, and Group Captain and Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla (VU2TNI) as the Special Guest of Honour.
Dr. M. S. Krupashankara, Principal of GEC, and Shri Sandesh Bhat (VU22DX), Convenor of HAMFEST India 2025, presided over the grand inaugural session that set the tone for two days of technical learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Enthusiastic participation was recorded from almost all states, including the North Eastern region, notably Assam and Tripura—with Karnataka leading in numbers with 165 delegates. Adding a truly international dimension, HAMs from the Royal Omani Amateur Radio Society, AMSAT India, and the Upagrah Amateur Radio Club of ISRO attended the event.
The convention hosted over 40 technical sessions and 8 live demonstrations across four venues within GEC, covering topics like antenna design, satellite communication, software-defined radio, and emergency operations. Moreover, 37 exhibitors showcased cutting-edge amateur radio, antenna, and communication equipment, drawing immense interest from both professionals and students.
A key highlight this year was the first-ever HAM ASOC Examination conducted during HAMFEST India, with around 40 participants, including delegates, students, and faculty members of GEC’s Electronics and Telecommunication departments, appearing for certification.
During an interactive session, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (VU2TNI) shared his remarkable experiences aboard the International Space Station (ISS) with students of the GEC Astronomy Club, detailing communication in microgravity and the challenges of space-based amateur radio operations.
In his address, Nitin V. Raiker emphasized the crucial role of HAM radio in disaster management and emergency response, urging collaboration between HAM operators and Goa’s emergency services. Chief Guest Rohan Khaunte praised GRAS for promoting amateur radio culture and assured full government support to strengthen HAM activities in Goa.
The two-day event concluded with a grand award ceremony, recognizing senior HAMs, mentors (Elmers), lifetime achievers, and Belgum Net controllers for their outstanding contributions to amateur radio in India.
The Tripura HAM Radio Club’s representation at HAMFEST India 2025 underscored the state’s emerging prominence in India’s amateur radio landscape and reflected Tripura’s commitment to advancing technical communication skills and emergency preparedness through HAM radio.
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