What is Morse Code ?
A system of communication developed by Samuel Morse used for telegraph, in which the letters of the alphabet are coded as a combination of dots and dashes so that messages can either be sent using light, sound or wireless.
Morse code is a method used in telecommunication to encode text characters as standardized sequences of two different signal durations, called dots and dashes, or dits and dahs.
International Morse code encodes the 26 basic Latin lettersa through z, one accented Latin letter (é), the Arabic numerals, and a small set of punctuation and procedural signals (prosigns). There is no distinction between upper and lower case letters.[1] Each Morse code symbol is formed by a sequence of dits and dahs. The dit duration is the basic unit of time measurement in Morse code transmission. The duration of a dah is three times the duration of a dit. Each dit or dah within an encoded character is followed by a period of signal absence, called a space, equal to the dit duration. The letters of a word are separated by a space of duration equal to three dits, and words are separated by a space equal to seven dits.[1] Until 1949, words were separated by a space equal to five dits.
Is Morse Code madatory to get the licence ?
NO. Morse Code is not madatory for getting the restricted grade amateur radio licence. And YES, it is madatory in case you need to go for genaral grade amateur radio licence.