Indian Air Force invites applications from eligible men and women to join as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branches through AFCAT 01/2026 and NCC Special Entry. The AFCAT online written examination is scheduled on 31 January 2026 (Saturday).
Important Dates for Air Force Common Admission Test: AFCAT 01/2026
| Event | Date / Details |
|---|---|
| Notification Name | AFCAT 01/2026 for courses commencing January 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online via AFCAT website https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Online Application Start | 17 November 2025, 11:00 AM |
| Online Application Last Date | 14 December 2025, 11:30 PM |
| AFCAT 01/2026 Exam Date | 31 January 2026 (Saturday) |
| Admit Card Download | From 22 January 2026, 11:00 AM onwards |
Educational Qualification and Age
- Nationality: Must be a citizen of India as per the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
- Age (Flying Branch & NCC Special Entry): 20 to 24 years as on 01 January 2027 (born between 02 January 2003 and 01 January 2007; both dates inclusive). Upper age limit up to 26 years for candidates with valid Commercial Pilot Licence.
- Age (Ground Duty Technical & Non-Technical): 20 to 26 years as on 01 January 2027 (born between 02 January 2001 and 01 January 2007; both dates inclusive).
- Basic Educational Pattern: 10+2 with minimum 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics for Flying and Technical branches, along with required graduation/engineering degrees as specified in the notification.
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Graduation or relevant degree as per branch (Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology) with prescribed minimum percentage mentioned in para 5.3 of the notification.
(Candidates should carefully read & match their degree and percentage with the detailed tables in the official notification before applying.)
Vacancy Details
| Entry / Branch | Course No. | Type | Vacancies* (Men/Women) |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT – Flying | 221/27F/SSC/M&W | SSC | 34 (Men), 04 (Women) |
| Ground Duty (Technical) – AE(L) & AE(M) | 220/27T/PC & 220/27T/SSC / 110 AEC M&W | PC & SSC | AE(L): 03 & AE(M): 03 vacancies for PC and SSC (MEN: AE(L):100, AE(M): 38/ WOMEN AE(L):23, AE(M) : 09) as per branch-wise table in notification |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 220/27G/SSC/M&W | SSC | MEN: Weapon Systems (WS) Branch: 21, Admin:48, Lgs:09, Accts :08, Edn :02, Met :01. WOMEN: Weapon Systems (WS) Branch: 05, Admin :12, Lgs :02, Accts :02, Edn :02, Met :02 |
| NCC Special Entry – Flying | 221/27F/PC/M & 221/27F/SSC/M&W | PC & SSC | 10% of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% of AFCAT vacancies for SSC |
*Vacancies are tentative and subject to change as per IAF service requirements.
Pay, Stipend and Allowances
- Training Stipend: Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month during one year of training.
- Pay on Commissioning: Flying Officer pay as per Defence Pay Matrix Level 10 – ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 plus Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500.
- Allowances: Branch and posting-based allowances may include Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, Transport Allowance, Risk & Hardship allowance, and other admissible benefits as per rules.
- Insurance: Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS) provides an insurance cover of ₹1.25 crore on contribution basis to IAF officers.
Selection Steps
- Step 1 – Online AFCAT Exam: Computer-based test with 100 objective questions from General Awareness, English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning and Military Aptitude (2 hours, 300 marks).
- Step 2 – AFSB Testing: Shortlisted candidates (and NCC Special Entry candidates) undergo Stage I (screening), Stage II (psychological tests, group tests and interview) and CPSS for Flying Branch at AFSB centres.
- Step 3 – Medical Exam & Merit: Medically fit candidates are placed in a final merit list based on written and AFSB performance and allocated branches as per vacancy and choice.
How to Apply
- Candidates must apply online only through the official AFCAT website👉 https://afcat.edcil.co.in within the specified dates.
- Aadhaar card is mandatory for registration, and candidates must use a valid personal email ID and mobile number for all future communication.
- The online form requires uploading scanned photograph, signature and thumb impression in prescribed file sizes and formats.
- After filling all details, candidates must pay the examination fee of ₹550 plus GST online for AFCAT entry (fee not applicable for NCC Special Entry).
- Application once submitted cannot be withdrawn and the fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.
Important Links and FAQs
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official AFCAT Website | 👉 https://afcat.edcil.co.in (apply online, download admit card, check updates) |
| IAF Career Information | 👉 https://afcat.edcil.co.in and careerairforce.gov.in (branch details and general guidelines) |
| Application Fee | ₹550 + GST for AFCAT entry; not applicable for NCC Special Entry |
| Helpdesk (Exam/Registration) | Phone: +91-9513252077, Email: afcathelpdesk@edcil.co.in |
| Eligibility / AFSB Queries | Phone: 011-23010231 (Extn 7245, 7610), Toll Free: 1800-11-2448 |
| Pdf Advertisement | 👉 Click Here To Download |
| Registration/ Application Portal | 👉 Click Here |
FAQs
- Who can apply? – Indian citizens meeting age, education, and other eligibility conditions given in para 5 of the notification.
- Is AFCAT mandatory for NCC Special Entry? – No, NCC Air Wing ‘C’ certificate holders for Flying Branch under NCC Special Entry are exempted from the written AFCAT exam and are called directly for AFSB.
- Is there any relaxation in age or marks? – Age limits and educational requirements are strictly as per the notification; candidates must check the detailed eligibility section carefully.
