Introduction
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially announced the AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment for candidates seeking a career as a Commissioned Officer in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches. AFCAT is conducted twice every year and is considered one of the most sought-after defence examinations for graduates and engineering aspirants across India.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Online Application Last Date | 21 June 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Admit Card Download Begins | 04 August 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| AFCAT Examination Date | 08 August 2026 (Saturday) |
| Objection Management Window | 09 August 2026 (05:00 PM) to 11 August 2026 (05:00 PM) |
| Age Eligibility Cut-off Date | 01 July 2027 |
| Submission of Final Exam Proof | By 30 May 2027 (for final year students) |
| Commencement of Training | First week of July 2027 |
Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Conducted By | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Post Name | Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), Ground Duty (Non‑Technical) |
| Total Vacancies | 379 |
| Special Entry | NCC Special Entry, GATE Score Entry |
| Age Limit | 20 to 26 Years |
| Job Location | All India (training at Air Force Academy, Hyderabad and other IAF training establishments) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Notification No. | AFCAT- 02/2026 |
Vacancy Details
| S.No | Post Name / State | No. of Vacancies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flying – AFCAT Entry (222/27F/SSC/M&W) | 30 Men (PC) + 5 Women (PC) = 35 |
| 2 | Ground Duty (Technical) – AFCAT Entry (221/27T/PC/111AEC/M&W) | AE(L): 2 + AE(M): 8 = 10 |
| 3 | Ground Duty (Technical) – AFCAT Entry (221/27T/SSC/111AEC/M&W) | AE(L): 2 + AE(M): 2 = 4 |
| 4 | Ground Duty (Technical) – GATE Score Entry (221/27T/PC/111AEC/M&W) | AE(L): 107 + AE(M): 52 = 159 |
| 5 | Ground Duty (Technical) – GATE Score Entry (221/27T/SSC/111AEC/M&W) | AE(L): 25 + AE(M): 13 = 38 |
| 6 | Ground Duty (Non‑Technical) – AFCAT Entry (221/27G/SSC/M&W) | WS: 21, Adm: 50, Lgs: 4, Accts: 5, Edn: 1, Met: 1 = 82 |
| 7 | Ground Duty (Non‑Technical) – GATE Score Entry (221/27G/SSC/M&W) | WS: 5, Adm: 12, Lgs: 2, Accts: 2, Edn: 2, Met: 2 = 25 |
| 8 | NCC Special Entry – Flying (222/27F/PC/M & 222/27F/SSC/M&W) | 10 % of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10 % of AFCAT vacancies for SSC (exact numbers not disclosed) |
Pay Scale & Salary Structure
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Pay on Commissioning (Flight Cadet) | Rs. 56,100 /‑ per month (first year) |
| Pay Scale (Flying Officer) | Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500 /‑ (basic) as per 7th CPC |
| Gross / In‑hand Salary | Varies with rank and allowances; up to Rs. 5,71,500 /‑ gross per month for senior officers |
| Additional Perks | Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance, Risk & Hardship Allowance, Insurance Cover, etc. |
Eligibility Criteria
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Educational Qualification | 10+2 with Physics & Mathematics + Graduation (any discipline) OR BE/B.Tech (4 yr) OR professional qualifications as specified for each branch. |
| Experience | None required. |
| Other Requirement | Indian citizenship, unmarried status, Aadhaar (last 4 digits), valid email & mobile. |
| Nationality | Indian |
Age Limit (As on 01 July 2027)
| Age Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC) | 20 – 24 years (born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007). Upper limit relaxable to 26 years for CPL holders. |
| Ground Duty (Technical & Non‑Technical) | 20 – 26 years (born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007). |
Age Relaxation
| Category | Age Relaxation |
|---|---|
| SC/ST | 5 years |
| OBC | 3 years |
| PwBD | 5 years (subject to medical fitness) |
Application Fee
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry (Flying & Ground Duty) | Rs. 550 + 18 % GST (non‑refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry | Not applicable |
Payment is made online through Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card or UPI.
Selection Process
| Step | Stage | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online Application | Submission of application form & fee on AFCAT portal. |
| 2 | AFCAT Written Examination | Online objective test (100 questions, 300 marks) on 08 Aug 2026. |
| 3 | Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) / SSB | Psychological test, Group Testing, Interview, and for Flying – CPSS. |
| 4 | Final Merit List & Call‑up | Based on written exam marks + AFSB performance; vacancies allocated as per merit. |
Documents Required
- Recent passport‑size colour photograph (100 KB‑200 KB, JPG/JPEG)
- Scanned signature (80 KB‑150 KB, JPG/JPEG)
- Scanned thumb impression (50 KB‑100 KB, JPG/JPEG or PDF)
- Aadhaar Card (last 4 digits only)
- 10+2 & Graduation certificates & mark sheets
- For NCC entry – NCC ‘C’ certificate
- For GATE entry – GATE score certificate
- Valid email ID & mobile number
Syllabus
| Subject | Topics |
|---|---|
| English | Comprehension, Grammar, Synonyms/Antonyms, Cloze Test, Idioms, Analogy, Sentence Rearrangement, Substitution, Transformation, Homonyms |
| General Awareness | History, Geography, Sports, National & International Organisations, Art & Culture, Personalities, Environment, Indian Polity, Economy, Basic Science, Current Affairs, Defence |
| Numerical Ability | Decimals, Fractions, Time & Work, Percentages, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Simple & Compound Interest, Time & Distance, Area & Perimeter, Probability, Number Series, Mixture, HCF & LCM, Mensuration, Statistics, Exponents |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test | Verbal & Non‑Verbal Reasoning, Military Aptitude |
Photo, Signature & Document Specifications
| Document | Format | Size | Dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | JPG/JPEG | 100 KB‑200 KB | Passport size, light background |
| Signature | JPG/JPEG | 80 KB‑150 KB | Black ink on white paper |
| Thumb Impression | JPG/JPEG or PDF | 50 KB‑100 KB | Left thumb (male) / Right thumb (female) |
Centres of Examination
| State / Region | Exam Centre / City |
|---|---|
| All India | Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad/Gandhinagar, Aizawl, Ajmer, Aligarh, Ambala, Amravati, Amritsar, Arrah, Ayodhya, Balasore, Bareilly, Belagavi, Bengaluru, Bhag alpur, Bhatinda, Bhilai/Durg, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar/Cuttack, Bhuj, Bikaner, Chandigarh/Mohali, Chennai, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Churachandpur, Coimbatore, Darbhanga, Dehradun, Delhi & NCR, Dhanbad, Dibrugarh, Dimapur, Durgapur, Ernakulam, Gangtok, Gaya, Gorakhpur, Guwahati, Gwalior, Haldwani, Hamirpur, Hazaribagh, Hubballi/Dharwad, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Jabalpur, Jaipur, Jalandhar/Phagwara, Jammu, Jamshedpur, Jhansi, Jodhpur, Jorhat, Kangra, Kannur, Kanpur, Kolhapur, Kolkata, Kollam, Kozhikode, Kurukshetra, Leh, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Mandi, Madurai, Mangaluru, Meerut, Moradabad, Mumbai/MMR, Muzaffarnagar, Muzaffarpur, Mysuru, Nagpur, Naharalagun, Nanded, Nasik, Palampur, Panaji/Mapusa, Pathankot, Patna, Patiala, Port Blair, Prayagraj, Puducherry, Pune, Purnea, Raipur, Rajkot, Ranchi, Roorkee, Rourkela, Samba, Sambalpur, Sikkar, Siliguri, Shillong, Shivmogga, Solan, Solapur, Srinagar, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Tirupati, Udaipur, Una, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Warangal |
Answer Key & Result
The answer key and result will be published on the official AFCAT website after the written examination. Candidates can download the answer key and later check the result as per the schedule announced on the website.
Exam Pattern
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness, English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude | 100 | 300 | 2 Hours |
Negative Marking & Qualifying Marks
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Negative Marking | −1 mark for each incorrect answer |
| Qualifying Marks | To be fixed by IAF discretion for each subject and overall |
| Marks per Question | +3 for correct, 0 for un‑attempted, −1 for wrong |
How to Apply Online
- Visit the AFCAT portal: https://afcat.edcil.co.in
- Register using your email and mobile number; generate OTP and set password.
- Log in and fill in Personal Details, Communication Details, Qualification Details, Course Preference, and Additional Details.
- Upload scanned Photograph, Signature and Thumb Impression as per specifications.
- Review the entered information carefully; once satisfied, click “Submit”.
- Proceed to the payment gateway and pay the non‑refundable application fee (if applicable).
- After successful payment, note down the Application Sequence Number (User ID) and password sent to your registered email and mobile.
- Print the submitted application form for future reference.
Important Instructions
- Only one application per candidate per post will be considered; the latest submitted application will be valid.
- All details entered in the application form cannot be edited after final submission.
- Ensure that the date of birth entered matches the one on your Matriculation/Secondary School Certificate; any discrepancy will lead to disqualification.
- Non‑refundable application fee will not be refunded under any circumstances.
- Admit Card will be issued only to candidates who have successfully submitted the online application and paid the fee.
- Carry the original Aadhaar card and a second valid photo ID (PAN, Passport, Driving Licence, Voter ID) to the examination centre.
- Two passport‑size colour photographs (same as uploaded) must be pasted on the Admit Card at the centre.
- Ball‑point pen (blue or black) only; no electronic devices, calculators, or personal items are allowed inside the exam hall.
Important Web-Links
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Visit |
| Admit Card | Upcoming |
Helpdesk / Contact
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Phone (AFCAT Help Desk) | +91‑9513252077 (0900 Hr to 1800 Hr, Mon‑Sat) |
| afcathelpdesk@edcil.co.in | |
| Website | https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q. What is the last date to submit the online application for AFCAT 02/2026?
A. The online application must be submitted between 20 May 2026 (1100 Hr) and 19 June 2026 (2330 Hr).
Q. How much is the application fee and is it refundable?
A. The fee is Rs. 550 + 18 % GST (non‑refundable). It is not applicable for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry.
Q. What are the age limits for the Flying and Ground Duty branches?
A. Flying: 20‑24 years (up to 26 years for CPL holders). Ground Duty (Technical & Non‑Technical): 20‑26 years, as on 01 July 2027.
Q. Which educational qualifications are required for the Technical Ground Duty branches?
A. Candidates must have passed 10+2 with Physics & Mathematics and hold a BE/B.Tech (4 yr) or an equivalent engineering degree in the disciplines listed in the notification (e.g., Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science, etc.).
Q. When and where will the AFCAT written examination be conducted?
A. The AFCAT exam will be held on 08 August 2026 (Saturday) at any of the listed examination centres across India.
Q. How can I download my Admit Card?
A. Admit Cards will be available for download from the AFCAT portal (https://afcat.edcil.co.in) from 04 August 2026 (1100 Hr) onward. You will need your User ID and password.
Q. What is the marking scheme for the AFCAT exam?
A. Each correct answer carries +3 marks, each wrong answer carries –1 mark, and no marks are deducted for un‑attempted questions.