The Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 01/2026 Official Notification inviting applications from Indian citizens (men & women) to join the IAF as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duty branches. The online application process will run from:
📅 Application Dates:
17 November 2025 (11:00 AM) to 14 December 2025 (11:30 PM)
Exam Date: 31 January 2026 (Saturday)
🔷 AFCAT 01/2026 – Branches & Vacancies (Jan 2027 Course)
1. Flying Branch (SSC)
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Men: 34 vacancies
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Women: 04 vacancies
2. Ground Duty (Technical)
AE (L) and AE (M)
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PC (Men/Women): AE(L) 3, AE(M) 9
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SSC (Men): AE(L) 100, AE(M) 38
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SSC (Women): AE(L) 23, AE(M) 9
3. Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
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Weapon Systems (WS): 21 (Men), 05 (Women)
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Admin: 48 (Men), 12 (Women)
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Logistics: 09 (Men), 02 (Women)
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Accounts: 08 (Men), 02 (Women)
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Education: 02 (Men), 02 (Women)
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Meteorology: 01 (Men), 02 (Women)
4. NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch)
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10% of CDSE seats (PC)
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10% of AFCAT seats (SSC)
🔷 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality:
Indian citizens only (as per Citizenship Act 1955)
Age Limits (As on 01 January 2027):
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Flying Branch: 20–24 years
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CPL holders: up to 26 years
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Ground Duty (Tech/Non-Tech): 20–26 years
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Must be unmarried at the time of course start
🔷 Educational Qualifications
Flying Branch
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10+2 with 50% in Physics & Maths, AND
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Graduation (3 years) with 60% marks, OR
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BE/B.Tech with 60%, OR
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AMIE/ASI with 60%
Ground Duty Technical
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PCM 50% in 10+2
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4-year Engineering degree with 60% in approved branches (extensive list provided in notification)
Ground Duty Non-Technical
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WS Branch: Graduation with 60% OR BE/BTech
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Admin/Logistics: Graduation with 60%
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Accounts: B.Com/BBA Finance/BMS Finance/CA/CMA/CS/CFA
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Education: PG with 50% & Graduation with 60%
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Meteorology: B.Sc or Engineering with 60%
🔷 Application Fee
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AFCAT Entry: ₹550 + 18% GST
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NCC Special Entry: No fee
🔷 AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | 2 Hours (Combined) |
| Verbal Ability in English | 25 | 75 | 2 Hours (Combined) |
| Numerical Ability | 18 | 54 | 2 Hours (Combined) |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test | 32 | 96 | 2 Hours (Combined) |
| 👉 TOTAL | 100 | 300 | 120 Minutes |
⚠️ Note: AFCAT paper is conducted as one combined paper of 2 hours, not separate time for each section.
Negative Marking: -1 for each wrong answer
🔷 Selection Process
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Online AFCAT Exam
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AFSB Interview (Stage 1 & Stage 2)
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Medical Examination
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Final Merit List (Branch-wise)
🔷 AFCAT 01/2026 – Exam Centres
Major cities include: Delhi, Jammu, Srinagar, Lucknow, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Patna, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Bhopal, Pune, and others (full list in notification).
🔷 How to Apply Online (Step-by-Step)
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Visit the official AFCAT website (Direct Link)
👉 https://afcat.edcil.co.in -
Register using mobile number & email
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Fill personal, academic, and communication details
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Upload photo, signature & thumb impression
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Select branches as per eligibility
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Pay the application fee
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Submit and download your application form
🔷 Important Links
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📝 Apply Online (AFCAT 01/2026)