AFCAT 2026 is a national-level defence examination conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to recruit eligible male and female candidates for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test and is held twice every year, offering aspirants an opportunity to join the Indian Air Force as commissioned officers. The exam is highly popular among defence aspirants due to its prestigious career opportunities, attractive salary, and adventurous lifestyle.
Candidates selected through AFCAT undergo rigorous training and are appointed as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in the IAF. The recruitment process includes an online written examination, AFSB interview, medical examination, and document verification. AFCAT 2026 notifications have been released for various vacancies in Flying and Ground Duty branches for courses commencing in 2027. Graduates and engineering candidates from different streams can apply based on the eligibility criteria mentioned in the official notification.
AFCAT 02/2026: Overview Table
| Feature | Details |
| Organization Name | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 02/2026) |
| Post | Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duty Branches |
| Vacancy | 379 |
| Age | 20 to 24 years (Flying) & 20 to 26 years (Ground Duty) |
| Application Fee | Rs. 550/- plus 18% GST (Non-refundable) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Frequency | Twice in a year |
| Mode of Exam | Online (Computer Based Test) |
| Salary | Rs. 56100- Rs. 177500 (Flying Officer) |
| Selection Process Phases | - Online AFCAT Written Exam,
- AFSB Interview (Stage-I & II)
- Medical Exam
|
| Official Website | Click Here |
AFCAT 02/2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date and Time |
| Release of Official Notification | 20th May 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20th May 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Online Application Last Date | 19th June 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Admit Card Release Date | 04 August 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| AFCAT Online Exam Date | 08 August 2026 (Saturday) |
| Course Commencing Date | July 2027 |
AFCAT 02/2026: Vacancy In detail
| Entry Type | Branch | Men Vacancies | Women Vacancies |
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 30 (SSC) | 5 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Tech: AE(L) | 25 (PC), 107 (SSC) | 12 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Tech: AE(M) | 13 (PC), 52 (SSC) | 6 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Non-Tech: Weapon Systems (WS) | 21 (SSC) | 5 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Non-Tech: Administration (Adm) | 50 (SSC) | 12 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Non-Tech: Logistics (Lgs) | 4 (SSC) | 2 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Non-Tech: Accounts (Accts) | 5 (SSC) | 2 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Non-Tech: Education (Edn) | 2 (SSC) | 1 (SSC) |
| Ground Duty Non-Tech: Meteorology (Met) | 1 (SSC) | 2 (SSC) |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 10% seats out of CDSE (for PC) and 10% out of AFCAT (for SSC) | 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies (for SSC) |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty Tech: AE(L) & AE(M) | Minor variable vacancies for PC and SSC | Minor variable vacancies for SSC |
Total Calculated Vacancy
| Entry Type & Branch | Total Vacancies (Calculated) |
| AFCAT Entry – Flying | 35 |
| AFCAT Entry – Ground Duty (Technical) | 211 |
| AFCAT Entry – Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 107 |
| GATE Score Entry – Ground Duty (Technical) | 26 |
| Calculated Total (Excluding NCC Entry) | 379 |
| NCC Special Entry | 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC |
AFCAT 02/2026: Eligibility Criteria
| Branch | Educational Qualification |
| Flying Branch | Mandatory pass in Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 level AND Graduation (min 3 years) in any discipline, OR BE/B Tech degree (4 years), OR cleared Section A & B examination of AMIE/Aeronautical Society of India. |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics AND minimum four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in specified Engineering/Technology disciplines. |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – WS | 10+2 with Maths and Physics AND Graduation (min 3 years) or BE/B Tech degree (4 years). |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Adm & Lgs | Passed 10+2 AND Graduate Degree (min 3 years) in any discipline from a recognized university. |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Accounts | Passed 10+2 AND Graduation in B.Com, BBA (Finance), BMS (Finance), BBS (Finance), BSc (Finance), or Qualified CA/CMA/CS/CFA. |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Education | Passed 10+2 AND Post-Graduation in any discipline (including integrated PG courses) along with Graduation in any discipline. |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Meteorology | Passed 10+2 AND B Sc with Physics and Mathematics OR a 4-year Graduation in specific Engineering/Technology streams. |
AFCAT 02/2026: Age Limit & Relaxation
| Branch | Age Limit | Date of Birth Range | Relaxation |
| Flying Branch | 20 to 24 years as on 01 July 2027 | Born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007 (both dates inclusive) | Candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by DGCA (India) get a relaxation up to 26 years (born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007). |
| Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech) | 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027 | Born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007 (both dates inclusive) | No specific age relaxation mentioned. |
AFCAT 02/2026: Exam Pattern
| Exam | Subject | Duration | No. of Questions | Max Marks |
| AFCAT | - General Awareness
- Verbal Ability in English
- Numerical Ability
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test
| 02 Hours | 100 | 300 |
AFCAT 02/2026: Application Process
- Registration: Visit the official AFCAT portal at https://afcat.edcil.co.in. Click on the registration link and fill in your basic personal and contact details (Aadhaar Card is mandatory) to generate your OTP and User ID/Password.
- Fill the Form: Log in using your credentials. Complete the personal details, communication details, educational qualifications, and course preference sections. Remember, details once submitted cannot be edited, so proceed carefully.
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size color photograph, signature, and thumb impression (left for males, right for females) in the specified JPG/JPEG formats and sizes. You will also need to complete a live image capture via your device camera.
- Fee Payment & Submission: Pay the non-refundable examination fee of Rs. 550/- plus 18% GST via Net Banking, Debit/Credit Card, or UPI. Note that the fee is exempt for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates. After successful payment, retain a printout of the application form for future reference.
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