The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the official notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027 for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches, along with the NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses commencing in January 2028. A total of 284 vacancies are notified for men and women to join as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers.
Online applications open on 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) and the last date to apply online is 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). The online AFCAT examination will be held on 31 January 2027 (Sunday). Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course, and Aadhaar Card is mandatory for registration.
This article covers the complete details of the AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment — important dates, branch-wise vacancy details, eligibility, age limit, application fee, salary, selection process and how to apply.
Recruitment Overview
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Examination Name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027 |
| Entries | AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry, GATE Score Entry |
| Branches | Flying; Ground Duty (Technical); Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
| Total Vacancies | 284 (tentative) |
| Courses Commence | January 2028 |
| Training | 74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical); 50 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
| Application Mode | Online only |
| Official Website | afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Selection Process | Online AFCAT → AFSB Testing → CPSS (Flying only) → Medical Examination → Final Merit List |
| Exam Date | 31 January 2027 (Sunday) |
The vacancies are tentative and subject to change without notice. The actual intake depends on organisational requirements, cadre control, availability of training slots and the actual number of vacancies accruing in January 2028. Two seats are reserved from the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) vacancies for candidates holding an LLB degree. NCC Special Entry takes 10% of the AFCAT SSC seats (within the 284) and 10% of CDSE PC (Men) seats.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Short Notification Released | 2 November 2026 |
| Detailed Notification Released | 11 November 2026 |
| Online Application Opens | 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee | 11 December 2026 |
| Admit Card Download | 27 January 2027 (11:00 AM onwards) |
| AFCAT Exam Date | 31 January 2027 (Sunday), 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon |
| Answer Key Objection Window | 3 February 2027 (10:00 AM) to 5 February 2027 (10:00 AM) |
| Proof of Final Exam Completion (final-year students) | 30 November 2027 |
| Training Begins | First week of January 2028 |
Vacancy Details
The 284 vacancies are distributed branch-wise as per the official notification. The break-up is as follows:
| Entry | Branch | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT | Flying (223/28F/SSC/M&W) | — | — | 28 | 8 | 36 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Technical) AE (L) | 5 | 2 | 54 | 27 | 88 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Technical) AE (M) | 8 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 36 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Weapon Systems | — | — | 25 | 5 | 30 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Administration | 1 | 1 | 34 | 17 | 53 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Logistics | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Accounts | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Education | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| AFCAT | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Meteorology | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) AE (L) | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) AE (M) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 20 | 11 | 177 | 76 | 284 |
In total, the Flying Branch has 36 vacancies, Ground Duty (Technical) has 124 vacancies through AFCAT Entry plus 16 through GATE Score Entry, and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) has 108 vacancies. NCC Special Entry (Flying) takes 10% of the AFCAT SSC seats for men and women and 10% of CDSE vacancies for PC (Men) — these seats are within the figures above, not extra.
Type of Commission
| Commission | Details |
|---|---|
| Permanent Commission (PC), Men and Women | Officers serve till the age of superannuation in their branch, as per rank |
| SSC, Flying Branch | Engagement of 14 years from the date of commissioning |
| SSC, Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) | Initial tenure of 10 years; an extension of 4 years may be granted, subject to requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit |
| Grant of PC later | Considered subject to service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit |
| Pension | SSC officers are not entitled to pension |
Eligibility Criteria
Nationality: The candidate must be a citizen of India as per the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. Men and women can apply.
Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. Marriage is not permitted during training — a candidate who marries during training will be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred by the Government.
Educational Qualification (branch-wise):
- Flying Branch: 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, and a three-year graduation in any discipline from a recognised University, OR a BE/B.Tech degree (four-year course), OR Sections A and B of the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India.
- Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) AE (L): 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, and a four-year BE/B.Tech or integrated PG degree in one of the 94 listed Electronics, Electrical, Computer and allied disciplines, OR MSc Electronics with BSc Physics, OR AMIE / Aeronautical Society of India Sections A and B, OR IETE Graduate Membership.
- Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) AE (M): 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, and a four-year BE/B.Tech or integrated PG degree in one of the 39 listed Aerospace, Mechanical, Production, Metallurgical and allied disciplines, OR AMIE / Aeronautical Society of India Sections A and B.
- Weapon Systems Branch: 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, and a three-year graduation in any discipline OR a BE/B.Tech degree (four-year course).
- Administration and Logistics: 10+2 and a graduate degree (minimum three years) in any discipline, OR Sections A and B of AMIE / Aeronautical Society of India.
- Accounts Branch: 10+2 and graduation in B.Com (minimum three-year course), OR BBA / BMS / BBS with specialisation in Finance, OR qualified CA / CMA / CS / CFA, OR B.Sc with specialisation in Finance.
- Education Branch: 10+2 and post-graduation in any discipline (with graduation in any discipline).
- Meteorology Branch: 10+2 and B.Sc with Physics and Mathematics, OR a four-year engineering degree in one of the 22 listed Electronics, Electrical, Computer and Mechanical streams.
- NCC Special Entry (Flying): The Flying Branch qualification, plus the NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate acquired within two years before the AFCAT registration date. The written exam is exempted — candidates are called directly for AFSB testing.
- GATE Score Entry: BE/B.Tech in the listed disciplines and a GATE result declared between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2027 in the paper listed for AE (L) or AE (M). Candidates are shortlisted on their GATE score and called directly for AFSB testing.
Final-year students with no present backlog can apply, but must submit proof of completing the final examination by 30 November 2027; no extension is entertained. A diploma in place of 10+2 is not accepted. Candidates who failed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) earlier, or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy, are not eligible for the Flying Branch.
Physical Standards (key requirements from the notification): Height for Ground Duty — male 157 cm, female 152 cm (relaxations for Lakshadweep, Gorkhas, North-East and hilly Uttarakhand with domicile certificate); height for Flying — 162 cm for Pilots, Flight Test Engineers and WSO Su-30 MKI, 157 cm for other aircrew. Chest (male) minimum 77 cm with expansion of at least 5 cm. Vision for Flying — 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6 in both eyes only for hypermetropia (myopia nil), CP-I; other branches corrected 6/6 in each eye, CP-II.
Age Limit
Age is reckoned as on 1 January 2028. Both birth dates in each range are inclusive.
| Entry / Branch | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch | 20 to 24 years (born 2 January 2004 to 1 January 2008) |
| Flying Branch, holder of a valid and current DGCA (India) Commercial Pilot Licence | Up to 26 years (born 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008) |
| AFCAT, all Ground Duty branches | 20 to 26 years (born 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008) |
| GATE Score Entry, Ground Duty (Technical) | 20 to 26 years (born 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008) |
| NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch) | 20 to 24 years, and up to 26 years with a valid CPL, the same as the Flying Branch |
The notification lists no category-wise age relaxation. The date of birth accepted by the IAF is the one entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate, and no subsequent request for a change is considered.
Application Fee
| Entry | Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Rs. 550 + 18% GST (non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry | No examination fee |
| GATE Score Entry | No examination fee |
The fee is paid online only — by net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI — after submitting the application form. Cash, cheque and demand draft are not accepted. The fee is non-refundable, including on any additional application form submitted.
Salary and Benefits
On commissioning, a Flying Officer gets pay as per the Defence Matrix at Level 10 — Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500 — with Military Service Pay (MSP) of Rs. 15,500 per month on top. Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during training. Officers also get allowances depending on branch, duty and place of posting (Flying, Transport, Technical, Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer, and Risk and Hardship allowances), furnished accommodation, medical cover for self and dependents, canteen and Officers’ Mess facilities, loans at subsidised rates, LTC, and 60 days annual leave and 20 days casual leave, subject to service needs. Insurance is mandatory through the Air Force Group Insurance Society, presently Rs. 1.25 crore (on contribution) for death in service.
Selection Process
Selection is made through the following stages:
- Online AFCAT Examination (for AFCAT Entry only): Computer-based, objective type, in English only. 100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours — General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Marking: +3 for a correct answer, −1 for a wrong answer, 0 for unattempted questions. Marks are normalised when there is more than one shift. The IAF fixes the qualifying marks. NCC Special Entry candidates are exempt from this test; GATE Score Entry candidates are shortlisted on their GATE score. The standard of Numerical Ability questions is of Matriculation level; other subjects are of graduation level.
- AFSB Testing: Candidates who qualify in the online AFCAT are called to one of the Air Force Selection Boards — Dehradun (1 AFSB), Mysuru (2 AFSB), Gandhinagar (3 AFSB), Varanasi (4 AFSB) and Guwahati (5 AFSB). Stage-I consists of the Officer Intelligence Rating test and the Picture Perception and Discussion test, which screen candidates. Stage-II (five days) consists of psychological tests, group tests and interview. NCC Special Entry and shortlisted GATE Score Entry candidates are called directly for AFSB testing.
- CPSS (Flying Branch only): Computerised Pilot Selection System, taken once in a lifetime.
- Medical Examination: As per the IAF medical standards given in the notification.
- Final Merit List: Candidates must secure the qualifying marks fixed by the IAF separately in the written exam and the AFSB tests. The merit order is on the total of both. Branch allotment depends on vacancies, merit, medical fitness and the candidate’s choice.
The e-Admit Card is issued four days before the examination (from 27 January 2027, 11:00 AM) and is sent to the registered email ID; it can also be downloaded from the official website. No admit card is sent by post. Candidates must carry a colour/laser printout of the e-Admit Card, their Aadhaar Card in original, a second photo identity card in original, and two passport-size colour photographs to the exam centre.
How to Apply
- From 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM), open the official AFCAT website at afcat.edcil.co.in.
- Choose the separate tab for AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry. Each entry needs a separate registration.
- Sign up with your name, mobile number and email ID (OTP verified) and Aadhaar, and note the User ID and password you receive.
- Log in and fill in the personal, communication, qualification and course preference details, and upload the photograph (100 to 200 KB), signature (80 to 150 KB) and thumb impression (50 to 100 KB). Take great care with the date of birth — no changes are allowed after submission.
- Preview and submit. AFCAT Entry only: pay Rs. 550 + 18% GST online by net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. NCC and GATE entries pay no examination fee.
- Complete the application by 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM), then print the submitted form and note the Application Number.
If you qualify for more than one entry, register separately in each entry. Keep the same email ID and mobile number active throughout the selection process. After payment no change is possible; the only way to amend is to re-register with a different email ID and fill the form anew, and the fee already paid is not refunded. Government employees need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their department and must produce it at the AFSB; without it they are routed back untested.
Important Links
| Link | Details |
|---|---|
| Official Website | https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Apply Online | https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Official Notification | Detailed notification (66 pages) published on the official AFCAT website, afcat.edcil.co.in |
| AFCAT Helpdesk | Phone: +91-9513252077 (0900–1800 Hrs, Monday to Saturday); Email: afcathelpdesk@edcil.co.in |
Candidates are advised to verify all details from the official AFCAT 01/2027 notification before applying, and to apply well before the last date to avoid last-minute technical issues.
FAQs
Q1. How many vacancies are there in the AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment? A total of 284 vacancies are notified — Flying Branch 36, Ground Duty (Technical) 124 through AFCAT Entry plus 16 through GATE Score Entry, and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) 108. The vacancies are tentative and subject to change.
Q2. What is the last date to apply for AFCAT 01/2027? The last date to apply online is 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). Online applications open on 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM).
Q3. What is the application fee for AFCAT 01/2027? Rs. 550 + 18% GST for AFCAT Entry, payable online only and non-refundable. There is no examination fee for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry.
Q4. What is the age limit for AFCAT 01/2027? Age is reckoned as on 1 January 2028. Flying Branch: 20 to 24 years (up to 26 years for valid DGCA CPL holders). Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) and GATE Score Entry: 20 to 26 years. The notification lists no category-wise age relaxation.
Q5. When is the AFCAT 01/2027 exam? The online AFCAT examination will be held on 31 January 2027 (Sunday), from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. The admit card will be available from 27 January 2027 (11:00 AM).
Q6. What is the exam pattern of AFCAT 01/2027? The online exam has 100 objective questions for 300 marks in 2 hours, covering General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Marking is +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong answer.
Q7. What is the salary of an AFCAT officer? On commissioning, a Flying Officer gets Level 10 pay of Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500 plus Military Service Pay of Rs. 15,500 per month. Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during training.
Q8. Is there any written exam for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry? No. NCC Special Entry candidates are exempt from the written exam and are called directly for AFSB testing. GATE Score Entry candidates are shortlisted on their GATE score and called directly for AFSB testing.
Q9. When do the AFCAT 01/2027 courses commence? The courses commence in January 2028. Training is 74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) and 50 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical).