Indian Air Force (IAF) Recruitment 2026 | Become a Group 'A' Gazetted Officer through AFCAT-01/2026

Indian Air Force (IAF) Recruitment 2026 | Group 'A' Gazetted Officer through AFCAT-01/2026 ✈️

 

 

 

The Indian Air Force invites talented and determined Indian citizens (Men and Women) to join this elite force as Group 'A' Gazetted Officers in the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Start your career of honour, duty, and adventure with a course commencing in January 2027.

 

1. Important Dates

Event	Date & Time
Online Application Submission	17 Nov 25 (1100 Hr) to 14 Dec 25 (2330 Hr)
AFCAT Online Examination Date	31 Jan 26 (Saturday)
Training Commencement	First week of January 2027 (Approx.)

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2. Important (Eligibility & Selection)

1. Branches & Commission Type

Entry Type	Branch	Commission Type	Tenure Details
AFCAT & NCC Special Entry	Flying Branch	Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men & Women	14 years from the date of Commissioning.
AFCAT & NCC Special Entry	Ground Duty (Technical)	Permanent Commission (PC) & Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men & Women.	PC: Service till age of superannuation. SSC: Initial 10 years, extendable by 4 years.
AFCAT & NCC Special Entry	Ground Duty (Non-Technical)	Permanent Commission (PC) & Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men & Women.	PC: Service till age of superannuation (for Technical Branch, but offered here for ground duty as well). SSC: Initial 10 years, extendable by 4 years.

Note: Vacancies are tentative and subject to change based on service requirements.

 

3. Age Criteria (as on 01 January 2027)

Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry)	20 to 24 years. (Born between 02 Jan 2003 to 01 Jan 2007)
Relaxation	Up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL)
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical)	20 to 26 years. (Born between 02 Jan 2001 to 01 Jan 2007)

4. Educational Qualifications ( Important Requirements)

Flying Branch	Mandatory 50% marks each in Maths & Physics at 10+2 level AND Graduation (Min 3-year course) with a minimum of 60% marks OR BE/B Tech (4-year course) with a minimum of 60% marks
Ground Duty (Technical) - AE(L) & AE(M)	Mandatory 50% marks each in Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level AND a minimum four-year degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in an approved Engineering/Technology discipline with a minimum of 60% marks
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) - Admin/Lgs/WS	Graduate Degree (Min 3-year course) in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) - Accounts	B. Com (Min 3-year course) / BBA (Finance) / Qualified CA/CMA/CS/CFA with 60% marks

Candidates in the final year/semester can also apply, provided they have no present backlog and maintain 60% marks up to the last declared semester/year.

 

5. Selection Procedure

1. Online AFCAT Examination: Objective type test in English only. The exam consists of General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test. (NCC Special Entry candidates are exempted from the written exam).
2. Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Testing: For successful AFCAT candidates (and all NCC Special Entry candidates).
3. Medical Examination.
4. Final Merit List and Allotment of Branch.

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6. Important Links

Application online apply	(getButton) #text=(Link) #color=(#4ad416)
Official Notification	(getButton) #text=(Notification) #color=(#4ad416)
Official website	(getButton) #text=(AFCAT) #color=(#4ad416)
Official Whats’App channel link	(getButton) #text=(Link) #color=(#4ad416)
Official Arattai channel link	(getButton) #text=(Link) #color=(#4ad416)

7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question	Answer
What is the application fee for AFCAT?	The examination fee is ₹550/- + GST (non-refundable) for the AFCAT Entry. NCC Special Entry candidates are exempt from this fee.
Can I edit my application form after submission?	No, details once submitted cannot be changed after the "Final Submission" or the "Make Payment" step. You must verify all information carefully. If an amendment is necessary, the only option is to re-register with a different email ID and fill the form anew, but the fee paid on the previous application will not be refunded.
Who is ineligible to apply for Flying Branch?	Candidates who have failed the Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) in a previous attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at Air Force Academy are not eligible to apply.
What is the penalty for wrong answers in the AFCAT exam?	The marking scheme includes a penalty: three marks will be awarded for every correct answer, and one mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer.
What is the insurance coverage for IAF officers?	IAF officers are covered by a ₹1.25 crore Insurance Cover (on contribution) from the Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS).