The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the official notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT-02/2026) for Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches, as well as NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry for courses commencing in July 2027. Under Advt No. AFCAT 02/2026, the IAF will recruit eligible unmarried Indian men and women for approximately 379+ Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer posts. Interested candidates who are looking for Sarkari Naukri in the defense sector can apply online from 20 May 2026 to 19 June 2026. Candidates are strictly advised to read the complete notification for detailed eligibility, age limit, AFCAT Syllabus 2026, and selection procedure before applying for these Upcoming Govt Jobs.
Indian Air Force (IAF) AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment 2026 Details
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Begin | 20 May 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Last Date for Apply Online | 19 June 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Pay Exam Fee Last Date | 19 June 2026 |
| AFCAT 02/2026 Exam Date | 08 August 2026 (Saturday) |
| Admit Card Available | 04 August 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Answer Key & Objection Window | 09 Aug 2026 to 11 Aug 2026 |
| Result Date | Will Be Updated Here Soon |
Disclaimer: Candidates are advised to confirm exact dates and schedules from the Indian Air Force official website.
Application Fee
| Category / Entry Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry (All Candidates) | ₹ 550/- + 18% GST |
| NCC Special Entry | ₹ 0/- (Nil) |
| GATE Score Entry | ₹ 0/- (Nil) |
| Payment Mode | Pay the examination fee through Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI mode only. |
Indian Air Force AFCAT Recruitment 2026: Age Limit as on 01 July 2027
- Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry): 20 to 24 Years. (Candidates must be born between 02 July 2003 to 01 July 2007).
- Note: Upper age limit for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable up to 26 years (born between 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007).
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) & GATE Score Entry: 20 to 26 Years. (Candidates must be born between 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007).
- Age Relaxation Extra as per Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment Rules.
- Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course.
IAF AFCAT Vacancy Details 2026 : Total 379+ Posts (Tentative)
Disclaimer: Vacancies indicated are tentative and subject to organizational requirements.
| Entry | Branch | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT | Flying | – | – | 30 | 5 |
| Ground Duty (Tech) – AE(L) | 2 | 2 | 25 | 107 | |
| Ground Duty (Tech) – AE(M) | 8 | 2 | 13 | 52 | |
| Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – WS | – | – | 21 | 5 | |
| Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Adm | – | – | 50 | 12 | |
| Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Lgs | – | – | 4 | 2 | |
| Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Accts | – | – | 5 | 2 | |
| Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Edn | – | – | 1 | 2 | |
| Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Met | – | – | 1 | 2 | |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | – | – | – | – |
| (10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC) | |||||
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Tech) – AE(L) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 12 |
| Ground Duty (Tech) – AE(M) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Post Name and Eligibility Criteria for Indian Air Force AFCAT Recruitment 2026
| Branch / Entry Type | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch | • Must have passed 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics. • Graduation (Minimum 3 years) in any discipline OR BE/B.Tech degree (4 years) OR cleared Section A & B of AMIE / Aeronautical Society of India. |
| Ground Duty (Technical) – Aeronautical Engineer Electronics AE(L) | • 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. • Minimum 4-year Graduation/Integrated PG in Engineering/Technology from a recognized University OR cleared Section A & B examination of AMIE / AeSI / IETE in highly specific electrical, electronics, or computer disciplines (Refer to Notification PDF Para 5.3.2.1 for exact list). |
| Ground Duty (Technical) – Aeronautical Engineer Mechanical AE(M) | • 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. • Minimum 4-year Graduation/Integrated PG in Engineering/Technology OR cleared Section A & B examination of AMIE / AeSI in mechanical, industrial, aerospace, or manufacturing disciplines (Refer to Notification PDF Para 5.3.2.2). |
| Weapon Systems (WS) Branch | • 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics. • Graduation (Min 3 years) in any discipline OR BE/B.Tech Degree (4 years). |
| Administration & Logistics | • Passed 10+2. • Graduate Degree (Minimum 3 years) in any discipline OR cleared Section A & B of AMIE / AeSI. |
| Accounts Branch | • Passed 10+2. • Graduation in B.Com / BBA (Finance) / BMS (Finance) / BBS (Finance) / B.Sc (Finance) OR Qualified CA/CMA/CS/CFA. |
| Education Branch | • Passed 10+2. • Post-Graduation in any discipline (including integrated courses) AND Graduation in any discipline. |
| Meteorology Branch | • Passed 10+2. • B.Sc with Physics and Mathematics OR 4-year Graduation in specific Engineering/Technology streams (e.g., Electrical, Electronics, IT, Computer Science). |
| NCC Special Entry (Flying) | • Must hold an NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate acquired within two years from the AFCAT registration date. • Written exam is exempted; direct call for AFSB. |
| GATE Score Entry (Technical) | • Completed BE/B.Tech in eligible disciplines. • Must have a valid GATE score obtained within the last 3 years in specific subjects (e.g., Aerospace, Mechanical, Computer Science, Electronics). • AFCAT exam is exempted; direct call for AFSB. |
Mode of Selection Process
The selection procedure for the Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 recruitment involves the following stages:
- Online Written Examination: Objective-type test for AFCAT entry candidates. (GATE and NCC entries are exempted).
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview:
- Stage-I: Officer Intelligence Rating Test along with Picture Perception and discussion test.
- Stage-II: Psychological tests, Group Tests, and Personal Interview.
- Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS): For Flying Branch candidates only. (This is a once-in-a-lifetime test).
- Document Verification: Checking of original educational certificates, ID proofs, and NCC/GATE certificates (if applicable).
- Medical Examination: Stringent physical and medical tests as per IAF standards.
- Final Merit List: Based on total marks secured in the written exam and AFSB tests.
Indian Air Force AFCAT Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2026
The standard of Numerical Ability questions will be of Matriculation level, while other subjects will be of graduation level. The exam will be conducted in English only.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Max Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning, and Military Aptitude Test | 100 | 300 | 02 Hours |
- Marking Scheme: +3 marks for every correct answer; -1 mark for every incorrect answer. No marks will be deducted for un-attempted questions.
- Syllabus Overview:
- English: Comprehension, Error Detection, Cloze Test, Idioms, Synonyms/Antonyms.
- General Awareness: History, Geography, Polity, Science, Current Affairs, Defence.
- Numerical Ability: Time & Work, Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio, Simple/Compound Interest, Mensuration, Probability.
- Reasoning: Verbal and Non-Verbal Military Aptitude Test.
How To Apply Online for Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment 2026
Interested candidates who wish to apply for the Indian Air Force AFCAT-02/2026 post can submit their application online before 19 June 2026. Use the direct link provided below under the important link section to apply directly.
- Visit the official IAF AFCAT portal: https://afcat.edcil.co.in between 20 May 2026 and 19 June 2026.
- Click on “Candidate Login” and select “AFCAT 02/2026”. First-time users must click on “Sign up/Register”.
- Register using a valid E-mail ID and Mobile Number. An Aadhaar Card is strictly mandatory for online registration.
- Verify your contact details using the OTP received on your mobile and email to generate your Application Sequence Number and Password.
- Log in and carefully fill in your Personal Details, Educational Qualifications, Communication Address, and Course Preferences.
- Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size colour photograph (100-200kb), signature (80-150kb), and thumb impression (50-100kb). A Live Image Capture via a webcam/device camera is also required.
- Proceed to the payment gateway to pay the non-refundable application fee of ₹550 + GST (if applicable for your entry type).
- Preview all entered details carefully. Once you click “Submit”, no edits or corrections will be allowed.
- Download and print the final submitted application form for future reference during the AFSB interview.
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Important Links
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|---|---|
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| Official Website | Click Here |
Important Questions about AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment (FAQ)
Q1. What is the last date to apply for AFCAT 02/2026?
Ans. The last date to submit the online application and pay the examination fee for the AFCAT 02/2026 exam is 19 June 2026 (23:30 Hrs).
Q2. Who is eligible to apply for the AFCAT Flying Branch?
Ans. Candidates aged between 20 to 24 years (as of 01 July 2027) who have passed 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics, and hold a minimum 3-year Graduation degree or BE/B.Tech degree are eligible to apply.
Q3. Is the application fee required for NCC Special Entry candidates?
Ans. No, candidates applying through the NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry do not have to pay the ₹550/- AFCAT examination fee.
Q4. What is the selection process for AFCAT 02/2026?
Ans. The selection process involves an Online Written Examination, AFSB Interview (Stage I & II), the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) exclusively for the Flying branch, Document Verification, and a Medical Examination.
Q5. When will the AFCAT 02/2026 Exam be conducted?
Ans. According to the official notification, the online written AFCAT examination will be conducted on 08 August 2026 (Saturday). Admit cards will be available from 04 August 2026.
