Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2026 Recruitment

🌟 Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2026 Recruitment: Key Details

The recruitment drive is for the post of Commissioned Officers in the Indian Air Force, with courses scheduled to commence in January 2027.

📅 Important Dates and Application Fee

Application Fees

🎯 Posts, Branches, and Vacancy Details

The recruitment is conducted through the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 01/2026) and the NCC Special Entry scheme. The training is conducted at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad).

Note: The exact, post-wise vacancy numbers will be released in the full notification on 09 November 2025.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Eligibility Criteria (Age Limit)

The age limits are calculated as of 01 January 2027.

1. Flying Branch

• Age Range: 20 to 24 years.

• Birth Dates: Must be born between 02 January 2003 and 01 January 2007 (both inclusive).

• CPL Holders Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxed up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL).

  • Relaxed Birth Dates: Must be born between 02 January 2001 and 01 January 2007 (both inclusive).

2. Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches

• Age Range: 20 to 26 years.

• Birth Dates: Must be born between 02 January 2001 and 01 January 2007 (both inclusive).

Educational Qualification

• The detailed educational qualifications for each branch will be specified in the complete notification on 09 November 2025.

• General Guidelines (Based on Past Entries):

  • Flying Branch: Typically requires 12th standard with Physics and Maths, in addition to a graduate degree.

  • Ground Duty (Technical): Generally requires a B.E./B.Tech degree.

  • Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Generally requires a graduate degree in any discipline.

💰 Salary and Benefits

Upon successful commissioning, candidates are appointed as a Flying Officer.

Pay and Stipend

• Pay Level: Level 10 of the Defence Matrix (7th CPC).

• Basic Pay Range: ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500.

• Military Service Pay (MSP): ₹15,500 per month (in addition to basic pay).

• Training Stipend: ₹56,100 per month during the one-year training period.

Allowances and Perks

The total salary is significantly enhanced by various allowances, including:

• Flying Allowance

• Technical Allowance

• Transport Allowance

• Dearness Allowance (DA), House Rent Allowance (HRA), Risk and Hardship Allowance

Exceptional Perks:

• Furnished accommodation and comprehensive medical cover for the officer and dependents.

• Canteen (CSD) facilities, officers’ mess, and loans at subsidised rates.

• Leave Entitlements: 60 days of Annual Leave and 20 days of Casual Leave per year.

• Insurance Cover: Substantial insurance cover of ₹1.25 crore.

📝 Selection Process

The selection process is a multi-stage procedure to assess aptitude, personality, and physical fitness.

Stage 1: AFCAT Written Examination

• Format: Online, Computer-Based Test (CBT).

• Subjects: General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning & Military Aptitude.

• Technical Branch Requirement: Candidates for Ground Duty (Technical) must also appear for the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT).

• Marking: Includes a negative marking scheme for incorrect answers.

Stage 2: Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview

Candidates who clear the AFCAT cut-off are called for a multi-day testing process at an AFSB.

• Components:

  • Screening Test: Includes Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP&DT).

  • Psychological Tests: Written tests conducted by a psychologist.

  • Group Tests: Tasks to assess teamwork and leadership potential.

  • Personal Interview with a senior Air Force officer.

Stage 3: Medical Examination

• Candidates recommended by the AFSB must undergo a thorough medical and physical examination to confirm fitness as per IAF standards.

💻 How to Apply Online

The application process is entirely online and requires the following documents: Aadhaar Card (mandatory), scanned passport-size photograph, scanned signature, and bank details for fee payment.

1. Registration: Visit the official AFCAT portal, select "New Candidate Registration," and provide basic details including your Aadhaar number, email ID, and mobile number.

2. Login and Form Filling: Log in with new credentials and fill out the detailed application form (personal details, educational qualifications, etc.).

3. Uploading Documents: Upload the scanned copies of your photograph and signature.

4. Fee Payment: Pay the application fee (₹550/- + GST) online.

5. Final Submission: Review and submit the application form, and take a printout for reference.

Would you like me to set a reminder for the detailed notification release date (November 9, 2025) or the application start date (November 10, 2025)?

Yes, based on the short notification, here is a detailed, point-by-point explanation of the Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2026 Recruitment.

🚀 Key Recruitment Highlights

• Post: Commissioned Officers (Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical, and Ground Duty Non-Technical).

• Recruitment Test: Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 01/2026) and NCC Special Entry.

• Course Commencement: January 2027.

• Application Dates: The online application window is open from 10 November 2025 to 09 December 2025.

• Detailed Notification: The full notification with vacancy details is expected on 09 November 2025.

🎯 Eligibility Criteria (Age)

The age requirements are calculated as of 01 January 2027.

1. Flying Branch

• Age: 20 to 24 years (Born between 02 January 2003 and 01 January 2007).

• Relaxation: Candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by DGCA (India) have a relaxed upper age limit of 26 years (Born between 02 January 2001 and 01 January 2007).

2. Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical)

• Age: 20 to 26 years (Born between 02 January 2001 and 01 January 2007).

Educational Qualification (General Guidelines)

• Flying Branch: Generally requires a Graduate degree and passing the 12th standard with Physics and Maths.

• Ground Duty (Technical): Typically requires a B.E./B.Tech degree.

• Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Generally requires a Graduate degree in any discipline.

• Crucial Note: Applicants must check the detailed, branch-specific qualifications in the full notification when it is released.

💰 Salary and Compensation

Upon successful commissioning, candidates are granted the rank of Flying Officer.

• Pay Scale (7th CPC): The position is at Pay Level 10 in the Defence Pay Matrix, with basic pay ranging from ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500.

• Military Service Pay (MSP): An additional ₹15,500 per month is provided.

• Training Stipend: Candidates receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month during the one-year training period at the Air Force Academy.

Allowances and Perks

The total in-hand salary is significantly higher due to various allowances based on the branch and posting:

• Flying Allowance (approx. ₹25,000 per month for Flying Branch).

• Technical Allowance (for Technical Branch officers).

• Dearness Allowance (DA), Transport Allowance, Risk and Hardship Allowance.

• Perks: Furnished accommodation, comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents, Canteen (CSD) facilities, and substantial life Insurance Cover (₹1.25 crore for Flying Branch officers, ₹1.10 crore for others).

📝 Selection Procedure (Three Stages)

The selection process is a rigorous multi-stage procedure conducted to assess a candidate's overall aptitude and suitability.

Stage 1: AFCAT Written Examination

• Format: Computer-Based Test (CBT).

• Subjects: General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning & Military Aptitude.

• EKT: Candidates for Ground Duty (Technical) must also appear for the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT).

• Marking: The exam includes a negative marking scheme.

Stage 2: Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview

Candidates who clear the AFCAT cut-off are called for a multi-day testing phase:

• Screening Test: Includes Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP&DT).

• Psychological Tests (Written).

• Group Tests (Indoor and Outdoor tasks to assess leadership and teamwork).

• Personal Interview with a senior officer.

• CPSS (for Flying Branch): Candidates for the Flying Branch also undergo the Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test.

Stage 3: Medical Examination

• Candidates recommended by the AFSB must pass a thorough medical and physical examination as per IAF standards.

The AFCAT 1 2026 Notification and Detailed Eligibility Criteria is another great resource for candidates to check their requirements.