IAF Opens Applications for AFCAT; Candidates Can Apply Online Until December 14
Pune, 24th November 2025: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the application process for the AFCAT-1 2026 recruitment cycle, inviting eligible men and women to join as commissioned officers in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty branches. The registration window is open, and will remain active until December 14, 2025.
The intake will cater to courses commencing in January 2027 and includes vacancies under the Permanent Commission (PC), Short Service Commission (SSC), and NCC Special Entry categories. The number of posts announced is tentative and may be adjusted depending on operational needs.
Exam Schedule and Vacancies
The AFCAT written exam is set to be conducted on January 31, 2026 (Saturday).
Branch-wise vacancy details include:
Flying Branch (SSC): 34 seats for men, 4 for women
Ground Duty (Technical): Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical)
Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Administrative, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology and Weapon Systems
NCC Special Entry: 10% of CDSE (PC) vacancies and 10% of AFCAT (SSC) vacancies
Eligibility Criteria
Age Limits
Flying Branch: 20–24 years (extendable to 26 years for valid CPL holders)
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical): 20–26 years
Educational Qualifications
Engineering degrees are required for Technical entries
Graduate-level qualifications as prescribed for Flying and Non-Technical branches
NCC ‘C’ Certificate is compulsory for NCC Special Entry applicants
All candidates must be unmarried at the commencement of training.
Application Process
Applicants must complete the online registration on the official AFCAT portal, authenticate Aadhaar details, and upload a photograph, signature and thumb impression.
Admit Card Release: January 22, 2026
The IAF has encouraged applicants to avoid last-minute submissions due to the possibility of heavy portal traffic.
Exam Pattern
The AFCAT examination will be two hours long and feature 100 multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 300 marks. The paper will include:
General Awareness
English (Verbal Ability)
Numerical Ability
Reasoning and Military Aptitude
Marking Scheme: +3 for every correct answer and –1 for each incorrect response.
Selection Procedure
Candidates who clear the written examination will be called for further testing at one of the Air Force Selection Boards located in:
Dehradun
Mysuru
Gandhinagar
Varanasi
Guwahati
The subsequent stages include medical evaluation followed by preparation of the final merit list.
