Organization: Indian Air Force (IAF)
Exam Name: AFCAT 01-2026 (Air Force Common Admission Test)
Branches: Flying & Ground Duty, Flying, Ground Duty Technical, Ground Duty Non-Technical
Total Vacancies: Flying (38 PC+SSC) + Ground Duty Technical (182) + Ground Duty Non-Technical (109)
| Application Start: 17th November 2025 at 11:00 AM IST |
| Application End: 14th December 2025 at 23:30 PM IST |
| Exam Date: 31st January 2026 (Saturday) |
| Exam Mode: Online Computer Based Test (CBT) |
| Exam Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes) |
| Total Questions: 100 MCQ Questions |
| Total Marks: 300 Marks (3 marks per correct answer) |
| Official Website: https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Application Fee: ₹550 + 18% GST = ₹649 (Non-Refundable, ₹400 returned after exam) NCC Special Entry: No Fee Required |
| ✈️ BRANCH-WISE VACANCY DETAILS | ||
| FLYING BRANCH: • Permanent Commission (PC) Men: 34 Posts • Permanent Commission (PC) Women: 4 Posts • Short Service Commission (SSC) Men: 34 Posts • Short Service Commission (SSC) Women: 4 Posts • NCC Special Entry: 10 seats from CDSE + 10 seats from AFCAT • TOTAL Flying: 76-80 seats | GROUND DUTY TECHNICAL BRANCH (AEL/AEM): • Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – AEL PC: 103+23 = 126 | SSC: 100+23 = 123 Total: 249+ • Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – AEM PC: 9+38+9 = 56 | SSC: 38+9 = 47 Total: 103+ • TOTAL Ground Duty Tech: ~350+ seats | GROUND DUTY NON-TECHNICAL BRANCH: • Weapon Systems (WS): 21 Men + 5 Women = 26 • Administration (Admin): 48 Men + 12 Women = 60 • Logistics (Lgs): 9 Men + 2 Women = 11 • Accounts (Accts): 8 Men + 2 Women = 10 • Education (Edn): 2 Men + 2 Women = 4 • Meteorology (Met): 1 Man + 2 Women = 3 • Law Graduates: 2 seats reserved • TOTAL Ground Duty Non-Tech: ~116 seats |
| 📋 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA – ALL BRANCHES | |
| FLYING BRANCH: | Nationality: Indian Citizen | Age: 20-24 Years (as on 01-01-2027) Born between: 02-Jan-2003 to 01-Jan-2007 | Upper Age: 26 Years with valid Commercial Pilot License (DGCA) Marital Status: Unmarried (must remain single during training) 12th Pass: Minimum 50% marks EACH in Mathematics & Physics (MANDATORY) Graduation: 3-year degree with minimum 60% marks OR BE/B.Tech with 60% marks OR: AMIE (Section A & B) / ASI / AERO / AERONAUTICAL SOC with 60% marks Education Level: Graduation minimum (Some branches accept PG) |
GROUND DUTY TECHNICAL (AEL/AEM): | Age: 20-26 Years (as on 01-01-2027) 12th Pass: Minimum 50% marks EACH in Mathematics & Physics (MANDATORY) Qualification: 4-year Engineering/Technology degree with minimum 60% marks AEL Streams: Electronics, Computer Science, IT, Communication Engineering (50+ eligible streams listed) AEM Streams: Mechanical, Aerospace, Aeronautical, Production, Manufacturing Engineering (39+ eligible streams listed) OR: AMIE/ASI Certification with 60% marks from recognized institution |
GROUND DUTY NON-TECHNICAL: | Age: 20-26 Years Weapon Systems (WS): 12th + Graduation (Any stream) 60% + Maths & Physics 50% Admin/Logistics: 12th + Any Graduate degree 60% (No specific stream required) Accounts: B.Com (min 3 yrs) / BBA Finance / BMS Finance / CA/CMA/CS/CFA / BSc Finance Education: Graduation 60% (Any stream) + Post-Graduation 50% (Any discipline) Meteorology: BSc (Physics & Mathematics) 60% OR 4-year Engineering degree Law Graduates: 2 seats reserved for Law Stream graduates |
✍️ EXAM PATTERN & SYLLABUS (AFCAT Written Test)
Understanding the Roles of Flying & Ground Duty
STRUCTURE:
• Duration: 2 Hours (120 Minutes)
• Total Questions: 100 MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)
• Total Marks: 300 (3 marks per correct answer)
• Negative Marking: -1 mark deducted per incorrect answer
• Language: English only (No Hindi option)
• Mode: Online (Computer Based Test – CBT)
SUBJECTS & SYLLABUS:
1. GENERAL AWARENESS (~75 marks):
History | Geography | Sports | National & International Organizations | Art & Culture | Personalities
Environment & Ecology | Indian Polity | Economy | Basic Science | Science & Technology
Current Affairs (National & International) | Defence
2. VERBAL ABILITY IN ENGLISH (~75 marks):
Reading Comprehension | Error Detection in Sentences | Sentence Completion
Synonym/Antonym | Cloze Test (Fill in gaps) | Idioms & Phrases | Analogy
Sentence Rearrangement | One Word Substitution | Complex to Simple Transformation | Homonyms
3. NUMERICAL ABILITY (~75 marks):
Decimal & Fraction | Time & Work | Average | Percentage | Profit & Loss
Ratio & Proportion | Simple & Compound Interest | Time, Distance & Speed
Trains, Boats & Streams | Area & Perimeter | Probability | Number System & Series
Mixture & Allegation | Square/Cube Roots | HCF & LCM | Mensuration
Heights & Distances | Statistics (Mean, Median, Mode) | Exponents & Powers
4. REASONING & MILITARY APTITUDE TEST (~75 marks):
Verbal Reasoning | Non-Verbal Reasoning | Spatial Visualization
Pattern Recognition | Military Leadership Qualities Assessment
Decision Making | Officer-like Qualities Evaluation
PAY SCALE, SERVICE TERMS & BENEFITS
SALARY & BENEFITS:
• Initial Rank: Flying/Officer rank with commissioned officer privileges
• Salary Structure: Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance (DA) + Flying Allowance (for pilots)
• Typical Initial Salary: ₹50,000-70,000 per month (subject to rank & DA)
• Annual Increments: Regular salary increments
• Promotion Benefits: Salary increases with promotion
• Free Medical & Health Insurance
• Free Residential Accommodation (on-base)
• Leave Travel Concession (2 trips per year)
• Gratuity (for PC) / Ex-Gratia (for SSC)
• Family Medical Scheme
• Retirement Benefits: Pension (PC only) / Gratuity
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Candidates will benefit from a competitive salary structure that includes basic pay, dearness allowance, and additional allowances for pilots. The initial salary ranges from ₹50,000 to ₹70,000 per month, contingent upon rank and dearness allowance, with regular annual increments. Officers are entitled to free medical and health insurance, residential accommodation on base, and a leave travel concession for two trips per year, along with retirement benefits such as pension and gratuity for permanent commission officers.
