The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the official short notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 02/2026. This recruitment drive is for courses commencing in July 2027. Applications are invited from both male and female candidates for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches.
The online application window will open on May 20, 2026, and eligible candidates can submit their forms until June 19, 2026.
AFCAT 02/2026 Notification Overview
| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Name | AFCAT 02/2026 |
| Entry Types | AFCAT / NCC Special Entry / GATE Entry |
| Branches | Flying, Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech) |
| Pay Scale | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 (Level-10) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Official Website | afcat.edcil.co.in |
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Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification Release Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 19 June 2026 |
| AFCAT Exam Date | To be notified |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
Application Fees
The fee is applicable only for the AFCAT entry. NCC and GATE entries are exempted.
| Entry Type | Application Fee |
| AFCAT Entry | ₹550/- + GST |
| NCC Special Entry | ₹0/- |
| GATE Score Entry | ₹0/- |
Age Limit (as on 01.07.2027)
- Flying Branch: 20 to 24 Years.
- Ground Duty (Tech/Non-Tech): 20 to 26 Years.
- (Note: For Flying Branch, candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA are relaxable up to 26 years).
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Educational Qualification
| Entry Type | Branch | Qualification | |||||||
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 12th Passed with Physics and Maths (50% Marks),Bachelor Degree (60% Marks). | |||||||
| Ground Duty Technical | Aeronautical Engineering Electronics: 12th Passed with Physics and Maths (50% Marks), and 4 Years Graduation / Integrated PG Degree in Engineering / Technology. Aeronautical Engineering Mechanical: 12th Passed with Physics and Maths (50% Marks), 4 Years Engineering / Technology Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering or Equivalent Degree. | ||||||||
| Ground Duty Non-Technical Qualification | |||||||||
| Weapon Systems (WS) Branch | Bachelor’s Degree (60% Marks), | ||||||||
| Administration and Logistics | Ground Duty Non-Technical Qualification | ||||||||
| Accounts | Bachelor in Commerce (60% Marks) | ||||||||
| Education | PG Degree in Any Stream (50% Marks). | ||||||||
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | NCC Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ Certificate and Other Details as per Flying Branch Eligibility. | |||||||
| Meteorology Entry | Meteorology | B.Sc with Physics and Maths (60% Marks), | |||||||
| GATE Score Entry | GD Technical | B.E / B.Tech in Related Engg. Field, GATE Exam Passed. | |||||||
Vacancy Details
| Entry Type | Branch | Male | Female | Total | |||||
| AFCAT | Flying | 30 | 05 | 35 | |||||
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Technical) | AE (L) PC | 02 | 02 | 04 | |||||
| AE (M) PC | 08 | 02 | 10 | ||||||
| AE (L) SSC | 107 | 25 | 132 | ||||||
| AE (M) SSC | 52 | 13 | 65 | ||||||
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non Technical) | Admin | 50 | 12 | 62 | |||||
| LGS | 04 | 02 | 06 | ||||||
| Accounts | 05 | 02 | 07 | ||||||
| Education | 01 | 02 | 03 | ||||||
| WS Branch | 21 | 05 | 26 | ||||||
| Meteorology | 01 | 02 | 03 | ||||||
| GATE Score Entry | AE (L) PC | 01 | 01 | 02 | |||||
| AE (M) PC | 01 | 01 | 02 | ||||||
| AE (L) SSC | 12 | 03 | 15 | ||||||
| AE (M) SSC | 06 | 01 | 07 | ||||||
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC. | |||||||
Selection Process
The Indian Air Force follows a rigorous selection procedure to ensure only the most capable candidates are commissioned.
- Written Exam: For AFCAT entry candidates (Testing General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning).
- AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) Interview: Includes Officer Intelligence Rating Test, Picture Perception & Discussion Test, Psychological Tests, Group Tasks, and Interview.
- Medical Examination: Conducted at AFCME (New Delhi) or IAM (Bengaluru).
- Final Merit List: Based on marks scored in the written exam and AFSB.
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How to Apply for AFCAT 02/2026?
- Visit the official IAF recruitment portal: afcat.edcil.co.in.
- Click on “Candidate Login” and select “AFCAT 02/2026”.
- Register: Create your login credentials using a valid email ID and mobile number.
- Fill Application: Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, and branch preferences.
- Upload Documents: Upload scanned photo, signature, and thumb impression as per the specified dimensions.
- Payment: Pay the exam fee online (₹550 + GST) via credit/debit card or net banking.
- Final Print: Submit the form and download the confirmation page.
Important Link
| Title | Dates | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Online Form | 20/05/2026 | Apply Now |
| Details Notification | 20/05/2026 | Download |
| Short Notification | 12/05/2026 | Download |
| Official Website | 12/05/2026 | Visit Here |
FAQs – AFCAT Flying Branch Recruitment 2026
Ans: Yes, final-year students can apply, provided they do not have any backlog at the time of the AFSB testing and can produce the degree certificate by the commencement of the course (July 2027).
Ans: Yes, for every correct answer, 3 marks are awarded, and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer.
Ans: Candidates must have a minimum of 60% marks in graduation to be eligible for the Indian Air Force AFCAT entry.
Ans: Yes, both men and women can apply for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty branches under the Short Service Commission (SSC).
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