AFCAT 1 2025: Registration begins, Apply now for 336 vacant positions

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially published the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 1) 2025 notification. Starting from December 2, 2024, interested candidates can register for AFCAT 1 2025, with the application window open until December 31, 2024. This highly anticipated recruitment drive aims to fill 336 vacancies across the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches, and the NCC Special Entry scheme. Eligible candidates are encouraged to seize this opportunity to join one of India’s premier defence forces.

Also read: Moran College Recruitment 2024: Apply now for 7 vacancies

Vacancies of AFCAT 1 2025

Pay Scale

The candidates selected for seats in AFCAT 1 2025 will get the remuneration as described below.

They will also receive Military Service Pay (MSP) of Rs 15,500 per month in addition to their salary. Flight cadets will receive a fixed amount of Rs 56,100 during the training period. Apart from these remunerations, they will also be provided with additional medical and traveling allowances (including insurance) as mentioned in the official notice.

Eligibility

Age Limit

• Flying Branch: The candidate’s age applying for AFCAT 1 2025 must be between 20 to 24 years old as of 01 January 2026 i.e. born between 02 January 2002 to 01 January 2006 (both dates inclusive).
• The upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable up to 26 years i.e. born between 02 January 2000 to 01 January 2006 (both dates inclusive).
• Ground Duty (Technical/ Non-Technical) Branches: The candidate’s age must be between 20 to 26 years as of 01 January 2026 i.e. born between 02 January 2000 to 01 January 2006 (both dates Inclusive).

Educational Qualification

To know about the educational criteria for applying to Indian Air Force – AFCAT 1 2025, candidates need to go through the official notification, which is linked below.

How to Apply?

• visit the official website of AFCAT
• Click on Candidate Login from the top menu bar, and then select “AFCAT 1 2025”
• On the new page, click on the button saying “Sign up” for new registrations
• Enter your basic details and get yourself registered on the application portal
• Once done, you will receive the login password in the email entered in the previous step
• Now, sign in to the portal using your email id and the password; and then reset your password
• Log in again and select the type of entry, you wish to take, i.e. AFCAT or NCC Special Entry for Flying Branch
• A list of instructions will appear, you need to read them and proceed to the next step
• Click on “Application form Filling” and then fill out all the details
• Next, click on the option for paying the application fees and make the payment
• Check out the payment status and note down the registration number displayed
• Lastly, download the application form and the payment receipt for future reference

Application Fee

The candidates who wish to apply for AFCAT 1 2025 will need to pay a non-refundable fee of Rs. 550 along with the applicable GST during the last step of the form fillup process.

Selection Process

IAF will conduct the examination in the following three stages i.e. Written Test, the AFSB Interview, and lastly the Medical Examination. After this procedure, eligible candidates will be shortlisted through the AFCAT.

Step 1 (AFCAT 1)

• For all entries other than NDA and CDSE and for all branches, candidates have to undergo the AFCAT 1 2025.
• The test is conducted twice a year in February and August.
• Advertisements inviting applications for AFCAT are usually released in June and December. Candidates are to apply as per the advertisement.
• The test is conducted all across India by the Indian Air Force.

Step 2 (AFSB Testing):

Candidates who have successfully cleared Step 1, will receive a call letter to report to any one of the Air Force Selection Boards located at Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Guwahati and Mysuru. At the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) centres, the candidates will have to undergo the following tests in order to ascertain their suitability and gauge their potential as an officer in the Indian Air Force.

(a) STAGE I: It is a screening test, which includes Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception & Discussion Test. Those who qualify for STAGE-I are eligible to undergo STAGE-II testing. STAGE-I disqualified candidates are routed back after the announcement of results.

(b) STAGE II: All the candidates, who have qualified for the STAGE-I of AFCAT 1 2025 will need to undergo another set of tests in the next four to five days. The fifth day is for CPSS testing (Flying branch).

• Psychological Tests: It is a written test conducted by a Psychologist.
• Group Tests: It is a combination of mental and physical work that includes interactive indoor and outdoor activities.
• Interview: It will involve a one-to-one conversation session with an Interviewing Officer.
• Lastly, the candidates who have selected flying branches and are recommended will have a Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test.

Step 3 (Medical Exam)

Once the candidate is recommended by the Selection Board, they will be asked to undergo the necessary medical examinations. Candidates will have the choice to take this test at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi, or the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru.

Step 4 (Declaration of Merit List)

After all the previous steps are completed, the conducting authorities will summarize the candidates’ performances in the written test and AFSB interview, considering if the candidate is medically fit. Then, based on the vacancies available and candidates’ choices; they will be called to join any one of the training institutes.

Exam Pattern & Syllabus

The Online examination will consist of objective-type questions and will be in English only. The exam pattern of the Written Test under of AFCAT 1 2025 is given below:

The syllabus of AFCAT 1 2025 will be:

• Verbal Ability in English: Comprehension, Detect Error in Sentence, Sentence Completion/ Filling in of correct word, Synonym/ Antonym, Cloze Test or Fill in the Gaps in a paragraph, Idioms and Phrases, Analogy, Sentence Rearranging, Substitution in a Sentence/ One Word Substitution.
• General Awareness: History, Geography, Sports, National & International Organizations, Art & Culture, Personalities, Environment & Ecology, Indian Polity, Economy, Basic Science Based Knowledge, Science & Technology, Current Affairs (National & International), Defence.
• Numerical Ability: Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average/ Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Time & Distance and Races (Trains/ Boats & Streams), Area and Perimeter, Probability, Number System & Number Series, Mixture & Allegation Rules, Clocks.
• Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

Schedule of AFCAT 1 2025

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