AFCAT Recruitment 2027: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the AFCAT 01/2027 Notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test, inviting Indian citizens (Men and Women) to join as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers. Recruitment is for the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, including NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses commencing in January 2028.
Under AFCAT Recruitment 2027, the online application window will remain open from 12th November 2026 to 11th December 2026. The online AFCAT examination will be held on 31st January 2027 (Sunday).
Also read: POWERGRID Engineer Trainee Recruitment 2026: Apply online for 319 vacancies
AFCAT Recruitment 2027: Vacancy details
The IAF has announced vacancies for the Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) across the Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches. The figures below are shown as Men/ Women.
| Entry and Branch | Permanent Commission (Men/ Women) | Short Service Commission (Men/ Women) |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry: Flying | — | 28/ 8 |
| AFCAT Entry: AE (L) | 5/ 2 | 54/ 27 |
| AFCAT Entry: AE (M) | 8/ 2 | 18/ 8 |
| AFCAT Entry: Weapon Systems | — | 25/ 5 |
| AFCAT Entry: Administration | 1/ 1 | 34/ 17 |
| AFCAT Entry: Logistics | 1/ 1 | 6/ 3 |
| AFCAT Entry: Accounts | 1/ 1 | 3/ 3 |
| AFCAT Entry: Education | 1/ 1 | 1/ 1 |
| AFCAT Entry: Meteorology | 1/ 1 | — |
| GATE Score Entry: AE (L) | 1/ 1 | 6/ 3 |
| GATE Score Entry: AE (M) | 1/ 1 | 2/ 1 |
For the NCC Special Entry in the Flying Branch, 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies are earmarked for PC (Men), and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC (Men and Women). Ten per cent of the vacancies in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate holders. Two seats in Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches are reserved for candidates holding an LLB degree.
The vacancies are tentative and subject to change without notice. The IAF reserves the right to decide the final number of vacancies in each branch.
Pay Scale and Stipend
Officers commissioned through AFCAT 01/2027 will be paid as per the Defence Pay Matrix. Flight Cadets will receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100/- per month during training.
| Rank | Pay As Per Defence Matrix | Level | Military Service Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer | Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500 | 10 | Rs. 15,500 |
Allowances such as Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance and Risk and Hardship Allowance are also applicable on commissioning, depending on the branch, nature of duty and place of posting.
Type of Commission
- Permanent Commission officers under AFCAT Recruitment 2027 continue to serve till the age of superannuation in their respective branches, as per their rank.
- Short Service Commission officers in the Flying Branch of AFCAT Recruitment 2027 are engaged for fourteen years from the date of commissioning. For Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, the initial tenure is ten years, and an extension of four years may be granted subject to service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit.
- SSC officers are not entitled to pension.
AFCAT 01/2027 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
The candidate must be a citizen of India as per the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
Age Limit
The age limit is counted as on 1st January 2028.
- Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry: 20 to 24 years (born between 2nd January 2004 and 1st January 2008, both dates inclusive)
- Flying Branch, for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India): up to 26 years (born between 2nd January 2002 and 1st January 2008, both dates inclusive)
- Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches: 20 to 26 years (born between 2nd January 2002 and 1st January 2008, both dates inclusive)
Candidates applying under AFCAT Recruitment 2027 must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course, and marriage is not permitted during training. Candidates should read the official notification for the complete age-related conditions.
Educational Qualification
- Flying Branch: Passed 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics, and a graduation of minimum three years in any discipline OR a four-year BE/ B.Tech degree OR Section A and B of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India
- Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) AE (L): Passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, and an M.Sc. Electronics with B.Sc. Physics OR a minimum four-year degree/ integrated post-graduation in Engineering/ Technology OR Sections A and B of AMIE/ Aeronautical Society of India OR the Graduate Membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, in the disciplines listed in the official notification
- Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) AE (M): Passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, and a minimum four-year degree/ integrated post-graduation in Engineering/ Technology OR Sections A and B of AMIE/ Aeronautical Society of India, in the disciplines listed in the official notification
- Weapon Systems: Passed 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics, and a three-year graduation in any discipline OR a four-year BE/ B.Tech degree
- Administration and Logistics: Passed 10+2 and a graduate degree (minimum three years) in any discipline OR Section A and B of AMIE/ Aeronautical Society of India
- Accounts: Passed 10+2 and B.Com (minimum three years) OR BBA/ BMS/ BBS with specialisation in Finance OR qualified CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA OR B.Sc. with specialisation in Finance
- Education: Passed 10+2 and post-graduation in any discipline (including integrated courses offering PG as a single degree without exit and lateral entry) and graduation in any discipline
- Meteorology: Passed 10+2 and B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics OR a four-year graduation in the listed Engineering/ Technology streams
For GATE Score Entry into AE (L) and AE (M), candidates must hold a BE/ B.Tech degree in the eligible disciplines and must have qualified in one of the GATE subjects given below. The GATE score must have been obtained within three years preceding the commencement of the course (result declared between 1st January 2024 and 31st December 2027).
| Branch | GATE Subjects |
|---|---|
| AE (L) | Computer Science and Information Technology; Data Science and Artificial Intelligence; Electronics and Communication Engineering; Electrical Engineering; Instrumentation Engineering |
| AE (M) | Aerospace Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Production and Industrial Engineering; Engineering Sciences (with prescribed optional subjects); Metallurgical Engineering |
Other Important Conditions
- Only candidates who have studied 10+2 are eligible for these courses. Candidates applying under AFCAT Recruitment 2027 with a Diploma in lieu of 10+2 cannot apply.
- Final year or final semester students under AFCAT Recruitment 2027 can apply, provided they have no present backlog at the time of application. They must submit proof of completion of the final examination by 30th November 2027.
- Candidates who have failed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) earlier, or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy, are not eligible for the Flying Branch.
- Candidates who have been convicted on criminal charges or are facing criminal proceedings are not eligible to be selected under AFCAT Recruitment 2027
- All Flying Branch cadets must achieve a minimum Nude Body Weight of 48 kg before the commencement of Stage I flying training for fixed wing aircraft.
Also Read: Govt U-Turns: Agniveer Scheme Reshuffle; Permanent position and 2 years extension!!
Selection Process
The selection under AFCAT 01/2027 will be conducted in the following stages.
- Online AFCAT written examination for AFCAT Entry candidates. NCC Special Entry candidates are exempted from the written examination and are called directly for AFSB testing. Shortlisted GATE Score Entry candidates are also called directly.
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) testing at one of the AFSB centres located at Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati.
- Stage I of the AFSB consists of the Officer Intelligence Rating Test, Picture Perception and Discussion Test. This is a screening stage.
- Stage II consists of Psychological Tests, Group Tests and Interview. The Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) is conducted for eligible Flying Branch candidates.
- Medical examination for candidates recommended by the AFSB.
The final merit list will be prepared on the basis of total marks secured in the written examination and the AFSB tests. Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in both.
AFCAT Exam Pattern
The AFCAT will be conducted online with objective-type questions, in English only.
| Subjects | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 100 | 300 | 2 Hours |
- Three marks will be awarded for every correct answer, and one mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer. There is no mark for unattempted questions. The exam will be held from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon on 31st January 2027.
- Candidates from Assam applying under AFCAT Recruitment 2027 can choose from examination centres including Dibrugarh, Guwahati and Jorhat. The list of centres is tentative and may change depending on availability.
Documents Required
- Valid email ID and mobile number
- Aadhaar card number (last 4 digits) for registration
- Recent passport-size colour photograph (100 KB to 200 KB, JPG/ JPEG)
- Scanned signature (80 KB to 150 KB, JPG/ JPEG)
- Thumb impression, left thumb for male candidates and right thumb for female candidates (50 KB to 100 KB)
- Colour or laser printout of the e-Admit Card and original Aadhaar card, to be carried to the examination centre
- Original educational certificates and mark sheets, and NOC for government employees, to be carried to the AFSB
Steps to Apply
- Visit the application portal by clicking on the link given below in the “Important Links” section.
- Complete the Sign Up step by entering the full name, mobile number and email ID, and verify them with the OTPs received.
- Note the User ID and password received on the registered email ID and mobile number, and click on “Go To Application”.
- Fill in the personal details, communication details, qualification details and course preferences.
- Upload the photograph, signature and thumb impression as per the prescribed size and format.
- Preview the application carefully, as it cannot be edited after final submission.
- Pay the application fee online, where applicable, and print the submitted application form for future reference.
Aadhaar card is mandatory for online registration. The application cannot be withdrawn once submitted.
Application Fee
| AFCAT Entry | Rs. 550/- + 18% GST (non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry | Not applicable |
| GATE Score Entry | Not applicable |
The fee can be paid online through net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI.
Key Dates
| Online application starts | 12th November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Last date to apply online | 11th December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Admit Card download begins | 27th January 2027 (11:00 AM) |
| AFCAT online examination | 31st January 2027 |
| Question paper and answer key available for objections | 3rd February 2027 to 5th February 2027 |
| Training commences | First week of January 2028 |
Important Links
| Official Notification – AFCAT Recruitment 2027 |
| Apply Online – AFCAT Recruitment 2027 |
| Official Website |
| IAF Careers Website |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the last date to apply for AFCAT Recruitment 2027?
The last date to submit the online application is 11th December 2026 (11:30 PM).
When will the AFCAT Recruitment 2027 examination be held?
The online AFCAT examination will be held on 31st January 2027 (Sunday).
What is the application fee for AFCAT Recruitment 2027?
The fee is Rs. 550/- + 18% GST for AFCAT Entry. It is not applicable for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry.
What is the age limit for the Flying Branch under AFCAT Recruitment 2027?
The age limit for the Flying Branch is 20 to 24 years as on 1st January 2028. It is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA.
Is there negative marking in the AFCAT exam?
Yes. Three marks are awarded for every correct answer and one mark is deducted for every incorrect answer.
For more Jobs updates, click here.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
