AFCAT Recruitment 2026: Apply Online, Vacancies, Eligibility & Selection Process

The AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) Exam is conducted by the Indian Air Force twice in a year for the recruitment of candidates in Short Service Commission (SSC) in Flying Branch and Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches.

IAF also recruits candidates for the grant of PC/SSC for NCC Special Entry Scheme (Flying Branch) and for Meteorological Entry. It is one of the most coveted jobs in Indian Air Force and a dream job for millions of aspirants across India.
AFCAT Exam consists of three stages: Written Examination, AFSB and Interview round.

POST - AFCAT 1 2024

VACANCY - 317

PAY SCALE - 56,100/- TO 1,77,500/-

QUALIFICATION - GRADUATE [60% IN MATHS & PHYSICS IN 10+2]

FORM FILING DATE - 01/12/2023 TO 30/12/2023

EXAM DATE - February 2024

AGE LIMIT - 20 TO 26

With the help of the LK ACADEMY eLearning app, candidates can clear this examination and secure their selection.

For being eligible for AFCAT, the degree must be recognised by UGC / AICTE /Ministry of HRD. To apply for AFCAT exam, candidates must be a Graduate from any discipline. 

The AFCAT application form is released online. Before applying, check the eligibility criteria. The process to fill the form is mentioned below.

• Visit afcat.cdac.in.
• Click on the Apply link.
• The registration form will display on the computer screen.
• Provide the required information to complete the registration.
• Candidates need to fill in their personal details, course preference, if they have appeared in the AFSB earlier or not, communication details, and upload the scanned photograph, signature, etc.
• The final step is to pay the application fees.
• After the successful transaction application will be submitted.

Candidates need to apply online for AFCAT exam only. There is no facility to apply offline. The link to fill the application form is activated on the official website. To apply for AFCAT exam, candidates are first required to register for the exam. The window to edit the application form is made available after the closure of application process.

IAF had announced a total of 256 vacancies for AFCAT 1 2023. A total of 5 vacancies were announced for the Flying Branch, 130 for Ground Duty (Technical) branch, 118 for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branch. 10 per cent of seats were reserved for the NCC Special Entry for the Flying branch.

AFCAT 2 vacancies 2023 have been announced along with the short notification. A total of 276 vacancies have been announced for AFCAT 2 2023 exam. In 2022, a total of 304 vacancies were announced for AFCAT 2 2022 exam. Out of the total vacancies, 10 per cent of seats out of CDSE vacancies are reserved for Permanent Commission (PC). 10 per cent of seats out of AFCAT vacancy for Short Service Commission SSC are reserved for the NCC Special Entry Flying branch.

Candidates clearing AFCAT exam are offered a salary of INR 56,100-1,77,500. The salary structure is given below. Rank-Flying Officer-Level-10 Pay as per defence matrix-INR 56,100-1,77,500 Military Service Pay (MSP)-INR 15,500 per month. The rank-wise AFCAT Salary is given below: Flying Officer-INR 56,100 1,77,500 Flight Lieutenant- INR 6,13,00-1,93,900 Squadron Leader-INR 6,94,00 2,07,200 Wing Commander-INR 1,21,200 2,12400 Group Captain-INR 1,30,600-2, 15,900 Air Commodore-INR1,39,600-2,17,600 Air Vice Marshal-INR 1,44,200-2,18,200 Air Marshal HAG Scale-INR 1, 82, 200-2,24,100 HAG+Scale- INR 2,05,400 2,24,400 VACS/Airforce Cdr/ Air Marshal (NFSG)0- INR 2,25,000/-(fixed) CAS- INR 2,50,000/-(fixed) Selection of candidates for AFCAT exam is done based on the online test AFSB interview. Candidates are selected as Gazetted Officers in Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches.

The rank-wise salary of AFCAT Officers is given below:

Rank	Level	Pay Scale (In INR)
Flying Officer	Level 10	56,100 – 1,77,500
Flight Lieutenant	Level 10 B	6,13,00-1,93,900
Squadron Leader	Level 11	6,94,00 – 2,07,200
Wing Commander	Level 12A	1,21,200 – 2,12400
Group Captain	Level 13	1,30,600-2, 15,900
Air Commodore	Level 13A	1,39,600-2,17,600
Air Vice Marshal	Level 14	1,44,200-2,18,200
Air Marshal HAG Scale	Level 15	1, 82, 200-2,24,100
HAG+Scale	Level 16	2,05,400 – 2,24,400
VACS/Airforce Cdr/ Air Marshal (NFSG)	Level 17	2,25,000/- (fixed)
CAS	Level 18	2,50,000/- (fixed)

AFCAT exam or Air Force Common Admission Test is conducted by Indian Air Force to select candidates as Class 1 gazetted officers in the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. EKT or Engineering Knowledge Test is conducted for the candidates who apply for the technical branches. AFCAT exam carries a total of 100 questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The total marks allotted to the AFCAT exam are 300. The duration of the test is two hours. EKT carries 50 questions that are Engineering subject-specific. Questions are asked from Mechanical, Computer Science, and Electrical & Electronics. The total marks allotted to the test are 150 and is held for 45 minutes.

Some of the important changes observed in AFCAT notification are listed below:

No Permanent Commission

There was no vacancy for Permanent Commission. Earlier, Permanent Commission vacancies were announced for male candidates. The engagement period for Flying Branch (Men and Women) SSC Officers is fourteen years from the date of Commissioning. The initial tenure for Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) SSC Officers would be for a period of ten years. An extension of four years may be granted subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit. Grant of Permanent Commission (PC) (at a later date) would be considered subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, willingness, suitability, merit and as per prevailing policies on the subject. SSC officers are not entitled for the grant of pension.

New Addition of Branch

IAF included one new branch in AFCAT exam. The weapon system branch was included and the total number of vacancies for this branch was two for women and 15 for men.

Meterology Branch Included in the Online Test of AFCAT

Candidates who applied for the Meteorology branch were required to appear for AFCAT online exam. Earlier, it was as part of the special entry.

No EKT Exam Conducted

EKT exam is not included in AFCAT exam. Earlier, EKT was the part of AFCAT exam. This is conducted for the Technical branch.

 

 

 

Yes, there is a negative marking in AFCAT exam. For each wrong answer, one mark is deducted. 

Candidates after admission in Air Force Academy will not be considered for any other commission. They are not permitted to appear for any interview or exam after they have finally selected for training at AFA. No request for withdrawal of candidature received from a candidate after they have submitted their applications is entertained under any circumstance. PAN Card, Aadhaar card and account in SBI/ Nationalized Bank is mandatory at the time of joining Air Force Academy (AFA). Use/possession of narcotics is banned. Candidate may be tested for presence of drugs in the body during Medicals and subsequently during training/ service career as an officer. If candidate is found to be using/ in possession of narcotics during any time of training/service career, candidate would be debarred from training /service as per extant policy.

Training of newly appointed officers is conducted at Air Force Academy Dundigal (Hyderabad). The duration of training for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) Branches is 74 weeks and that of Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches is 52 weeks at Air Force Training Establishments. Candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition to adapt to physical training at AFA that encompasses running, swimming, rope climbing and other forms of physical training in which they are required to undergo mandatory tests during the training. Candidates should keep themselves fit by following the below-mentioned routine: Running upto 4 kms in 5 minutes Skipping Push-ups & Sit-ups minimum 20 each Chin ups: 8 Rope Climbing: 3 to 4 meters Swimming (25 m). 

AFCAT salary is different for different branches. The annual AFCAT salary package is given below.

Branch	Annual package (In INR)
Flying Branch	8-10 LPA
Ground Duty (Tech)	7-9 LPA
Ground Duty (Non-Tech)	7-9 LPA

 

Getting good marks in AFCAT increases chances of qualifying for the AFSB interview. The scores enhances your position in the merit list. It also motivated candidates to perform much better. This also helps in identifying the strengths.

AFCAT full form is Air Force Common Admission Test. The exam is conducted twice a year to pick up Class-1 Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Career in Air Force is loaded with opportunities. Candidates starting their career as Flying Officer can reach to the position of Air Marshal/Chief of Air Staff based on their experience and performance.

The stipend offered to men and women cadets during the entire duration of training at any of the Air Force Training Institutions is INR 56,100 per month (Starting pay in Level 10). On successful completion of the training, the AFCAT salary of candidates in the pay matrix of Commissioned Officers will be fixed in the first cell of Level 10.

Candidates securing AFCAT cut off are called for the next round of selection process. The final selection of candidates is done based on the online test and AFSB interview. The total marks allotted to the online test are 300.