What is the annual package offered to AFCAT Officers?

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

What is the rank wise salary of AFCAT Officers?

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)

Why AFCAT exam is conducted?

AFCAT exam is conducted to select Commissioned Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The exam is conducted twice a year-February and August/September. The exam for the February session is conducted for admission to the courses commencing in January. The exam for the August/September session is conducted for admission to the courses commencing in July. AFCAT selection process comprises online test and AFSB interview. The online test comprises questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The total marks allotted to the test are 300. The AFSB interview is conducted at Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar and Mysuru. The AFSB interview is conducted in two stages. Stage 1 comprises Intelligence rating Test and Picture perception and Discussion Test. Stage 2 comprises Psychological Tests, Group Tests, Interview and Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test (For Flying Branch) candidates. If candidates are recommended by the Selection Board, they are send for the medical examination either at Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi or Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru. The All India Merit List is compiled based on their performance in the online test and interview, subject to being medically fit. Based on the vacancies available in various branches/sub-branches, joining instructions are issued to join one of the training establishments.

What is AFCAT selection process?

AFCAT selection process comprises online test and AFSB interview. The AFCAT exam is conducted online. The test comprises questions from General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English . Numerical Ability, Military Reasoning, and Aptitude test. The total marks allotted to the test are 300. The duration of the test is two hours. The questions asked in the exam are objective-type. The standard of questions asked in the exam is of graduation level. The language of the question paper is English . Candidates should score between 140 to 190 marks out of 300 in AFCAT exam. The AFSB interview is conducted in two stages. Stage 1 of AFSB interview comprises Intelligence rating Test and Picture perception and Discussion Test. Stage 2 comprises Psychological Tests, Group Tests, Interview and Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test (For Flying Branch) candidates.

Which one is better - AFCAT or CDS?

AFCAT exam means Air Force Common Admission Test. This exam is taken to select candidates for admission in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches in Indian Air Force. AFCAT exam is conducted by Indian Air Force. CDS exam is conducted for candidates who wish to make their career in the Defence Forces- Army, Navy, and Air Force. Selected candidates undergo training at Indian Military Academy (IMA), Indian Naval Academy (INA), Air Force Academy (AFA). The selection process of CDS comprises written exam and SSB Interview. The AFCAT selection process comprises online test and AFSB interview.

What is the stipend offered to AFCAT officers during training?

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.

What is AFCAT salary?

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.

What is the difference between NDA and AFCAT?

The full form of AFCAT is Air Force Common Admission Test whereas the full form of NDA is National Defence Academy. Both exams are the sought-after defence entrance exams in the country. NDA exam is conducted by Union Public Service Commission to select candidates for admission to the Army, Navy and Air wings of NDA and Indian Naval Academy Courses. AFCAT exam is conducted to select candidates as Class 1 gazetted Officers in the flying branch and ground duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches.

What is the difference between AFCAT and EKT?

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.

What are the admission in AFA?

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.

What is the procedure of training of newly appointed Officers through AFCAT exam?

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).

What are the admission in AFA?

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.

AFCAT Salary: Allowances, Pay Scale, Job Profile and Rank

535 Students Q&A

Updated on Jan 30, 2026 17:55 IST

By Anangsha Patra, Deputy Manager – Editorial

AFCAT Salary is decided by the Indian Air Force. Candidates during training are given salary of INR 56,100. Apart from the basic pay, candidates are also given various benefits. The benefits related to the Indian Air Force pay scale are given from the beginning of the training. After completion of the training, candidates are offered AFCAT salary as per the posts.

AFCAT exam is conducted to recruit eligible male and female candidates to the post of Group A Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches.

AFCAT selection process comprises the online test and AFSB interview. In this article, we have discussed in detail AFCAT salary, allowances, perks, promotions, and many more.

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