AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment: Flying and Ground Duty Officer Vacancies
Name of Post: Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
Post Date / Update: 21 June 2026
Recruiting Authority: Indian Air Force
Entry: AFCAT, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry
Course Commencement: July 2027
Application Status: Closed
Short Information
The Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 02/2026 notification for the recruitment of Group A Gazetted Officers in Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical Branch and Ground Duty Non-Technical Branch.
The notification also covers NCC Special Entry for the Flying Branch and GATE Score Entry for the Ground Duty Technical Branch. Both male and female Indian citizens were invited to apply for the courses commencing in July 2027.
Candidates should carefully check the branch-wise educational qualification, age limit, medical standards, vacancy details and selection process before participating in the recruitment procedure.
AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment Overview
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Authority | Indian Air Force |
| Examination Name | Air Force Common Admission Test 02/2026 |
| Entry Types | AFCAT, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry |
| Post Type | Group A Gazetted Officer |
| Branches | Flying, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non-Technical |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Examination Mode | Online |
| Official Application Portal | AFCAT EDCIL Portal |
Important Dates
| Event | Date and Time |
|---|---|
| Online Application Begin | 20 May 2026 at 11:00 AM |
| Last Date to Apply | 19 June 2026 at 11:30 PM |
| AFCAT Examination | 8 August 2026 |
| Admit Card | Before examination |
| AFSB Testing | To be notified |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
Application Fee
| Entry | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | ₹550 plus 18% GST |
| NCC Special Entry | No AFCAT application fee |
| GATE Score Entry | No AFCAT application fee |
The application fee is non-refundable. Payment can be made online through net banking, debit card, credit card, UPI or another payment method available on the portal.
Vacancy Details
AFCAT Entry Vacancies
| Branch | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Branch – SSC | 30 | 5 | 35 |
| Ground Duty Technical – Permanent Commission | 10 | 4 | 14 |
| Ground Duty Technical – Short Service Commission | 159 | 38 | 197 |
| Ground Duty Non-Technical – Short Service Commission | 82 | 23 | 105 |
| Total AFCAT Entry Vacancies | 281 | 70 | 351 |
GATE Score Entry Vacancies
| Branch | Men PC | Women PC | Men SSC | Women SSC | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AE Electronics | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 17 |
| AE Mechanical | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 9 |
| Total | 2 | 2 | 18 | 4 | 26 |
NCC Special Entry
For NCC Special Entry, seats are calculated as:
- 10% of CDSE vacancies for Permanent Commission; and
- 10% of AFCAT vacancies for Short Service Commission.
Vacancies shown in the notification are tentative and may change according to organizational requirements and training capacity.
Type of Commission
Permanent Commission
Candidates selected for Permanent Commission continue to serve until the prescribed age of superannuation for their rank and branch.
Short Service Commission
For Flying Branch SSC officers, the engagement period is 14 years from the date of commissioning.
For Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical SSC officers, the initial tenure is 10 years. An extension of up to four years may be granted depending on service requirements, vacancies, willingness, merit and suitability.
SSC officers are not automatically entitled to a pension under the provisions stated in the notification.
Nationality
The candidate must be a citizen of India under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
Marital Status
Candidates must be unmarried when the course begins.
Marriage is not permitted during the training period. A candidate who marries during training may be removed from training and can be required to refund the expenditure incurred by the Government.
Age Limit
Flying Branch and NCC Special Entry
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | 20 to 24 years as of 1 July 2027 |
| Date of Birth Range | 2 July 2003 to 1 July 2007 |
| CPL Holder Maximum Age | Up to 26 years |
| CPL Holder Date Range | 2 July 2001 to 1 July 2007 |
The Commercial Pilot Licence must be valid and current and must have been issued by DGCA India.
Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical Branches
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | 20 to 26 years as of 1 July 2027 |
| Date of Birth Range | 2 July 2001 to 1 July 2007 |
The date of birth recorded in the matriculation or equivalent certificate will be accepted by the Indian Air Force.
Educational Qualification
Flying Branch
Candidates must have passed Mathematics and Physics at the 10+2 level and possess one of the following:
- A minimum three-year graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university;
- A four-year BE or BTech degree; or
- Section A and B examination of the Institution of Engineers India or Aeronautical Society of India.
Candidates must satisfy the minimum-mark conditions specified in the official notification.
Ground Duty Technical Branch
Candidates must generally have passed Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level and possess an eligible four-year engineering or technology qualification.
Accepted disciplines include, among others:
- Computer Science and Engineering
- Information Technology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- Data Science
- Software Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Communication Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Instrumentation Engineering
- Robotics
- Cyber Security
- Mathematics and Computing
Candidates should check the complete discipline list in the official notification before applying.
Weapon Systems Branch
Candidates must have passed Mathematics and Physics at the 10+2 level and possess:
- A minimum three-year graduation degree in any discipline; or
- A four-year BE or BTech degree.
Administration and Logistics
Candidates must have passed 10+2 and possess one of the following:
- A minimum three-year graduate degree in any discipline; or
- Section A and B examination of the Institution of Engineers India or Aeronautical Society of India.
Accounts Branch
Candidates must have passed 10+2 and possess an eligible qualification such as:
- BCom;
- BBA with specialization in Finance;
- Bachelor of Management Studies with Finance;
- Bachelor of Business Studies with Finance;
- CA;
- CMA;
- CS;
- CFA; or
- BSc with specialization in Finance.
Education Branch
Candidates must have passed 10+2 and possess a postgraduate degree in an eligible discipline as prescribed in the notification.
Meteorology Branch
Candidates must possess the relevant postgraduate or technical qualification prescribed by the Indian Air Force.
Selection Process
The AFCAT selection process generally consists of:
- Online AFCAT Examination
- Declaration of written examination result
- Air Force Selection Board testing
- Psychological tests
- Group tests
- Personal interview
- Computerised Pilot Selection System for Flying Branch candidates
- Medical examination
- Final merit list
- Course allocation
Candidates applying through NCC Special Entry are generally exempted from the AFCAT written test but must undergo the applicable AFSB and subsequent selection stages.
GATE Score Entry candidates are shortlisted based on the applicable GATE score and other eligibility conditions.
AFCAT Examination Pattern
The AFCAT question paper generally covers:
- General Awareness
- Verbal Ability in English
- Numerical Ability
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test
Candidates should check the official notification and syllabus for the exact number of questions, duration, total marks and negative-marking scheme.
AFSB Testing
Candidates who qualify for the written examination or are shortlisted through an applicable special entry are called for Air Force Selection Board testing.
AFSB testing may include:
- Officer Intelligence Rating Test
- Picture Perception and Discussion Test
- Psychological Tests
- Group Tests
- Personal Interview
- Computerised Pilot Selection System, where applicable
Candidates must qualify at each prescribed stage.
Medical Standards
Candidates must satisfy the physical and medical standards prescribed by the Indian Air Force.
Standards vary according to the branch and may include:
- Minimum height
- Sitting height
- Leg length
- Thigh length
- Weight
- Eyesight
- Colour vision
- Hearing
- General physical fitness
- Absence of disqualifying medical conditions
Flying Branch candidates are subject to stricter anthropometric and visual requirements.
Documents Required
Candidates should keep the following documents ready:
- Class 10 certificate
- Class 12 marksheet and certificate
- Graduation or engineering marksheets
- Degree certificate
- Postgraduate certificate, where applicable
- NCC Air Wing Senior Division C certificate, where applicable
- GATE scorecard, where applicable
- Aadhaar card or another valid ID proof
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Left thumb impression
- Application form printout
- Admit card
- Other documents specified by the Indian Air Force
How to Apply
- Visit the official AFCAT application portal.
- Select AFCAT 02/2026 candidate login.
- Complete new-candidate registration.
- Enter personal and contact information.
- Choose the applicable branch and entry type.
- Enter educational qualification details.
- Upload the photograph, signature and thumb impression.
- Preview the completed application form.
- Pay the application fee, where applicable.
- Submit the application and save a copy for future reference.
Important Instructions
- Candidates should apply only after confirming their eligibility for the selected branch.
- Admission to the written examination and AFSB stages is provisional.
- Mere issue of an admit card does not confirm final eligibility.
- Incorrect educational, age or personal information can lead to cancellation.
- Branch preferences should be selected carefully.
- Vacancies are tentative and can be modified by the Indian Air Force.
- Candidates must be physically and medically fit for the selected branch.
- The application fee is non-refundable.
- Candidates should preserve the registration number and submitted application form.
Important Links
| Description | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online | Visit AFCAT Application Portal |
| Download Official Notification | Download AFCAT 02/2026 Notification |
| Indian Air Force AFCAT Website | Visit Official Website |
| Indian Air Force Career Website | Visit Career Portal |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AFCAT 02/2026?
AFCAT 02/2026 is an Indian Air Force recruitment examination for selecting Group A Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duty branches.
When was the last date to apply?
The last date to submit the online application was 19 June 2026 at 11:30 PM.
When will the AFCAT examination be conducted?
The online AFCAT examination is scheduled for 8 August 2026.
How many AFCAT entry vacancies are available?
The notification lists 351 AFCAT-entry vacancies.
How many GATE Score Entry vacancies are available?
The notification lists 26 GATE Score Entry vacancies.
What is the age limit for the Flying Branch?
The age limit is 20 to 24 years as of 1 July 2027. Eligible holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence may receive relaxation up to 26 years.
What is the age limit for Ground Duty branches?
The age limit is 20 to 26 years as of 1 July 2027.
Can women apply for AFCAT 02/2026?
Yes. Both eligible male and female candidates can apply for the specified branches and entries.
What is the AFCAT application fee?
The application fee is ₹550 plus 18% GST for AFCAT Entry. The fee does not apply to NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry.
When will the course begin?
The courses are scheduled to commence in July 2027.
Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided for educational and informational purposes. Candidates must verify vacancy figures, qualifications, physical standards, medical requirements, dates and selection conditions from the official Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 notification before taking any action.