The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the AFCAT 01/2027 notification for 284 vacancies of Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, for courses starting in January 2028. Along with the AFCAT Entry, the IAF is also recruiting through the NCC Special Entry (Flying) and the GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical). Both men and women can apply.
Online registration is open from 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) to 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). The online AFCAT exam is on 31 January 2027 (Sunday). On commissioning, a Flying Officer gets Pay Level 10 (₹56,100–₹1,77,500) plus ₹15,500 Military Service Pay, and flight cadets get a stipend of ₹56,100 per month during training.
AFCAT 01/2027 – Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027 |
| Entries | AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry, GATE Score Entry |
| Branches | Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
| Total Vacancies | 284 (AFCAT 268 + GATE 16), plus NCC Special Entry seats |
| Course Starts | First week of January 2028 |
| Age Limit | Flying 20–24 years; Ground Duty 20–26 years (as on 1 January 2028) |
| Application Fee | ₹550 + 18% GST (AFCAT Entry); Nil for NCC and GATE entries |
| Exam Date | 31 January 2027 |
| Last Date | 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM |
| Official Websites | afcat.edcil.co.in, careerairforce.gov.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online registration opens | 12 November 2026, 11:00 AM |
| Last date to apply | 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM |
| Admit card | From 27 January 2027, 11:00 AM |
| AFCAT online exam | 31 January 2027 (Sunday), 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon |
| Answer key / objection window | 3 February 2027 (10 AM) – 5 February 2027 (10 AM) |
| Course commencement | First week of January 2028 |
Branch-wise Vacancy Details
| Entry / Branch | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT – Flying | – | – | 28 | 8 | 36 |
| AFCAT – GD(T) Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) | 5 | 2 | 54 | 27 | 88 |
| AFCAT – GD(T) Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) | 8 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 36 |
| AFCAT – GD(NT) Weapon Systems | – | – | 25 | 5 | 30 |
| AFCAT – GD(NT) Administration | 1 | 1 | 34 | 17 | 53 |
| AFCAT – GD(NT) Logistics | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| AFCAT – GD(NT) Accounts | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| AFCAT – GD(NT) Education | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| AFCAT – GD(NT) Meteorology | 1 | 1 | – | – | 2 |
| GATE Score Entry – AE (Electronics) | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| GATE Score Entry – AE (Mechanical) | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Total | 20 | 11 | 177 | 76 | 284 |
PC = Permanent Commission; SSC = Short Service Commission.
NCC Special Entry (Flying): 10% of CDSE vacancies for PC (Men) and 10% of AFCAT vacancies for SSC (Men and Women). Also, 10% of Ground Duty vacancies are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate holders, and 2 Ground Duty (Non-Technical) seats are for LLB-qualified candidates. All vacancies are tentative.
Tenure
- SSC Flying: 14 years from commissioning
- SSC Ground Duty: 10 years, extendable by 4 years
- PC: Service till superannuation as per rank
- SSC officers are not entitled to pension.
Educational Qualification
| Branch | Qualification |
|---|---|
| Flying | 10+2 with Physics and Maths + any 3-year graduation, or 4-year BE/B.Tech, or AMIE / Aeronautical Society of India (Sections A & B) |
| GD(T) – AE (Electronics) | 10+2 with Physics and Maths + 4-year engineering degree in listed electronics, electrical, computer and IT disciplines (or M.Sc. Electronics with B.Sc. Physics, AMIE / ASI / IETE) |
| GD(T) – AE (Mechanical) | 10+2 with Physics and Maths + 4-year engineering degree in listed mechanical, aerospace and allied disciplines (or AMIE / ASI) |
| GD(NT) – Weapon Systems | 10+2 with Physics and Maths + any 3-year graduation or 4-year BE/B.Tech |
| GD(NT) – Administration / Logistics | 10+2 + any 3-year graduation, or AMIE / ASI (Sections A & B) |
| GD(NT) – Accounts | 10+2 + B.Com, or BBA/BMS/BBS/B.Sc. with Finance, or qualified CA / CMA / CS / CFA |
| GD(NT) – Education | 10+2 + graduation + post-graduation in any discipline |
| GD(NT) – Meteorology | 10+2 + B.Sc. with Physics and Maths, or 4-year engineering degree in listed streams |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying Branch qualification + NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate (within 2 years of registration); no written test |
| GATE Score Entry | BE/B.Tech in listed disciplines + GATE score declared between 1 Jan 2024 and 31 Dec 2027 in a specified paper |
- Final-year students with no current backlog can apply, but must give proof of passing by 30 November 2027.
- A diploma in place of 10+2 is not accepted.
- Candidates must be unmarried at the start of the course.
Age Limit (as on 1 January 2028)
| Branch / Entry | Age | Date of Birth Range |
|---|---|---|
| Flying (AFCAT and NCC) | 20–24 years | 2 Jan 2004 – 1 Jan 2008 |
| Flying with valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence | Up to 26 years | 2 Jan 2002 – 1 Jan 2008 |
| Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) | 20–26 years | 2 Jan 2002 – 1 Jan 2008 |
There is no category-wise age relaxation.
Salary and Benefits
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Stipend during training (Flight Cadet) | ₹56,100 per month (fixed) |
| Flying Officer pay (Level 10) | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | ₹15,500 per month |
Officers also get flying/technical allowances, free medical care, accommodation, canteen facilities, LTC, 60 days annual leave and 20 days casual leave, and group insurance cover.
Application Fee
| Entry | Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | ₹550 + 18% GST (non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry | Nil |
| GATE Score Entry | Nil |
Selection Process
- AFCAT online exam (not for NCC Special Entry; GATE entry shortlisted on GATE score)
- AFSB testing – Stage-I (Officer Intelligence Rating test, Picture Perception & Discussion), Stage-II (psychological tests, group tasks, interview)
- CPSS (Computerised Pilot Selection System) – for Flying Branch only
- Medical examination
- Final merit list – based on AFCAT + AFSB marks
AFSB centres: Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati.
AFCAT Exam Pattern
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Subjects | General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude |
| Questions / Marks | 100 questions / 300 marks |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Marking | +3 for correct, −1 for wrong, 0 for unattempted |
| Language | English only |
How to Apply for AFCAT 01/2027
The application is online only. AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry each need a separate registration. Aadhaar is mandatory.
- Visit the official AFCAT website – afcat.edcil.co.in – and download the AFCAT 01/2027 notification from the News section.
- Choose the tab for your entry: AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry.
- Sign up with your name (as in the Class 10 certificate), mobile number, email ID and Aadhaar. Verify through OTP and note your user ID and password.
- Log in and fill in personal, communication and qualification details, including 10+2 and graduation percentages and Physics/Maths marks.
- Choose your course/branch preferences and exam centre.
- Upload your photograph (JPG, 100–200 KB), signature (80–150 KB) and thumb impression (50–100 KB) – left thumb for men, right thumb for women.
- Preview and submit. For AFCAT Entry, pay ₹550 + GST online (net banking, card or UPI).
- Complete the process before 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM and print the application.
Note: No changes are allowed after fee payment. To correct an error you must register again with a new email ID and pay the fee again; only your latest application will be considered.
Official Websites
| Purpose | Website |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Official Portal (notification, apply online, admit card, AFSB date selection) | afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Indian Air Force Career Website | careerairforce.gov.in |
| AFCAT Helpdesk | +91 9513252077 (9 AM – 6 PM, Monday to Saturday) |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. How many vacancies are there in AFCAT 01/2027? 284 – 268 through AFCAT Entry and 16 through GATE Score Entry, plus NCC Special Entry seats.
Q2. What is the last date to apply? 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM.
Q3. When is the AFCAT 1 2027 exam? 31 January 2027 (Sunday), 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon. Admit cards will be available from 27 January 2027.
Q4. What is the age limit? 20–24 years for Flying (up to 26 with a valid CPL) and 20–26 years for Ground Duty, as on 1 January 2028.
Q5. Is there negative marking? Yes. +3 for each correct answer and −1 for each wrong answer.
Q6. Can final-year students apply? Yes, if they have no current backlog and submit proof of passing by 30 November 2027.
Q7. Do NCC Special Entry candidates write the AFCAT exam? No. They go directly to the AFSB and pay no fee.
Q8. What is the salary after commissioning? Pay Level 10 (₹56,100–₹1,77,500) plus ₹15,500 MSP and allowances.
Conclusion
AFCAT 01/2027 is a great chance for graduates and engineers – both men and women – to become commissioned officers in the Indian Air Force. Check your branch-wise eligibility and date of birth, keep your documents in the correct size, and apply before 11 December 2026. Start preparing now for the 31 January exam and the AFSB.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the official AFCAT 01/2027 notification. Vacancies are tentative. Candidates should verify all details from the official notification on afcat.edcil.co.in before applying.