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AFCAT 2026

Air Force Common Admission Test

AFCAT is conducted by the Indian Air Force for recruitment of officers in Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches. Written test followed by AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) testing.

Official Website

Vacancies

340

Age Limit

20-24 years for Flying Branch, 20-26 years for Ground Duty. Unmarried (Flying Branch).

Fee

₹250

Salary Range

₹56,100 - ₹1,77,500

Pay Level

Pay Level 10

Salary Range (Monthly)

₹56,100 - ₹1,77,500

Key Posts

Flying Branch (Pilot), Ground Duty (Technical) Branch, Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch Officers in Indian Air Force

National-level admission test for Short Service Commission and Permanent Commission in Indian Air Force — Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical) Branch, and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) BranchFlying Branch & Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) & Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) & Ground Duty (Non-Technical) — Administration & Ground Duty (Non-Technical) — Accounts & Ground Duty (Non-Technical) — Logistics & Ground Duty (Non-Technical) — Education & Ground Duty (Non-Technical) — MeteorologyAll India — liable to serve anywhere in India and abroad on deputation/assignment. Commissioned officers in Indian Air Force.

Pay Levels & Salary

Pay Level	Monthly Range
Level 10 (Flying Officer)	₹₹56,100 - ₹₹1,77,500
Military Service Pay	₹15,500 per month additional
Flying Allowance (for Flying Branch)	₹25,000 per month additional

Application Fee

₹250

General/OBC

Free

SC/ST/Women

Free

PwBD/ESM

Tie-Breaking Rules

Higher marks in AFSB
Higher marks in AFCAT
Older candidate placed higher

Start Free Mock Test

Eligibility

Educational Qualification

Bachelor's degree with minimum 60% in any discipline. For technical branches: B.E./B.Tech in specified streams.

Age Limit

20-24 years for Flying Branch, 20-26 years for Ground Duty. Unmarried (Flying Branch).

Age Relaxation by Category

Category	Relaxation
General	No relaxation
SC/ST	+5 years
OBC (NCL)	+3 years
PwD	+10 years
Ex-Servicemen	+5 years

Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / EWS (Male)	₹250
SC / ST / PwD / Ex-Servicemen	₹250

Exam Pattern

AFCAT (Written)

100 Questions120 minsTotal Marks: 300-1 per wrong

Section	Questions	Max Marks	Duration
General Knowledge	25	75	—
Verbal Ability in English	25	75	—
Numerical Ability	25	75	—
Reasoning & Military Aptitude	25	75	—

Syllabus

History
Geography
Indian Polity
Current Affairs
Defence & Aviation
Sports

Posts & Pay Levels

Vacancies

NaN

Tentative Total

Nationality & Citizenship

✓Citizen of India

Educational Qualification

Age Limits & Relaxation

Age Bands

Age Band	DOB Not Earlier Than	DOB Not Later Than
20-24 years (Flying Branch)
20-26 years (Ground Duty Technical & Non-Technical)

Age Relaxation by Category

Category	Relaxation
SC/ST	5 years
OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)	3 years
PwBD (Unreserved/EWS)	10 years
PwBD (OBC)	13 years
PwBD (SC/ST)	15 years
Ex-Servicemen	3 years after deduction of military service from actual age (or as per rules)
Widows/Divorced Women/Women judicially separated and not remarried	Up to 35 years (UR), 38 (OBC), 40 (SC/ST)

Ex-Servicemen (ESM) Rules

Sons/Daughters/DependentsNot eligible

Non-Graduate ESM for Group BNot eligible

Category Certificate Rules

How to Apply

Apply viaOnline at https://afcat.cdac.in

Photo Rules

• Passport size photograph (white background)
• Signature scan

Application Fee

₹250

General

₹undefined

Women

Free

SC/ST

₹undefined

PwBD

₹undefined

ESM

Payment: Online — Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking

Non-refundable

Correction Window

Opens

Closes

₹

1st Correction

₹

2nd Correction

Max corrections allowed. Latest corrected application treated as valid.

Admission Certificate & Exam Day

Admit CardDownload About 10-15 days before exam from afcat.cdac.in before exam

PrintoutRequired

Accepted Photo IDs

Aadhaar CardVoter's ID CardDriving LicensePAN CardPassportCollege ID

AFCAT Online Test — Air Force Common Admission Test

100 Questions300 Marks120 min

+3 per correct−1 per wrongSectional timingObjective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish

Section	Questions	Marks	Per Q
General Awareness	25	75	3
Verbal Ability in English	25	75	3
Numerical Ability	25	75	3
Reasoning and Military Aptitude	25	75	3
Total	100	300	3

EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) — for Ground Duty Technical only — Engineering Knowledge Test

50 Questions150 Marks45 min

+3 per correct−1 per wrongObjective, Multiple ChoiceEnglish

AFSB Interview — Air Force Selection Board Interview

Personality Assessment — 5 day process

Answer Key Policy

Tentative KeyReleased for candidate review

Fee RefundableNo

Final KeyUsed for result calculation

Normalization & Re-evaluation

NormalizationApplied if multiple shifts. Purpose: Score equalization across shifts if applicable

Re-evaluationNot allowed

Minimum Qualifying Marks

Stage	UR	OBC/EWS	SC/ST/Others
ekt
afcat
afsb Stage I

Shortlisting & Merit Rules

Afcat To AFSB

Based on AFCAT cut-off marks — candidates scoring above cut-off called for AFSB

Afsb Screening

Stage I at AFSB — non-qualifying candidates returned

Cpss For Flying

Flying Branch candidates must clear CPSS and PABT — this is in addition to AFSB recommendation

Final Merit Basis

AFCAT + AFSB combined evaluation. Separate merit for Flying, GD(T), GD(NT).

Medical After AFSB

Only AFSB-recommended candidates undergo medical. Flying Branch: stringent medical at AFCME.

Scribe & Compensatory Time

Extra Time20 minutes per hour of examination for eligible candidates

Own ScribeAllowed

Opt-inMust opt during application form

Auto-eligible for Scribe

✓PwBD blindness
✓PwBD locomotor disability (both arms affected-BA)
✓PwBD cerebral palsy

Scribe Requirements

• Scribe must not be a candidate of the same examination
• Scribe qualification must be one step below the qualification prescribed for the post
• Scribe cannot assist more than one candidate in the same examination
• Candidate must opt for scribe in the application form
• Scribe arrangement at own expense if own scribe opted

Additional Rules

• Even eligible candidates not availing scribe still get compensatory time
• No attendant other than scribe allowed inside examination hall

Document Verification

Conducted ByAFSB / IAF at the time of AFSB reporting and training academy joining

Required Documents

Matriculation/Secondary Certificate (for DOB proof)
Educational Qualification Certificate(s) as prescribed
Caste/Category Certificate if applicable (in prescribed format)
PwBD Certificate if applicable
EWS Certificate if applicable (valid for relevant financial year)
Ex-Servicemen Certificate/Discharge Certificate if applicable
NOC from present employer if already in Government service
Experience Certificate if applicable
Name change documents if applicable (Gazette notification, marriage certificate etc.)
Two recent passport-size colour photographs
Any other document as specified in the call letter

Tie-Breaking Rules

1Higher marks in AFSB
2Higher marks in AFCAT
3Older candidate placed higher

Misconduct & Debarment

Post-exam Analysis Methods

Log analysisPhotograph verificationBiometric verificationCCTV review

Offense	Debarment
Using unfair means of any kind — copying, electronic devices, written material on body/paper	Permanent debarment / 3-7 years
Impersonation / procuring impersonation by any person	7 years / permanent
Possession of mobile phone, bluetooth devices, wireless devices, spy cameras, electronic gadgets inside exam hall	3-5 years
Taking away exam material (rough sheets, question paper) from exam hall	1-3 years
Leaving examination venue before completion of due exit procedure	1-2 years
Misbehaving, intimidating or threatening exam functionaries	2-3 years
Obstructing conduct of examination / instigating others not to take examination	3 years
False statements / fabricated documents / suppressing material information	1-5 years
Appearing in exam with forged admit card / identity proof	3-5 years
Possession of firearms/weapons or threatening exam functionaries with force	7 years
Taking snapshots, making videos of question papers or exam material	7 years
Sharing exam terminal through remote desktop / LAN / VAN	7 years
Attempt to hack or manipulate examination servers / data / systems	7-10 years
Candidate acting as scribe in same examination or providing false scribe declaration	3-5 years

⚠ Cases may be referred to police or investigating agencies.

Public Disclosure Policy

Disqualification Rule

Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria. Any false declaration leads to withdrawal of commission. For Flying Branch, candidates must be unmarried at the time of induction.

Important Warnings

⚠AFCAT is held twice a year (AFCAT-1 and AFCAT-2). Apply for each cycle separately.

⚠Flying Branch has stringent medical standards — 6/6 vision in each eye (correctable to 6/6 if within limits for certain categories).

⚠AFSB interview is a 5-day rigorous assessment — Officer Like Qualities (OLQs) are tested.

⚠Flying Branch candidates must clear CPSS and PABT at AFSB — this is the pilot aptitude test.

⚠NCC Air Wing C certificate holders get direct AFSB entry (bypass AFCAT for some vacancies).

⚠EKT is mandatory for Ground Duty (Technical) candidates — conducted on the same day as AFCAT.

⚠No reservation based on caste/category in IAF.

⚠SSC (Short Service Commission) is initially for 14 years, extendable to 20 years. Permanent Commission possible after 10 years for eligible branches.

⚠Training at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.

2026 Cycle — Complete Timeline

Year2026

Notification2025-12-01

Registration Start2025-12-01

Registration End2025-12-30

⚠ All dates are tentative and subject to change.

Vacancies

Total300

Per-post breakdown not yet published.

Previous Year Cut-Offs

No cut-off data available yet.

Important Dates — 2026

Event	Date	Status
AFCAT 1/2026 — Notification	9 Nov 2025	Completed
AFCAT 1/2026 — Exam	31 Jan 2026	Completed
AFCAT 1/2026 — Result	11 Mar 2026	Completed