Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment – Apply Online for 142+ Officer Vacancies

The Indian Air Force has released the official AFCAT 02/2026 notification for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, with courses commencing in July 2027. Unmarried Indian citizens — both men and women — who meet the age and educational eligibility criteria can apply online between 20 May 2026 and 19 June 2026. Applications are also invited under the NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch) and GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical) routes through the same notification cycle.

Key Highlights

Organisation	Indian Air Force (IAF)
Exam / Entry	AFCAT 02/2026 / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry
Notification Released	12 May 2026
Total Vacancies (Tentative)	142+ (Flying + Ground Duty Non-Technical declared; Ground Duty Technical numbers in detailed notification)
Commission Type	Short Service Commission (SSC); Permanent Commission (PC) subject to policy
Course Commencement	First week of July 2027, Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad
Apply Online (Opens)	20 May 2026 (11:00 hrs)
Apply Online (Closes)	19 June 2026 (23:30 hrs)
Application Fee	₹550 + GST (AFCAT entry); Nil for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry
Official Apply Portal	afcat.cdac.in

Vacancy / Openings Details

The short notification released on 12 May 2026 declares tentative vacancies across the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches. Ground Duty (Technical) vacancy numbers are published in the detailed notification available on the official AFCAT website.

Flying Branch (SSC):

Men: 30 seats
Women: 5 seats

Ground Duty Non-Technical (SSC) — Men / Women:

Administration: 50 / 12
Weapon Systems (WS): 21 / 5
Logistics: 4 / 2
Accounts: 1 / 2
Education: 1 / 2
Meteorology: 1 / 2

Two seats within Ground Duty Non-Technical vacancies are reserved for Law-qualified candidates. All vacancy figures are tentative and subject to change based on organisational requirements, training slot availability, and actual vacancies accruing by July 2027. No representation regarding changes will be entertained. SSC officers are not entitled to pension.

Eligibility

Education

Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry and NCC Special Entry): Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks, provided the candidate has passed Maths and Physics at 10+2 level with a minimum of 50% marks each. Alternatively, a BE/B.Tech degree (four-year course) from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks. Candidates who have cleared Section A and B of the Associate Membership examination of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India with a minimum of 60% marks are also eligible.

Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) [AE(L)]: Minimum 60% in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, plus a BE/B.Tech or postgraduate degree in Engineering/Technology in a relevant discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks (or equivalent). Specific eligible engineering streams are detailed in the official notification PDF.

Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) [AE(M)]: Same 10+2 requirement as AE(L), with a BE/B.Tech or postgraduate degree in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering or equivalent from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks. Refer to the detailed notification for the complete list of eligible streams.

Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Graduation in any discipline (three-year minimum) from a recognised university. Branch-specific requirements (for example, a Law degree for the two reserved Law seats, or a relevant degree for Education and Meteorology branches) are specified in the detailed notification.

GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical only): A valid GATE score in an approved engineering discipline. No AFCAT written examination is required for this entry route.

Age Limit (as on 01 July 2027)

Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry and NCC Special Entry): 20 to 24 years — born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007 (both dates inclusive). Candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by DGCA (India) are eligible for relaxation up to 26 years — born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007.
Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical), including GATE Score Entry: 20 to 26 years — born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007 (both dates inclusive).

No other age relaxation categories are mentioned in the official short notification. Refer to the detailed notification for any additional applicable relaxations. All age calculations are done with reference to 01 July 2027.

Marital Status

Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. Marriage is not permitted during training. A candidate who marries during the training period shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred by the Government on their training.

Nationality

Indian citizenship as per the Citizenship Act, 1955 is required.

Salary / Pay and Benefits

Commissioned officers are placed in Pay Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission Pay Matrix, with a basic pay of ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month. Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500 per month is additionally applicable. During the training period at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Flight Cadets receive a fixed monthly stipend of ₹56,100.

Additional allowances payable based on branch, nature of duty, and place of posting include Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, Transport Allowance, Risk and Hardship Allowance, Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Allowance, and others. Other service benefits include furnished government accommodation, medical facilities for self and family, and canteen facilities. The exact value of allowances is not disclosed in the short notification; refer to the detailed notification and 7th CPC orders for complete pay structure details. SSC officers are not entitled to pension.

Selection Process

AFCAT Entry (Flying Branch and all Ground Duty branches):

AFCAT Online Written Examination: A computer-based test conducted at designated centres across India. The exam covers General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Duration is two hours; total marks are 300 (100 questions, 3 marks each). A negative marking of 1 mark applies for each incorrect answer. Ground Duty (Technical) candidates must additionally appear for the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) on the same day.
AFSB Interview (Stage 1 — Screening): Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) test and Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP&DT). Candidates who do not clear Stage 1 are not called for Stage 2.
AFSB Interview (Stage 2): Psychological tests, Group Tests (GTO tasks), and Personal Interview, conducted at Air Force Selection Boards located at Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, or Varanasi.
Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS): Mandatory for Flying Branch candidates only. Assesses suitability for pilot training.
Medical Examination: Conducted by IAF Medical Officers at designated centres (IAM Bengaluru or AFCME Delhi). IAF medical standards apply; detailed physical and medical standards are in the official notification.
Merit List and Training: A final merit list is prepared, and joining instructions are issued for Air Force Academy, Dundigal. Training duration: 62 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) branches; 52 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches.

NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch only): No written AFCAT examination. Candidates with a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) are directly called for AFSB testing, followed by medical examination.

GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical only): No written AFCAT examination. A valid GATE score in an approved engineering discipline is required. Shortlisted candidates proceed to AFSB testing and medical examination.

First-time AFSB candidates are entitled to Travel Allowance (TA) reimbursement by the shortest route; claims must be submitted within one month of the SSB start date.

Important Dates

Notification Released	12 May 2026
Online Registration Opens	20 May 2026 (11:00 hrs)
Online Registration Closes	19 June 2026 (23:30 hrs)
AFCAT Exam Date	Not mentioned in the official short notification; to be communicated via official website and admit cards
AFSB Dates	Not mentioned in the official short notification
Course Commencement	First week of July 2027, Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad

Application Fee

AFCAT Entry: ₹550 + applicable GST. Payable online through net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI.
NCC Special Entry: No fee.
GATE Score Entry: No fee.

Candidates eligible for more than one entry route must register separately for each; separate fee payment (where applicable) is required for each registration.

How to Apply

Visit the official AFCAT portal at afcat.cdac.in on or after 20 May 2026 at 11:00 hrs.
On the homepage, locate the AFCAT 02/2026 registration link. New users must click “Register Here” and provide their name, a valid email ID, and a mobile number to generate login credentials.
Log in with the credentials and proceed to fill in the application form: personal details, date of birth (no subsequent changes allowed), educational qualifications, and branch/entry preferences.
Upload a recent photograph and signature in the specified format and size as instructed on the portal.
Pay the application fee (for AFCAT entry) through the available online payment modes. No fee for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry.
Review all entries carefully before final submission, as no amendments are permitted after submission.
Submit the application and save or print the final confirmation/acknowledgement page for future reference.
Candidates applying under multiple entry routes must complete a separate registration for each entry type on the official portal.

Applications will not be accepted through any mode other than the official online portal. An Aadhaar Card is required for online registration. A PAN Card and an account in SBI or any nationalised bank are required upon joining.

Documents Required

Aadhaar Card (mandatory for registration)
10+2 mark sheet and certificate showing Physics and Mathematics marks
Graduation degree certificate and consolidated mark sheet (showing percentage)
BE/B.Tech degree and mark sheets (for Technical branch and Flying Branch applicants via engineering route)
GATE scorecard (for GATE Score Entry applicants)
NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) (for NCC Special Entry applicants)
Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (for CPL holders claiming age relaxation in Flying Branch)
Valid email ID and mobile number for registration and future communication

Branch-specific document requirements and physical/medical standards are detailed in the official notification PDF available on the official AFCAT website.

Offer and Notice Verification / Scam Warning

The Indian Air Force does not issue appointment letters or selection offers through WhatsApp, Telegram, or unofficial email accounts. All authentic communication regarding AFCAT 02/2026 — including admit cards, AFSB call letters, medical schedules, and merit lists — is issued exclusively through the official portals afcat.cdac.in and indianairforce.nic.in, or sent to the registered email ID provided during application.

The official notification (Ref: CBC 1080/1/11/0012/2627) states that selection is strictly merit-based. Any attempt to influence the selection process, use of forged documents, impersonation, or supply of false information is liable to result in immediate termination of candidature and initiation of legal proceedings. Do not pay money to any individual, coaching institute, or agent who claims to guarantee IAF selection or SSB calls. If you receive a suspicious offer or notice, verify it against the official website before responding. The helpdesk for AFCAT exam-related queries can be reached at [email protected] or +91 9513252077.

Official Links

Note: The AFCAT 02/2026 notification PDF (Employment News, 12 May 2026) is available for download directly on afcat.edcil.co.in. Always download documents from official IAF portals only.

FAQs

1. Can women apply for the Flying Branch under AFCAT 02/2026?

Yes. The Indian Air Force has notified 5 seats for women under Short Service Commission in the Flying Branch through AFCAT 02/2026. Women can also apply for all Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches as per the vacancy breakdown in the official notification.

2. Is the AFCAT written examination compulsory for all entry routes?

No. The written AFCAT examination is required only for the AFCAT Entry route. Candidates applying under NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch) are called directly for AFSB testing. Candidates applying under GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical) are shortlisted based on their valid GATE score and do not appear for the written exam.

3. What is the application fee for AFCAT 02/2026 and how is it paid?

Candidates applying through the AFCAT Entry route must pay ₹550 plus applicable GST. Payment is accepted online through net banking, debit card, credit card, or UPI. No fee is charged for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry registrations.

4. What are the Physical Conditioning standards candidates should maintain before AFSB?

The official notification advises candidates to report physically fit for SSB testing. Recommended baseline standards cited in the notification are: running 1.6 km (1 mile) in 10 minutes, 10 push-ups, and 3 chin-ups. Candidates are also advised to train in activities such as running, swimming, and rope climbing as part of general physical conditioning. Mandatory fitness tests are conducted during training at AFA.

5. If I am eligible for both AFCAT Entry and NCC Special Entry, do I need to apply separately?

Yes. The official notification states that candidates eligible for more than one entry type must register separately for each entry on the official AFCAT portal. Applications for different entries are handled through separate tabs on the portal, and applicable fees must be paid individually for each registration.

6. What are the vacancies and training details for Ground Duty (Technical) branches under AFCAT 02/2026?

The branch-wise vacancy numbers for Ground Duty (Technical) — covering Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) — are published in the detailed notification available on afcat.edcil.co.in, and are not declared in the short notification released on 12 May 2026. Training for selected candidates in Ground Duty (Technical) branches will be 62 weeks at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad, commencing in the first week of July 2027.

Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment – Apply Online