The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced a new recruitment drive for officer positions through the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 01/2026). This is a chance for young Indian students and job seekers aged 15-18 to join the Air Force. A total of 340 vacancies are open for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branches.
Applications for AFCAT 01/2026 started on November 17, 2025 . The last date to apply online is December 14, 2025 . Interested candidates must apply through the official website: afcat.cdac.in.
Important Dates
- Application Start Date: 17 November 2025
- Last Date to Apply Online: 14 December 2025
- Last Date for Fee Payment: 14 December 2025
- Admit Card/Exam Date/Result Date: Will be announced later
Application Fee
Candidates need to pay an application fee for AFCAT 01/2026. This fee is ₹550/- for General, OBC, EWS, SC, ST, and PWD categories. However, candidates applying for NCC Special Entry or Meteorology Entry do not need to pay any fee ( ₹0/- ). Fees can be paid online using Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or through an E-Challan.
Age Limit (as on 01.01.2027)
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age for Flying Branch: 24 Years
- Maximum Age for Ground Duty Branches: 26 Years
Total Posts
The recruitment aims to fill a total of 340 officer posts across various branches.
Branch-wise Vacancy Details
| Entry Type | Branch | Male Posts | Female Posts | Total Posts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT | Flying | 34 | 04 | 38 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Technical) | AE (L) SSC | 100 | 23 | 123 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Technical) | AE (M) SSC | 38 | 09 | 47 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Technical) | AE (L) PC | 03 | 03 | 06 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Technical) | AE (M) PC | 09 | 03 | 12 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non-Technical) | Admin | 48 | 12 | 60 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non-Technical) | LGS | 09 | 02 | 11 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non-Technical) | Accounts | 08 | 02 | 10 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non-Technical) | Education | 02 | 02 | 04 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non-Technical) | WS Branch | 21 | 05 | 26 |
| AFCAT (Ground Duty Non-Technical) | Meteorology | 01 | 02 | 03 |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 10% of CDSE & AFCAT Flying Vacancies | ||
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must meet the following education and physical requirements:
- Flying Branch: Bachelor’s Degree (any stream) with Physics & Maths in 12th class, OR a BE/B.Tech Degree.
- Ground Duty Technical: 12th class with Physics & Maths (50% marks) AND a 4-year Engineering/Technology Degree.
- Ground Duty Non-Technical (Admin/Logistics/Accounts/Education): Bachelor’s Degree (60% marks) or Master’s Degree (50% marks for Education) as per branch. (e.g., B.Com for Accounts).
- NCC Special Entry (Flying): NCC Air Wing Senior Division “C” Certificate, plus Flying Branch eligibility.
- Meteorology Entry: Master’s Degree in any stream.
Physical Height: Male candidates need 157.5 CM . Female candidates need 152 CM .
Salary and Benefits
Officers selected through AFCAT will receive a monthly salary between ₹56,100 and ₹1,77,500/- . Other allowances will be given as per government rules.
Selection Process
The selection involves these steps:
- Written Exam
- AFSB Interview (Air Force Selection Board)
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
How to Apply
Follow these steps to apply online:
- Read Notification: First, read the full official notification for AFCAT 01/2026.
- Visit Website: Go to the official website: afcat.cdac.in .
- Fill Form: Fill out the online application form completely.
- Upload Documents: Upload all required documents.
- Pay Fees: Pay the application fee online.
- Print Form: Take a printout of the submitted application form for your records.