The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the AFCAT 01/2026 Notification for recruitment of Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical), and NCC Special Entry for courses commencing in January 2027.
This is one of the most prestigious defence recruitment examinations, offering an opportunity to serve the nation as a Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer.
The detailed AFCAT 1 Notification 2026 pdf has been released for 340 vacancies (Flying & Ground Duty) at the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/.
AFCAT 01/2026: Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Start Date | 17 Nov 2025 (11:00 AM) |
| Application Last Date | 14 Dec 2025 (11:30 PM) |
| AFCAT 01/2026 Exam Date | 31 Jan 2026 (Saturday) |
| Admit Card Release | 22 Jan 2026 onward |
All applications must be submitted at the official AFCAT portal.
AFCAT 01/2026 Vacancies: Branch-Wise Breakdown
The vacancies are tentative and subject to change based on Indian Air Force requirements.
1. Flying Branch (SSC Only)
- Men (SSC): 34
- Women (SSC): 04
2. Ground Duty (Technical)
Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – AE (L)
- PC: 03
- SSC (Men): 100
- SSC (Women): 23
Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – AE (M)
- PC: 09
- SSC (Men): 38
- SSC (Women): 09
3. Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
Includes: Administrative, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology & Weapon Systems
- Multiple posts available (e.g., Admin: 48 seats, WS Branch: 21 seats etc.)
4. NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch)
- 10% seats out of AFCAT/ CDSE vacancies.
Types of Commissions
The IAF offers two types of commissions through AFCAT:
✔ Permanent Commission (PC)
Officers serve till retirement age.
Applicable for both men & women.
✔ Short Service Commission (SSC)
- Flying Branch: 14 years
- Ground Duty: 10 years + extension up to 14 years based on performance and vacancies.
SSC officers do not receive a pension.
AFCAT 01/2026 Eligibility Criteria
1. Nationality
- Must be an Indian citizen.
2. Age Limit
Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry)
- 20 to 24 years as on 01 Jan 2027
- Born between 02 Jan 2003 to 01 Jan 2007
- CPL holders: Upper age limit 26 years.
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical)
- 20 to 26 years
- Born between 02 Jan 2001 to 01 Jan 2007.
3. Educational Qualifications (Summary)
Flying Branch
- 10+2 Physics & Maths with 50% each, and
- Graduation with 60%, OR B.E./B.Tech with 60%.
Ground Duty (Technical)
A long list of eligible engineering disciplines is included in the official PDF—like CSE, ECE, IT, Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics, Aerospace, etc. (All disciplines listed in the notification.)
Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
Includes:
- Administration & Logistics
- Accounts (B.Com, BBA Finance, CA/CMA/CS/CFA etc.)
- Education (PG 50% + Graduation 60%)
- Meteorology (B.Sc with Physics & Maths / relevant engineering degrees)
AFCAT 01/2026 Exam Pattern
| Section | Questions | Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | |||
| Verbal Ability in English | 2 Hours | ||
| Numerical Ability | 100 | 300 | |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude |
- +3 marks for correct answer
- –1 mark for wrong answer
- Exam is online and objective-type.
- Questions will be in English only.
AFCAT 2026 Syllabus Overview
English
Comprehension, error detection, synonyms/antonyms, sentence completion, idioms & phrases, etc.
General Awareness
History, geography, polity, defence, science, current affairs, etc.
Numerical Ability
Time & work, profit–loss, ratio, percentage, number system, probability, mensuration, averages.
Reasoning
Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
AFCAT 2026 Selection Process
- Online AFCAT Exam (except NCC Special Entry)
- AFSB Interview – 5 Selection Boards across India
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List (based on performance & vacancies)
For Flying Branch, CPSS is mandatory. Candidates who failed CPSS earlier are not eligible.
How to Apply for AFCAT 01/2026
Applications must be submitted online only, and Aadhaar is mandatory.
Steps to Apply
- Visit the official AFCAT portal
- Register using email & mobile
- Fill personal, educational & communication details
- Upload photo, signature & thumb impression
- Pay the fee (₹550 + GST)
- Submit the form and download the PDF copy
All instructions are clearly defined in the notification. AFCAT_01-2026_Notification_Out
Exam Centres for AFCAT 2026
AFCAT will be held in more than 100 cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai, Patna, Bhopal, Dehradun and more. (Full list provided in the notification.)
Final Thoughts
The AFCAT brings an excellent career opportunity for aspirants dreaming of joining the Indian Air Force as a commissioned officer. With proper preparation, discipline, and dedication, candidates can successfully clear the exam and training to begin a prestigious career in uniform.