The Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 application process has been completed, and the exam city details have now been announced. Candidates who successfully submitted their applications can log in to the official portal to check their allotted exam city and make necessary travel and exam-day arrangements accordingly.
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 – The Indian Air Force (IAF) has issued the AFCAT 01/2026 Notification inviting online applications from Indian citizens (Men & Women) for Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officer positions in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branches.
The online application window remains open from 17 November 2025 (11:00 AM) to 14 December 2025 (11:30 PM). The AFCAT Exam will be conducted on 31 January 2026 (Saturday) for courses commencing January 2027.
Candidates must apply through the official website and for Latest & Easy-to-Read Updates and Simplified Details, visit GovtJobLink.com.
Table of Contents
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 -AFCAT 01/2026
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Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : Important Dates & Application Fee
| Important Dates | Application Fee Details |
|---|---|
| Application Start – 17 November 2025 | General / OBC / EWS – ₹550 + 18% GST |
| Last Date to Apply – 19 December 2025 (Extended) | SC / ST / Female – ₹550 + 18% GST |
| Exam Date – 31 Jan 2026 (Saturday) | NCC Special Entry – No Fee |
| Admit Card – From 22 Jan 2026 (11:00 AM) | Payment Mode – Online (Debit/Credit/UPI) |
| Course Commencement – Jan 2027 | Fee once paid is non-refundable |
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : Age Limit & Eligibility Details
| Age Limit (as on 01 Jan 2027) | Educational Qualification / Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch: 20–24 yrs (born 02 Jan 2003 – 01 Jan 2007). Relaxation up to 26 yrs for DGCA CPL holders. | Flying Branch: 10+2 with 50% in Maths & Physics and Graduation with 60% / BE/B.Tech with 60%. |
| Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech): 20–26 yrs (born 02 Jan 2001 – 01 Jan 2007). | Tech Branch: 10+2 (Physics & Maths 50%) + 4-yr Engineering degree with 60%. Non-Tech: Graduate / Post-Graduate with 60% as per branch (Admin, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology). |
| Marital Status: Unmarried till course commencement. | NCC Special Entry: NCC ‘C’ Certificate (Air Wing) with Grade ‘B’. |
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : Vacancy Details
| Entry / Branch | Course No. | Type of Commission | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ♦ Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry) | 221/27F/SSC/M&W | Short Service Commission (SSC) | — | — | • Flying (SSC): 34 | • Flying (SSC): 04 |
| ♦ Ground Duty (Technical) | 220/27T/PC/110AEC/M&W & 220/27T/SSC/110AEC/M&W | Permanent Commission (PC) & Short Service Commission (SSC) | • AE(L): 03 • AE(M): 09 Total Men (PC): 12 | • AE(L): 03 • AE(M): 03 Total Women (PC): 6 | • AE(L): 100 • AE(M): 38 Total Men (SSC – Ground Tech): 138 | • AE(L): 23 • AE(M): 09 Total Women (SSC – Ground Tech): 32 |
| ♦ Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 220/27G/SSC/M&W | Short Service Commission (SSC) | — | — | • Weapon Systems (WS): 21 • Administration: 48 • Logistics: 09 • Accounts: 08 • Education: 02 • Meteorology: 01 Total Men (SSC – Ground Non-Tech): 89 | • Weapon Systems (WS): 05 • Administration: 12 • Logistics: 02 • Accounts: 02 • Education: 02 • Meteorology: 02 Total Women (SSC – Ground Non-Tech): 25 |
| ♦ NCC Special Entry (Flying) | 221/27F/PC (M) & 221/27F/SSC (M&W) | Permanent Commission (PC) & Short Service Commission (SSC) | • Seats based on 10% rule — Exact seats for NCC Special Entry are calculated as: ♦ 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC (where applicable) ♦ 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC Exact numeric allocation is dependent on final CDSE/AFCAT vacancy numbers. | — | — | |
| Total Posts | 12 | 6 | 261 | 340 | ||
Note: Vacancies indicated above are tentative and subject to change based on service requirements and final manning decisions of the Indian Air Force. Exact numeric allocation for NCC Special Entry depends on final CDSE/AFCAT vacancy counts.
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : How to Apply Online & Required Documents
| How to Apply (Online Procedure) | Required Documents for Application |
|---|---|
| • Visit the official AFCAT website – https://afcat.cdac.in. • Click on “AFCAT 01/2026 – Apply Online”. • Register with a valid email ID and mobile number. • Log in using the credentials sent to your email/SMS. • Fill in personal & educational details carefully. • Upload scanned photo, signature and thumb impression in prescribed format. • Preview the form & verify all details before submission. • Pay the required application fee online using Debit/Credit card or UPI. • Submit the form and download the confirmation page. • Take a print-out of the submitted form for future reference. Important Tips: • Avoid using mobile browser while applying online. • Keep all documents ready before starting registration. • Candidates should start their application well before the last date to avoid server load. | • Recent Passport-size Photograph (Colour, JPEG format). • Scanned Signature (black ink, JPEG format). • Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar / PAN / Voter ID / Passport / Driving Licence). • Educational Certificates – 10th, 12th, Graduation / Engineering Degree mark sheets. • Category Certificate (if applicable – SC/ST/OBC/EWS). • NCC ‘C’ Certificate (for NCC Special Entry applicants). • Domicile Certificate (if required for state quota verification). • Experience Certificate (if claiming work experience for technical roles). • Original Documents will be verified at AFSB interview stage. Note: All uploaded files must be clear and readable; unclear images can lead to rejection of the applicatio |
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : Pay Scale & Selection Process
| Selection Process | Pay Scale / Salary Details |
|---|---|
| • Stage 1: Online AFCAT Exam (Objective Test for Flying & Ground Duty).• Stage 2: AFSB Interview (Psychological Test, Group Discussion, Personal Interview).• Stage 3: Medical Examination at AFMS centres.• Final Merit: Based on combined performance and medical fitness.Note: NCC Special Entry candidates are called directly for AFSB Interview. | • Pay Scale (Level 10): ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month plus MSP ₹15,500.• Flying Officers receive additional Flying Allowance ₹11,250 per month.• Other Allowances – DA, HRA, Transport, Uniform Grant, Insurance.• Approx. In-Hand Salary: ₹85,000 – ₹95,000 monthly depending on station posting. |
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : Exam Pattern & Syllabus
| Exam Pattern (AFCAT 01/2026) | Syllabus Overview |
|---|---|
| • Mode: Online CBT.• Total Marks: 300 (100 Questions).• Duration: 2 Hours.• Negative Marking: –1 for each wrong answer.• Sections: General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude.• EKT (Paper II) for Technical candidates – 50 questions (150 marks).• Difficulty level similar to SSC CGL Tier I + Defence GK mix.• Mock tests highly recommended via official portal.• Questions appear in English only. | • General Awareness: Defence news, history, current affairs.• Verbal Ability: Synonyms, antonyms, reading comprehension.• Quantitative Aptitude: Profit & loss, ratio, time speed, simple geometry.• Reasoning & Military Aptitude: Visual analogy, spatial ability, rotational logic.• EKT: Engineering topics from Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science.• Practice previous year papers and solve mock sets to track cut-offs. |
Important Useful Links for Apply Online, Download Notification
| Important Useful Links | |
|---|---|
| ChecK Exam City | Click Here |
| Apply Online | Click Here |
| Download Notification | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Join Whatsapp Channel | Click Here |
| Join Telegram Channel | Click Here |
| Join YouTube Channel | Click Here |
| Join Instagram Channel | Click Here |
| Join Facebook Channel | Click Here |
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025 : Exam Preparation Strategy
Understanding the Exam
AFCAT demands balanced preparation across Reasoning, Maths, English & GK. Focus on speed and accuracy.
10 Smart Preparation Tips
- Analyze previous AFCAT cut-offs and question types.
- Dedicate 2 hours daily to mock tests.
- Read newspapers and Defence updates daily.
- Strengthen Maths basics from NCERT Books (6-10).
- Revise English grammar and vocabulary through editorials.
- Practice mental calculation for speed.
- Solve EKT subject-wise technical questions for engineers.
- Join group discussion forums for AFSB preparation.
- Maintain physical fitness – running and upper-body strength important.
- Attempt at least 10 full-length mock tests before exam.
Sample Questions & Recommended Books / Study Material
Sample AFCAT-Level Questions (20)
- Which Indian missile is nicknamed ‘Fire’?
- 3 pipes can fill a tank in 12 min… (find time).
- Synonym of ‘Tranquil’.
- Meaning of ‘Brevity’.
- Who was India’s first Air Chief Marshal?
- 5 men complete a work in 10 days…
- Number series question: 2, 4, 12, 48, ?
- Which aircraft is used for airborne early warning?
- Angle between hands of a clock at 9:15?
- Which planet has maximum moons?
- One-word substitution for “Government by Army.”
- Average speed problem with two vehicles.
- Who founded the Indian National Congress?
- Identify correct spelling word.
- Antonym of ‘Adversity’.
- Current Defence Minister of India.
- Largest satellite of Saturn.
- “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan” was given by whom?
- 12 men do a work in 15 days… (Find no. of men for 10 days).
- Coding-decoding logical puzzle.
Recommended Books / Study Material
- AFCAT Guide by Arihant Experts
- R.S. Aggarwal – Quantitative Aptitude
- Lucent’s General Knowledge
- Word Power Made Easy by Norman Lewis
- AFCAT Online Mock Tests – Official Portal
- Current Affairs Yearbook by Vision IAS
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
| Question / Answer |
|---|
| Q1. What is AFCAT 01/2026 Indian Air Force Recruitment? A: It’s a national-level exam to select candidates as Flying Officers and Ground Duty Officers in the IAF. |
| Q2. When does AFCAT 01/2026 application start? A: From 17 Nov 2025. |
| Q3. What is the last date to apply online for AFCAT 01/2026? A: 14 Dec 2025. |
| Q4. Who can apply for Flying Branch? A: Graduates with Maths & Physics in 12th and 60% marks. |
| Q5. What is AFCAT application fee? A: ₹550 + 18% GST (for all except NCC entry). |
| Q6. Is AFCAT exam conducted online or offline? A: Online Computer-Based Test (CBT). |
| Q7. What is the AFCAT selection process? A: Written exam, AFSB interview, medical exam, final merit. |
| Q8. What is the salary of an AFCAT Flying Officer? A: Approx. ₹85,000 – ₹95,000 per month including allowances. |
| Q9. Can females apply for AFCAT 01/2026? A: Yes, both men and women are eligible for SSC roles. |
| Q10. Is there any limit on AFCAT attempts? A: No official attempt limit; candidates can apply till eligible age. |
Note: Applicants must thoroughly check all details including last date, eligibility, fee, age criteria, number of posts, experience, and selection process & other relevant details at the official website. For latest, easy to understand & simplified updates, visit GovtJobLink.com, where we also assist you in comprehensive exam preparation guidance and in-depth exam pattern & syllabus support. Parts of this content have been refined and structured with AI assistance to enhance clarity and readability.