The Indian Air Force (IAF), under the
Ministry of Defence, Government of India, has announced the IAF AFCAT
Recruitment 2026 (AFCAT-01/2026), inviting online applications for 340
vacancies.
This is a great opportunity for eligible male
and female Indian citizens to obtain a Short Service Commission (SSC) in
the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches,
including the NCC Special Entry.
Graduates have the opportunity to join as Group
'A' Gazetted Officers and commence their course in January 2027.
Candidates interested in serving the nation should note that the online
application portal opens on November 17, 2025, and closes on December
14, 2025.
Table
of Contents
1. Overview of IAF AFCAT 2026 Vacancies
2. IAF AFCAT 2026 Age Limits
3. Detailed Eligibility Criteria
4. Salary and Selection Process
5. Application Fee Structure
6. How to Apply Online
7. Important Dates & Links
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Overview of IAF AFCAT 2026 Vacancies
The IAF AFCAT Entry 2026 offers a total of 340
vacancies for Group 'A' Gazetted Officers. The posts cover Flying and
Ground Duty branches, and details are outlined below:
|
Branch |
Total Vacancies
(2026) |
Distribution
(Specifics) |
|
Flying |
38 |
Men (SSC) – 34, Women (SSC) – 04 |
|
Ground
Duty (Technical) |
188 |
Men (PC) - 12, Women (PC) - 06, Men (SSC) - 138, Women (SSC) - 32 |
|
Ground
Duty (Non-Technical) |
114 |
Men (SSC) – 89, Women (SSC) – 25 |
|
NCC
Special Entry (Flying) |
(Not specified numerically) |
10%
seats out of CDSE
vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC |
2.
IAF AFCAT 2026 Age Limits
The age limit criteria are calculated as of 1st
January 2027:
- Flying Branch and NCC Special Entry: Candidates must be between 20 and 24 years.
This means applicants should have been born between 02 January 2003 and 01
January 2007 (both dates inclusive).
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical): Candidates must be between 20
and 26 years old. This includes those born between 02 January 2001 and 01
January 2007 (both dates inclusive).
- Age relaxation is available as per government
rules.
3.
Detailed Eligibility Criteria
The minimum qualification required is
generally a graduation with a minimum of 60% marks. However, specific
requirements vary significantly by branch:
|
Branch |
Minimum
Qualification Requirement |
|
AFCAT
Entry (Flying Branch) |
Graduation
(minimum three-year degree course) or a B.E./B.Tech degree, or cleared
Sections A & B of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India)
or the Aeronautical Society of India, all with a minimum of 60% marks or
equivalent. |
|
AFCAT
Entry (Ground Duty Technical Branch) |
Passed 10+2 with physics and maths, plus a 4-year degree or postgraduate degree in
engineering/technology. |
|
AFCAT
Entry (Ground Duty Non-Technical Branches) |
Administration and Logistics: Degree in
any discipline; Accounts: B.Com
degree; Education: MBA / MCA or MA / M.Sc. degree. |
|
NCC
Special Entry (Flying Branch) |
10 + 2 Physics and Maths with Graduates minimum three-year degree course) or a B.E. / B.Tech degree, all with a minimum 60% mark equivalent. |
|
Meteorology |
Passed
10+2 and hold a postgraduate degree (e.g., science stream, mathematics,
statistics, geography, computer applications, meteorology, etc.) with a
minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. |
4. Salary and Selection Process
Monthly Salary
Candidates selected for these roles (Level
10) will receive a substantial salary ranging from ₹ 56100 to 177500. Additionally, a Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹
15500/-
will
be provided.
Selection Process
The selection process for the IAF AFCAT 2026
recruitment involves two primary stages:
1. Online Examination (the AFCAT Entry 2026 Examination is
scheduled for January 31, 2026).
2. Document Verification.
3. The job location for successful candidates will be all of India.
5.
Application Fee Structure
The application fees are based on the entry
scheme and are payable online:
|
Category |
Application
Fee |
|
IAF
AFCAT Entry (All) |
₹ 550/- (non-refundable) + 18% GST |
|
IAF
NCC Special Entry |
Nil |
Payment must be made online using a payment gateway, which accepts net banking, debit cards, credit cards, UPI, etc.
6.
How to Apply Online
Interested and eligible candidates must
carefully read the detailed IAF notification before filling out the application
form. The online registration portal is the AFCAT CDAC official website (afcat.edcil.co.in).
The steps for IAF AFCAT online registration are
as follows:
1. Step 1:
Apply online through the AFCAT CDAC official website starting from 17th
November 2025.
2. Step 2:
Enter all required basic, communication, and qualification details. Candidates
must also upload a recent photograph, signature, and thumb impression.
3. Step 3:
Pay the application fee (if applicable) through the online payment gateway.
4. Step 4:
Submit the application form on or before the closing date, 14/12/2025, up to
11:30 PM.
7.
Important Dates & Links
Candidates should adhere strictly to the
following schedule:
|
Event |
Date /
Time |
|
Opening
date for Online Registration |
17/11/2025
(11:00 AM) |
|
Closing
date for Online Registration (Last Date) |
14/12/2025
(11:30 PM) |
|
Download
Admit Card |
From 22/01/2026 |
|
Tentative
date of AFCAT Examination 2026 |
31/01/2026
(January) |
Key Links
|
Resource |
Link
Type |
|
IAF AFCAT
2026 Notifications |
|
|
IAF AFCAT
2026 Online Registration Portal |
8.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What
is the age limit for IAF AFCAT Recruitment 2026?
The age limit for Flying Branch and NCC
Special Entry is 20 to 24 years as of 1st January 2027. For Ground Duty
(Technical & Non-Technical), the age limit is 20 to 26 years as of
1st January 2027. Age relaxation is applicable as per government rules.
What
are the eligibility criteria for IAF AFCAT Recruitment 2026?
Generally, candidates require graduation with
a minimum of 60% marks in the relevant discipline, which varies across flying,
technical, and non-technical branches. Detailed qualifications depend on the
specific branch applied for.
What
is the selection process for IAF AFCAT Recruitment 2026?
The selection process primarily consists of
an online examination followed by document verification.
What
is the last date to apply for the IAF AFCAT Recruitment 2026?
The deadline for application submission is 14/12/2025
(11:30 PM).
What
is the total number of vacancies for IAF AFCAT Recruitment 2026?
There are a total of 340 vacancies for
AFCAT entry, plus 10% of seats for NCC special entry.
Conclusion
The AFCAT 01/2026 intake is a critical entry
point for those aiming to join the Indian Air Force as commissioned officers.
Given the competitive nature of defence jobs and the short application
window (closing December 14, 2025), candidates who meet the eligibility
criteria, particularly those with a graduate or engineering background,
should proceed with their online registration immediately via the official
portal.
#IAFAFCAT2026 #AFCATEntry #IndianAirForce
#FlyingOfficer #GroundDutyJobs #GovtJobs2026 #AFCATApplyOnine
#DefenceRecruitment #EngineerJobs #GraduateJobs
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