The Indian Air Force has officially released the AFCAT 01/2026 notification for 340 officer vacancies inviting applications from eligible candidates interested in joining the Flying of Ground Duty as Technical and Ground Duty as Non-Technical branches. This recruitment cycle is one of the most important officer-level entry opportunities for Defence aspirants and is offering Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission posts across different branches. Online registration window will be open from 17 of November 2025 to 14 of December 2025 candidates willing to apply must understand the requirements thoroughly before submitting the online form. The Indian Air Force mentioned that candidate wishing to apply for this recuretment need to submit details carefully.
Who Can Apply? Educational & Age Requirements
The AFCAT 01/2026 notification defines different eligibility norms for each branch. Candidate must meet both educational as well as age criteria as given below:
- Educational Requirements for Flying Branch is Graduation with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR BE or B.Tech degree with minimum required marks
- For Ground Duty candidate need BE or B.Tech degree in relevant engineering streams as specified by the Indian Air Force.
- For Ground Duty candidates need Graduation or Post-Graduation in fields such as Administration, Accounts, Logistics, Education of Meteorology.
- Age criteria set by Indian army for this recuretment of 240 vacancies is 20 to 26 years with some relaxation.
Branch-Wise Vacancy Chart
Candidate can check below detaild vacancies in various positions:
| Entry | Branch | Course Number | PC (Men) | PC (Women) | SSC (Men) | SSC (Women) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 221/27F/SSC/M&W | — | — | 34 | 04 |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | AE(L)/AE(M) | 220/27T/PC/110AEC/M&W | 03 / 09 | 03 / 03 | 100 / 38 | 23 / 09 |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | WS, Admin, Lgs, Accts, Edn, Met | 220/27G/SSC/M&W | — | — | WS: 21, Admin: 48, Lgs: 09, Accts: 08, Edn: 02, Met: 01 | WS: 05, Admin:12, Lgs: 02, Accts: 02, Edn: 02, Met: 02 |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 221/27F/PC & SSC | 10% of CDSE vacancies (PC) & 10% of AFCAT vacancies (SSC) | — | — | — |
Salary Structure & Allowances
Indian Air Force officers receive an attractive salary package along with several allowances depending on branch and posting.
Pay Scale Overview
| Position | Pay Level | Salary Range | Additional Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer | Level 10 | Rs 56,100 to rs 1,77,500 | MSP rs 15,500 + various allowances |
| Flight Cadets (Training) | — | Rs 56,100 per month – fixed stipend. | During 1-year training |
Applicable Allowances
- Flying Allowance
- Technical Allowance
- Transport Allowance
- Test Pilot & Flight Test Engineer Allowances
- Risk & Hardship Allowance
- Other applicable duty-based allowances
AFCAT 01/2026 Selection Journey
The AFCAT recruitment process involves multiple stages designed to test intelligence, aptitude, leadership and psychological suitability.
1. AFSB Testing – Stage I
Held on Day 1:
- Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test.
- Picture Perception & Discussion Test.
Candidates who qualify Stage I proceed further; others are sent back the same day.
2. AFSB Testing – Stage II
Conducted over several days:
- Psychological Tests
- Group Tests
- Personal Interview
- Document Verification
3. Computerised Pilot Selection System (For Flying Branch)
This is conducted only once in a lifetime.
Candidates who failed CPSS/PABT earlier or were suspended from flying training are not eligible.
4. Final Merit List
The final merit is prepared based on:
- Written Exam Marks
- AFSB Performance
- Medical Fitness
- Availability of Vacancies
Special Note
10% of vacancies in Ground Duty branches are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate holders.
How to Apply Online for AFCAT 01/2026
The application form must be submitted at Official website afcat.edcil.co.in Aadhaar is mandatory for registration. Since the form cannot be edited after submission, candidates must check each detail carefully.
- First step wil lbe Registration by Entering personal details, mobile number and email ID.
- Login using registration number and password.
- Fill the Application Form by filling Personal details, Communication information
- Payment an application Fee of rs 550.
- Final Submission by verifying all details.
Important Instructions to be followed
- Details cannot be edited after the Make Payment step.
- Multiple applications will be rejected except the latest one; extra fees will not be refunded.
- Read the complete advertisement on the official website before applying.
Important Dates: Indian Air Force Recruitment 2025
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Starts | 17 of November 2025 |
| Last Date to Apply | 14 of December 2025 |
| AFCAT Online Exam | 31 of January 2026 |
Important Links
Detailed Notification : Click here
Employment Notification: Click here
Official Website: Click here
