Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Result 2026 - Check Here

Opening Overview

The Indian Air Force has issued the notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 02/2026) for admission to Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. The courses are scheduled to commence in July 2027. The notification is applicable to eligible unmarried Indian men and women seeking appointment as Group A Gazetted Officers.

The AFCAT online examination is scheduled for 08/08/2026. Online applications are scheduled from 20/05/2026 to 19/06/2026 through the AFCAT portal.

Post Details

Important Dates

Application Fee

The fee is non-refundable. Payment is accepted online through net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI. Cash, cheque and demand draft are not accepted.

Age Limit

Candidates must be unmarried when the course commences. Marriage is not permitted during training. The notification does not prescribe category-wise age relaxation.

Vacancy Details

The vacancies are tentative and may change according to organisational requirements, cadre control, training slots and vacancies available in July 2027. Two seats are reserved from Ground Duty Non-Technical vacancies for Law-qualified candidates.

Eligibility / Qualification

Nationality

The candidate must be an Indian citizen under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.

Flying Branch

Candidates must have passed 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics and must possess one of the following:

• A minimum three-year graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised university.
• A four-year BE or BTech degree from a recognised university.
• Sections A and B examination of the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university.

NCC Special Entry candidates must possess an NCC Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate acquired within two years before the AFCAT registration date. The written examination is exempted for NCC Special Entry candidates.

Ground Duty Technical Branch

Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) - AE(L)

Candidates must have passed Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and must possess a minimum four-year engineering or technology degree, integrated post-graduation qualification, or an accepted professional qualification in relevant disciplines such as Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Instrumentation, Telecommunication, Robotics and related disciplines listed in the notification.

Candidates with MSc Electronics along with BSc Physics may also be eligible. Sections A and B of the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India, or the Graduate Membership examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers, may also be accepted where applicable.

Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) - AE(M)

Candidates must have passed Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and must possess a minimum four-year engineering or technology degree, integrated post-graduation qualification, or accepted professional qualification in disciplines including Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, Production Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechatronics, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Power Engineering, Robotics and related disciplines listed in the notification.

GATE Score Entry

Candidates must hold a BE or BTech degree in an eligible discipline and a valid GATE score obtained within three years preceding the course commencement date.

Accepted GATE subjects include:

• AE(M): Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Production and Industrial Engineering, Engineering Sciences with eligible optional subjects, and Metallurgical Engineering.
• AE(L): Computer Science and Information Technology, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Instrumentation Engineering.

GATE Score Entry candidates are exempted from the AFCAT written examination and shortlisted candidates are directly called for AFSB testing.

Ground Duty Non-Technical Branches

Only candidates who completed 12th standard through the 10+2 examination pattern are eligible for the relevant courses. Candidates in the final year or final semester may apply if they have no current backlog and complete their final examination by 30/05/2027.

Candidates who failed CPSS/PABT earlier or were suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy are not eligible for the Flying Branch. Candidates removed from specified defence academies due to indiscipline, debarred by the Ministry of Defence, convicted of criminal charges or facing criminal proceedings are also ineligible.

Examination Pattern

The examination consists of objective-type questions and is conducted in English only. Three marks are awarded for each correct answer, one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer and no marks are awarded for unanswered questions. The IAF may prescribe qualifying marks in any or all subjects. Marks may be normalised if the examination is conducted in more than one shift.

AFCAT Examination Schedule - 08/08/2026

Candidates will not be permitted to enter after the pre-examination verification process begins at 09:30 AM.

Syllabus Details

English

Comprehension, error detection, sentence completion, correct word usage, synonyms and antonyms, cloze test, fill-in-the-blanks, idioms and phrases, analogy, sentence rearrangement, substitution, one-word substitution, transformation of sentences and homonyms.

General Awareness

History, geography, sports, national and international organisations, art and culture, personalities, environment and ecology, Indian polity, economy, basic science, science and technology, national and international current affairs and defence.

Numerical Ability

Decimal fractions, time and work, averages, percentage, profit and loss, ratio and proportion, simple and compound interest, time and distance, races, trains, boats and streams, area and perimeter, probability, number system, number series, mixture and allegation, squares and square roots, cubes and cube roots, HCF and LCM, elementary mensuration, heights and distances, statistics, exponents and powers.

Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test

Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

The standard of Numerical Ability questions is of matriculation level. Questions in the other subjects are of graduation level.

Selection Process

1. AFCAT online examination for AFCAT Entry candidates.
2. Shortlisting based on qualifying marks and merit.
3. Air Force Selection Board testing.
4. Document verification.
5. Psychological testing, group tests and interview.
6. CPSS for recommended Flying Branch candidates, where applicable.
7. Medical examination.
8. Final merit list based on written examination and AFSB marks, medical fitness, branch preference and available vacancies.
9. Training allocation according to merit and organisational requirements.

NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates are exempted from the AFCAT written examination and may be directly called for AFSB testing. AFSB centres are located at Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati.

AFSB Testing

Stage I consists of the Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and Discussion Test. Candidates who qualify Stage I undergo document verification. Stage II includes psychological testing, group tests and interview over the following days. CPSS is conducted for recommended Flying Branch candidates and is a once-in-a-lifetime test.

Candidates are advised to maintain physical fitness, including the ability to run 1.6 kilometres in 10 minutes, perform 10 push-ups and 3 chin-ups. During training, the recommended conditioning routine includes running up to 4 kilometres in 15 minutes, skipping, at least 20 push-ups and sit-ups, 8 chin-ups, rope climbing of 3 to 4 metres and swimming 25 metres.

Medical and Physical Standards

The minimum height for Ground Duty branches is 157 cm for men and 152 cm for women. For Flying Duty branches, the minimum height is 162 cm for pilots, Flight Test Engineers and WSO of Su-30 MKI, and 157 cm for other aircrew duties.

For candidates of Lakshadweep ethnicity, the minimum height is reduced by 2 cm. For Gorkhas and candidates belonging to North-Eastern regions and hilly regions of Uttarakhand, the minimum height is reduced by 5 cm. Eligible candidates must produce a domicile certificate at AFSB.

The minimum acceptable male chest circumference is 77 cm with at least 5 cm expansion. Candidates must satisfy the prescribed height-to-weight standards, visual acuity, colour vision, hearing, dental, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal and other medical requirements. The detailed medical standards are provided in Appendix A of the notification.

Flying Branch visual standards include CP-I colour perception, no manifest myopia, hypermetropia up to +1.5 D sphere and astigmatism up to +0.75 D cylinder within the prescribed limits. Ground Duty branches generally require corrected visual acuity of 6/6 in each eye and CP-II colour perception, subject to branch-specific limits.

Candidates must have at least 14 dental points, including any four of six anterior teeth and any six of ten posterior teeth in functional opposition.

Training and Commission

Training is scheduled to begin in the first week of July 2027. The approximate training duration is 62 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty Technical branches and 50 weeks for Ground Duty Non-Technical branches. Candidates may be granted Permanent Commission or Short Service Commission according to the entry and branch.

Flying Branch Short Service Commission is for 14 years. Ground Duty Short Service Commission is initially for 10 years, with a possible four-year extension subject to service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit. Short Service Commission officers are not entitled to pension.

Salary / Pay Scale

Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month during one year of training. On commissioning, applicable allowances may include Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance, Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Allowance, and Risk and Hardship Allowance.

The notification also provides for mandatory insurance coverage through the Air Force Group Insurance Society. The present insurance cover for death during service is ₹1.25 crore on contribution. Eligible retired officers may receive Air Veterans Insurance Cover according to the applicable rules.

Examination Centre Instructions

Candidates must carry the printed e-Admit Card, original Aadhaar Card, one additional original government photo identity card, two passport-size colour photographs matching the uploaded photograph, and a blue or black ballpoint pen. Electronic devices, calculators, watches, mobile phones, books, bags, wallets, ornaments, food items and other prohibited articles are not allowed.

The e-Admit Card is issued approximately nine days before the examination through the registered email ID and AFCAT portal. No admit card is sent by post. Candidates must carry a printout of the downloaded e-Admit Card to the examination centre.

For AFSB, candidates must carry original certificates and marksheets for matriculation, 10+2, graduation and post-graduation, applicable NCC or DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence documents, NOC for government or public-sector employees, travel tickets for travel allowance and other documents specified in the notification.

Result and Merit Information

AFCAT Entry candidates are shortlisted for AFSB on the basis of the qualifying marks prescribed by the IAF in the online examination. Candidates must separately qualify in the written examination and AFSB testing. The final merit list is prepared on the basis of total marks, medical fitness, branch preference, available vacancies and organisational requirements.

Ten percent of vacancies in Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical branches are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate holders. Two seats are reserved for Law-qualified candidates in Ground Duty Non-Technical branches.

Candidates can view examination-related question papers, answer keys and individual response sheets through their AFCAT login during the objection window from 09/08/2026 at 05:00 PM to 11/08/2026 at 05:00 PM. No query regarding these materials is accepted after the specified deadline.

Contact Details

• AFCAT Helpdesk: +91 9513252077
• Helpdesk Email: afcathelpdesk@edcil.co.in
• Eligibility Queries: 011-23010231, Extension 7245
• Selection Process Queries: 011-23010231, Extension 7610
• Toll-Free Number: 1800-11-2448
• Telephonic Query Timings: 09:30 AM to 01:00 PM and 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM, Monday to Saturday, except closed holidays