The official recruitment advertisement released by Indian Air Force (IAF) covers Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027 and NCC Special Entry. These courses start in January 2028 at Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal, Hyderabad. Applications are open to unmarried Indian citizens, both male and female, for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch and Permanent Commission (PC) / Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry are also included. Eligible candidates can apply with 10+2 in Physics and Mathematics together with Graduation, BE / B.Tech, or Post Graduation degrees in relevant disciplines. Online applications open on 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) and close on 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM).
Important Dates
| Short Notification Released | November 2026 |
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| Online Application Begin | 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
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| Last Date to Apply Online | 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
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| Last Date for Fee Payment | 11 December 2026 |
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| AFCAT 01/2027 Exam Date | February 2027 (Tentative) |
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| Admit Card Release Date | Prior to Examination |
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| Commencement of Training Course | First week of January 2028 |
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Application Fee
| AFCAT Entry (All Candidates) | Rs. 550/- + GST |
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| NCC Special Entry | Rs. 0/- (Nil / Exempted) |
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| GATE Score Entry | Rs. 0/- (Nil / Exempted) |
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| Payment Mode | Pay the examination fee online via Debit Card, Credit Card, Internet Banking, or UPI payment gateway. |
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Age Limit (as on 01/01/2028)
| Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC) | 20 to 24 Years (Born between 02/01/2004 to 01/01/2008, both dates inclusive). |
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| Flying Branch (DGCA CPL Holders) | Relaxable up to 26 Years (Born between 02/01/2002 to 01/01/2008). |
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| Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech) / GATE Entry | 20 to 26 Years (Born between 02/01/2002 to 01/01/2008). |
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| Marital Status | Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. |
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| Age relaxation is applicable as per Indian Air Force recruitment guidelines. |
Pay Scale & Stipend Details
| Rank on Commissioning | Flying Officer |
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| Pay Scale | Pay Level 10 (Rs. 56,100 - 1,77,500/-) |
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| Military Service Pay (MSP) | Rs. 15,500/- per month |
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| Flight Cadets Training Stipend | Rs. 56,100/- per month (Fixed) |
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| Insurance Cover | Rs. 1.25 Crore (Mandatory Insurance Cover on contribution) |
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| Additional Allowances | Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance, Medical facility, Messing, and Subsidized accommodation. |
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IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Vacancy Details: Branch Wise Eligibility Details
- Passed 10+2 Intermediate, scoring at least 50% in each subject: Physics and Mathematics.
- Graduation from a recognized University in any discipline, with at least 60% marks (Minimum 3-Year degree course), OR
- At least 60% marks in a B.E. / B.Tech degree (4-Year course), OR
- Passed the Section A & B examination with at least 60% marks through Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (AMIE) or Aeronautical Society of India.
| Passed 10+2 with minimum 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics. |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) | 4-Year Graduation / Integrated Post-Graduation degree in Engineering / Technology (Electronics / Telecommunication / Electrical / Computer Science etc.) with minimum 60% marks, OR cleared Section A & B of AMIE / ASI / IETE with 60% marks. |
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| Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) | 4-Year Graduation / Integrated Post-Graduation degree in Engineering / Technology (Mechanical / Aeronautical / Industrial / Production etc.) with minimum 60% marks, OR cleared Section A & B of AMIE / ASI with 60% marks. |
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- Passed 10+2, scoring at least 50% in each subject: Maths and Physics.
- Graduation from a recognized University in any discipline (Minimum 3-year degree), scoring at least 60% marks, OR at least 60% marks in a B.E. / B.Tech degree.
- Passed 10+2 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree of minimum 3 years in any discipline from a recognized University, scoring at least 60% marks or equivalent.
- Passed 10+2 and earned any of these with at least 60% marks or equivalent: Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.Com), BBA (Specialization in Finance), BMS, BBS, CA, CMA, CS, or B.Sc with specialization in Finance.
| Education | Passed 10+2 and Post Graduate Degree with minimum 50% marks in any discipline + Graduate Degree with minimum 60% marks. |
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| Meteorology | Passed 10+2 with 50% marks each in Maths & Physics AND Post Graduate Degree in Science stream / Mathematics / Statistics / Geography / Computer Applications / Environmental Science / Applied Physics with minimum 50% marks. |
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| Note | Two seats are reserved from Ground Duty (Non-Tech) vacancies for Law qualified candidates. |
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- 10+2, scoring at least 50% in each subject: Maths and Physics.
- At least 60% marks in Graduation (3-Year degree) OR at least 60% marks in B.E. / B.Tech (4-Year course).
- A valid NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate must be held.
- (The reserved seats are 10% of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% of AFCAT vacancies for SSC).
- A valid GATE score card is required together with the prescribed engineering qualification in Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics / Mechanical).
Training & Tenure Details for IAF Officers
| Training Location | Training will commence in the first week of January 2028 at the Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal, Hyderabad. |
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| Training Duration | 74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) Branches, and 50 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches. |
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| Engagement Period | The engagement period for Flying Branch SSC Officers is 14 years from the date of Commissioning. For Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech) SSC Officers, initial tenure is 10 years (extendable by 4 years subject to service requirements, suitability, and merit). |
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| Mandatory Documents at Joining | PAN Card and an active Savings Bank Account in SBI or any Nationalised Bank. Aadhaar card is mandatory for registration. |
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How to Apply Online for IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment 2026
- Open afcat.cdac.in or careerindianairforce.cdac.in to visit the Indian Air Force official career website.
- Find the candidate login section on the homepage. Use the registration link for AFCAT 01/2027 / NCC Special Entry.
- Enter your basic details to register: Name, Father’s Name, Mother’s Name, mobile number, and active Email ID.
- Use the credentials generated for your login, then choose an entry type: AFCAT / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry.
- Enter your personal details and educational qualifications, including 10th, marks for Physics & Maths in 12th, and Graduation / Engineering details. Then choose your branch preferences.
- Upload scanned copies in the prescribed size and format: your recent passport-size photograph, your signature, and your left thumb impression.
- Choose your preferred examination cities for the AFCAT online examination.
- Make the online payment of Rs. 550/- + GST as the non-refundable examination fee. Applicants for NCC Special Entry and GATE Entry are exempted from this fee.
- Thoroughly preview the application form and check all entered data before submitting it finally. Changes will not be allowed afterwards.
- After submitting the application, download / print both the confirmation page and the fee receipt. Keep them for future reference during SSB / AFSB testing.
Important Links
Before Applying
Before you submit the online application, check the official notification for full details of eligibility, age limits, education qualification, fee rules, and other terms.
Frequently asked questions
What are the important dates for AFCAT 01/2027?
Short Notification Released: November 2026; Online Application Begin: 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM); Last Date to Apply Online: 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM); Last Date for Fee Payment: 11 December 2026.
What is the application fee for AFCAT 01/2027?
AFCAT Entry (All Candidates): Rs. 550/- + GST; NCC Special Entry: Rs. 0/- (Nil / Exempted); GATE Score Entry: Rs. 0/- (Nil / Exempted).
What is the official website for AFCAT 01/2027?
The official website is afcat.cdac.in.
Always confirm dates and fees on the official website before you apply.
