Adv. No: IAF AFCAT 01/2026
Department - Indian Air Force (IAF)
Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2026 Recruitment 2025 – Apply Online for 340 Officer Posts
Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 01/2026 notification for the recruitment of 340 officers in Flying, Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical), and NCC Special Entry branches. Eligible candidates with Graduation, BE/B.Tech, or Post-Graduation qualifications can apply online from 17 November to 14 December 2025 via afcat.edcil.co.in. The selection process includes AFCAT written examination followed by AFSB testing and, for the Flying Branch, the CPSS test. Candidates will receive pay as per Defence Pay Matrix Level 10, along with applicable allowances. Training stipends are provided for Flight Cadets. Application fee applies for AFCAT Entry, while NCC Special Entry is exempted from fees. Applicants must ensure accurate details during online form submission as corrections are restricted after payment.
Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 01/2026 notification... for the recruitment of 340 officers in Flying, Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical), and NCC Special Entry branches. Eligible candidates with Graduation, BE/B.Tech, or Post-Graduation qualifications can apply online from 17 November to 14 December 2025 via afcat.edcil.co.in. The selection process includes AFCAT written examination followed by AFSB testing and, for the Flying Branch, the CPSS test. Candidates will receive pay as per Defence Pay Matrix Level 10, along with applicable allowances. Training stipends are provided for Flight Cadets. Application fee applies for AFCAT Entry, while NCC Special Entry is exempted from fees. Applicants must ensure accurate details during online form submission as corrections are restricted after payment.
Rahul Sihan
11 Nov, 2025 11:44 AM
Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2026 Recruitment — Apply Online for 340 Officers
The Indian Air Force has issued the AFCAT 01/2026 notification for recruitment of 340 officers across Flying, Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) and NCC Special Entry branches. The advertisement specifies eligibility, age limits, vacancy distribution, pay matrix, selection procedure, application fee and the online submission process. Candidates should confirm compliance with educational and medical standards and follow the instructions on the official portal before applying within the prescribed dates.
Important Dates and Fees
Key dates and applicable fees for AFCAT 01/2026 are listed below. Applicants must ensure correct entries, payment of fees where applicable, and timely submission through the official website.
| Event | Date | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Online Application Start Date | 17 November 2025 | — |
| Last Date for Apply Online | 14 December 2025 | — |
| Online AFCAT Examination | 31 January 2026 | — |
| Application Fee (AFCAT Entry) | As applicable at submission | ₹550 + GST (non-refundable) |
| Application Fee (NCC Special Entry) | As applicable at submission | Nil |
| Admit Card / Schedule Updates | To be notified on portal | — |
Detailed Information
The AFCAT 01/2026 notification covers officer recruitment for multiple branches and includes branch-specific eligibility, age criteria and vacancy breakup. Selection combines the written AFCAT examination and AFSB evaluation; Flying Branch candidates also undergo Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) where applicable. The process includes document verification and medical assessment; final allotment depends on merit, medical fitness and candidate preference within available vacancies.
| Particular | Details | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Indian Air Force (IAF) | Recruitment under AFCAT 01/2026. |
| Post Name | Officers — AFCAT Entry, Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical), NCC Special Entry | Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) as specified. |
| Total Vacancies | 340 | Vacancy distribution by branch and category provided in the official notification. |
| Branches & Vacancy Highlights | Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), Ground Duty (Non-Technical), NCC Special Entry | Includes separate vacancy counts for PC and SSC; NCC entry reserves 10% of relevant vacancies. |
| Essential Qualification — Flying Branch | Graduate with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR BE/B.Tech | Candidates with a valid Commercial Pilot Licence have relaxed upper age limit where specified. |
| Essential Qualification — Ground Duty (Technical) | BE/B.Tech in specified engineering disciplines | Refer to notification for list of eligible engineering streams and percentage/marks criteria. |
| Essential Qualification — Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | Graduate or Post-Graduate in relevant fields (Administration, Accounts, Logistics, Education, Meteorology, Weapon Systems) | Branch-wise educational specialisation applies; check notification for exact requirements. |
| Age Limit (as on 01 January 2027) | Flying Branch: 20 to 24 years; Ground Duty: 20 to 26 years | Flying Branch birth range: 02 January 2003 to 01 January 2007. Ground Duty birth range: 02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007. CPL holders upper age relaxable to 26 years (02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007). |
| Pay & Allowances | Pay Matrix: Rs. 56,100–1,77,500 (Level 10); MSP Rs. 15,500 for flying personnel | Flight cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during training; additional allowances apply as per posting and branch. |
| Application Fee | AFCAT Entry: ₹550 + GST (Non-refundable); NCC Special Entry: Nil | Fee to be paid online through the payment gateway where applicable; fee once paid will not be refunded for duplicate applications. |
| Selection Process | Written AFCAT examination followed by AFSB testing; Flying Branch recommended candidates undertake CPSS | AFSB comprises Stage-I (Officer Intelligence Rating Test, Picture Perception & Discussion) and Stage-II (psychological tests, group testing and interview). Stage-I is a screening test; only qualified candidates proceed to Stage-II. |
| AFSB — Stage Details | Stage-I: OIR, PP&DT; Stage-II: psychological tests, group tests, interviews, document check | Document verification performed for Stage-I qualifiers; candidates who fail Stage-I or do not meet eligibility are returned on day one. |
| Final Merit and Allotment | Merit determined by combined written examination and AFSB marks; medical fitness and candidate choices determine branch allotment | Minimum qualifying marks are fixed by IAF separately for written exam and AFSB tests. |
| Reservation | 10% of vacancies reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate holders in relevant Ground Duty branches | Other reservation norms apply as per government rules; consult notification for category percentages and sub-rules. |
| Application Procedure | Online registration on afcat.edcil.co.in using Aadhaar for verification, complete personal, qualification and contact details, upload photograph/signature and pay fee where applicable | Only the latest submitted application per Aadhaar number will be considered for issue of admit card. Candidates must verify all entries before final submission. |
| Document Requirements | Educational certificates, 10+2 marksheet (for Flying), engineering degree (for technical), NCC certificate (if applicable), identity proof and photograph/signature | Original documents required at document verification stage; incorrect information may lead to cancellation of candidature. |
Important Links
| Important Links – Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2026 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Detailed Notification PDF | Official recruitment notification released for AFCAT 01/2026 | Click Here |
| Employment Notification PDF | Alternate detailed employment advertisement PDF | Click Here |
| Official Website | Indian Air Force official website for career updates | Click Here |
| These links provide access to the official notification and related documents for AFCAT 01/2026 recruitment. Candidates should verify eligibility, branch specifications, selection stages, and important dates through the official sources before applying. The information is offered for reference and should be cross-checked with the Indian Air Force website to ensure accuracy. This supports applicants in reviewing authentic documents, staying informed about required qualifications, and submitting their applications within the stated schedule. No registration or application steps should be assumed without consulting the official portal. | ||
