IAF - AFCAT 02/2026 Online Form 2026

The Indian Air Force, one of the most technologically advanced air forces in the world, conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) twice a year to induct officers into its Flying and Ground Duty branches. AFCAT 02/2026 invites applications for courses commencing in July 2027, offering Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission to both men and women. The Flying Branch offers SSC for pilots and related aircrew roles. Ground Duty Technical branches comprise Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) streams, responsible for maintaining and operating the IAF's diverse fleet of aircraft, avionics, weapon systems, and communication infrastructure. Ground Duty Non-Technical branches include Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology, and Weapon Systems, supporting operational effectiveness across IAF establishments nationwide. In addition to AFCAT, the NCC Special Entry route provides a direct path for holders of NCC Air Wing Senior Division C certificates to join the Flying Branch, while the GATE Score Entry route enables engineering graduates with qualifying GATE scores to join the Technical branches without appearing for the written AFCAT. Officers are commissioned at the rank of Flying Officer and undergo structured training at IAF academies before being posted across India. The IAF offers competitive pay under the 7th CPC Defence Pay Matrix along with a range of branch-specific allowances including Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, and Risk and Hardship Allowance.

Candidates must be Indian citizens as defined under the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. Unmarried status is mandatory at course commencement; marriage during the training period results in termination. For the Flying Branch, candidates must have passed Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and hold a minimum three-year graduation degree in any discipline, or a four-year BE/B.Tech from a recognised university, or have cleared Sections A and B of AMIE/ASI. For Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics), candidates require a four-year engineering degree or MSc Electronics with BSc Physics in one of 94 specified disciplines spanning Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical, Communication, Instrumentation, and related fields. For Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical), a four-year engineering degree in one of 39 specified Mechanical, Manufacturing, Automobile, Metallurgy, or related disciplines is required. Weapon Systems Branch requires the same qualification as Flying Branch. Administration and Logistics require any three-year graduate degree. Accounts Branch requires B.Com, BBA/BMS/BBS in Finance, BSc in Finance, or a qualified CA/CMA/CS/CFA. Education Branch requires a post-graduate degree in any discipline including integrated PG programmes. Meteorology requires BSc with Physics and Mathematics or a four-year engineering degree in specified Electronics/CS/Mechanical disciplines. GATE Score Entry candidates must hold a qualifying GATE score in one of five specified subjects for each technical branch, obtained within three years of the course commencement date. Final-year students without backlogs may apply provisionally, subject to submitting proof of passing by 30 May 2027.

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 in Ground Duty Non-Technical branches are reserved for candidates with a Bachelor of Law degree, who may be employed on legal duties post-commissioning. Travel allowance for first-time AFSB appearance is reimbursed up to AC-III Tier/AC Chair Car fare or actual bus fare by the shortest route. No TA is admissible for candidates who have previously appeared for the same type of entry at any selection board. No explicit caste-based reservation percentages are stated in this notification; central government reservation norms apply as per prevailing policy.