Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026 The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially dropped the much-awaited notification for the AFCAT 02/2026 Batch Recruitment. If you have ever dreamed of wearing that iconic Air Force uniform and becoming a Gazetted Officer, this is your golden opportunity.
Application and Examination Name/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
| Name of Recruitment: Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 02/2026 Batch Conducting Body: Indian Air Force (IAF), Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India Total Posts: Read Notification |
Important Dates/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
Application Fee/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
Educational Qualification/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
Age Limit (as on 01 July 2027)/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
| ⁕ Age relaxation SC / ST / OBC candidates is provided as per Government of India rules (3 years for OBC, 5 years for SC/ST) The cutoff date for calculating age is fixed as 01 July 2027. |
Total Number of Vacancies/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
| Entry | Branch | Total Vacancies (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying Branch | 28 – 35 |
| Ground Duty (Technical) – AE(L) & AE(M) | 100 – 120 | |
| Ground Duty (Non‑Technical) – Admin, Logistics, Accounts | 110 – 130 | |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying Branch | 10% of CDSE Vacancies |
| Meteorology Entry | Ground Duty (Non‑Technical) | 10 – 15 |
How to Apply/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
Selection Process and Examination Phases/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
Exam Pattern (Written Test)/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
| Subject | No. of Questions | Maximum Marks | Duration | Negative Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Awareness | 20 | 60 | 2 Hours | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Verbal Ability in English | 30 | 90 | 2 Hours | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Numerical Ability | 15 | 45 | 2 Hours | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | 35 | 105 | 2 Hours | 1 mark per wrong answer |
| Total | 100 | 300 |
| ⁕ Medium of exam – English only ⁕ All questions are objective type (MCQs) ⁕ Negative marking: 0.33 marks deducted for each incorrect answer (1 mark per question carries 3 marks, so 1/3rd of 3 = 1 mark deduction) |
Syllabus Overview/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
| ⁕ Verbal Ability in English: Comprehension, error detection, sentence completion, synonyms/antonyms, active & passive voice, etc. ⁕ General Awareness: Current affairs (national & international), history, geography, Indian polity, defence news, sports, science & technology, awards & honours. ⁕ Numerical Ability: Simplification, average, percentage, ratio & proportion, profit & loss, simple & compound interest, time & work, data interpretation. ⁕ Reasoning & Military Aptitude: Verbal and non‑verbal reasoning, analogies, coding‑decoding, series, blood relations, direction sense, pattern completion, spatial ability, military aptitude themes. |
Pay Scale/Indian Air Force AFCAT 2026
| ⁕ Rank Flying Officer ⁕ Pay Scale (₹ per month) ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 ⁕ Military Service Pay (MSP) ₹15,500 /- In addition to the basic pay and MSP, officers are entitled to: Dearness Allowance (DA) Grade Pay / Pay Band allowances Free medical facilities for self & family Furnished accommodation (or HRA) Canteen facilities, loan benefits, insurance cover Leave travel concession (LTC) Post‑retirement pension benefits (Permanent Commission officers) |
Important Link
| APPLY ONLINE | LINK ACTIVATE 20/05/2026 |
| DOWNLOAD NOTIFICATION | LINK ACTIVATE SOON |
| OFFICIAL WEBSITE | CLICK HERE |
| FOR MORE VACANCIES | CLICK HERE |
| JOIN TELEGRAM CHANNEL | CLICK HERE |
| JOIN WHATSAPP CHANNEL | CLICK HERE |
1. Is the AFCAT 02/2026 application form available offline?
No. The entire application process is online only through the official AFCAT portal afcat.cdac.in
2. What is the application fee for SC / ST candidates?
For AFCAT Entry, all categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS) have a uniform fee of ₹550 + GST
3. Can final year students apply for AFCAT 02/2026?
Yes, but they must have produced final year degree certificates by the time of AFSB interview. Detailed instructions are available in the notification.
4. What is the age limit for the Flying Branch?
20 to 24 years. CPL holders can get relaxation up to 26 years
5. Is there negative marking in the AFCAT written exam?
Yes. 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer (each question carries 3 marks)
6. When will the AFCAT 02/2026 admit card be released?
The admit card release date is yet to be announced. It will be available on the official website a few days before the exam
7. Are female candidates eligible for all posts?
Yes. Both men and women can apply for Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non‑Technical) under Short Service Commission (SSC)
8. What is the salary of a Flying Officer in the Indian Air Force?
Basic pay starts from ₹56,100 + MSP ₹15,500 per month, plus allowances. In‑hand salary can be ₹85,000 – ₹1,10,000
9. Can NCC ‘C’ Certificate holders skip the AFCAT written exam?
No. NCC Special Entry candidates still need to go through the AFSB selection process; however, they do not have to pay the application fee. They also have the advantage of age relaxation as per NCC rules.
10. What is the job location after selection?
Selected officers can be posted anywhere in India based on IAF’s operational requirements
