IBPS RRB Exam Preparation
Join for Free

AFCAT Eligibility 2024, Age Limit, Educational Qualification, Marital Status & More

  • Home
  • AFCAT Eligibility 2024

AFCAT Eligibility 2024: Candidates applying for AFCAT must ensure that they fulfill all the eligibility criteria prescribed by the Indian Air Force. On the verification, after or before the written test or SSB test, it is found they do not fulfill the eligibility criteria, their candidature will be terminated by the Indian Air Force. Hence, Candidates must check all the eligibility criteria given in this article before applying for AFCAT-1 2024. 

AFCAT Eligibility 2024

As Indian Air Force (IAF) has released AFCAT 1 2024 Notification for 317 vacancies and the online registration process will start from 01st December 2023 onwards. The candidates interested in the Indian Air Force Recruitment must read this article in detail to know whether they fulfill all the aspects of the AFCAT Eligibility Criteria as set by IAF. In this article, we have included AFCAT Eligibility in terms of Nationality, Age Limit, Education Qualification, Physical Standard in detail. 

AFCAT 1  Notification 2024 Out for 317 Posts- Click to Check

Nationality/ Citizensihp

As per the Indian Citizenship Act 1955, the candidate must be a citizen of India. 

AFCAT Age Limit (as on 01/01/2025)

Indian Air Force has prescribed a certain age limit for flying branches and ground duty. Check the age limit given below:

Flying Branch

The age of candidates must be between 20 to 24 years (02/01/2001 to 01/01/2005). The candidates who have a valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) will be provided upper age limit relaxation up to 26 years i.e. they must be born between 02/01/2001 to 01/01/2005

Ground Duty Branch

The age limit of candidates must be between 20 to 26 years (02/01/1999 to 01/01/2005)

AFCAT Marital Status

The candidates below the age of 25 years must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the training. Widows/Widowers and divorcees below 25 aren’t eligible. A candidate who marries during the training will be expelled from the service and will be liable to refund all the expenditure incurred on him by the government. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but they will not be provided married accommodation and they will not be allowed to live with their family outside the campus during the training period. 

AFCAT Educational Qualification

The post-wise education qualification is given below, check educational qualification before applying for AFCAT.

Flying Branch

Check the educational qualification criteria for Flying Branch in Air Force.

Post Education Qualification 
Flying Branch
  1. Passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at Class 12th.
  2. Graduation(minimum 3-year degree) in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent

OR

Qualified Aeronautical Society of India or section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. 

OR

BE/B Tech degree from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. 

Ground Duty (Technical) Branch

Check the educational qualification criteria for Aeronautical Engineer(Electronics) given below in the table:

Specialization Educational Qualification 

Aeronautical Engineer 

(Electronics)

  1. Passed with minimum 50% marks in both Physics and Maths at Class 12th.
  2. Graduation/Post Graduation in Engineering/ Technology from recognized University

Or

Qualified in Sections A and B examination of Aeronautical Society of India or Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Graduate membership examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers with a minimum or equivalent of 60% marks in the following disciplines: 

  1. Applied Electronics & Instrumentation
  2. Communication Engineering
  3. Computer Engineering/Technology
  4. Computer Engineering & Application
  5. Computer Science and Engineering/Technology
  6. Electrical and Computer Engineering
  7. Electrical and Electronics Engineering
  8. Electrical Engineering
  9. Electronics Engineering/ Technology
  10. Electronics Science and Engineering
  11. Electronics
  12. Electronics and Communication Engineering
  13. Electronics and Computer Science
  14. Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering
  15. Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave)
  16. Electronics and Computer Engineering
  17. Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering
  18. Electronics Instrument & Control
  19. Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering
  20. Instrumentation & Control Engineering
  21. Instrument & Control Engineering
  22. Information Technology
  23. Spacecraft Technology
  24. Engineering Physics
  25. Electric Power and Machinery Engineering
  26. Infotech Engineering
  27. Cyber Security

Ground Duty (Technical)

Check the education qualification criteria for  Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) given below in the table: 

Specialization Educational Qualification 

Aeronautical Engineer

(Mechanical)

  1. Minimum of 50% marks in each Physics and Math at Class 12th.
  2. Graduation/Post-graduation in Engineering from recognised University.

OR

Qualified Aeronautical Society of India or Sections A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India)  by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines:

  1. Aerospace Engineering
  2. Aeronautical Engineering
  3. Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
  4. Mechanical Engineering
  5. Mechanical Engineering and Automation
  6. Mechanical Engineering (Production)
  7. Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance)
  8. Mechatronics
  9. Industrial Engineering
  10. Manufacturing Engineering
  11. Production and Industrial Engineering
  12. Materials Science and Engineering
  13. Metallurgical and Materials Engineering
  14. Aerospace and Applied Mechanics
  15. Automotive Engineering
  16. Robotics
  17. Nanotechnology
  18. Rubber Technology and Rubber Engineering

Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches

Candidates applying for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) must check the educational qualification given below in the table: 

Ground Duty (Non-Technical)Education Qualification 
Administration
  1. Passed Higher Secondary Examination
  2. Bachelors Degree with 60% marks in any discipline from a recognised university.

Or

Aeronautical Society of India or section A and  B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

Education
  1. Passed Higher Secondary Examination
  2. Post-Graduation with 50% marks in any discipline and 60% marks in Graduation in any disciple.

Meteorology

The educational qualification for meteorology is given below in the table:

Post Educational Qualification 
Meteorology
  1. Passed Higher Secondary Examination
  2. Post Graduate Degree in any Environmental Science/ Applied Physics/ Oceanography/ Meteorology/ Agricultural Meteorology/ Ecology/Science stream/ Mathematics/ Statistics/ Geography/ Computer Applications & Environment/ Geo-physics/ Environmental Biology with the minimum of 50% marks in all papers.

AFCAT Syllabus and Exam Pattern 2024

AFACT Eligibility Physical Standards

The physical standard prescribed by the Indian Air Force is given below:

Height

Here we have mentioned the minimum height criteria for males and females. Check the table given below to know the minimum height criteria for both flying and ground duty branches:

Branch Minimum Height of MaleMinimum Height Female 
Flying Branch 162.5 Cms162.5 Cms
Ground Duty Branch157.5 Cms152 Cms

Physical Conditions

The candidates must be in good physical condition and they should train themselves to do running, skipping, push-ups, and sit-ups. Candidates can train themselves by following the routine given below: 

  1. 4 Km Running in 15 min
  2. Skipping
  3. One set of Push-ups and sit-ups, 20 in each set
  4. 08 Chin-ups
  5. 3-4 meters of Rope Climbing
  6. 25m Swimming

Physical Fitness

Candidates must ensure that they are physically fit before reporting for SSB interview in order to undergo various tests at Air Force Selection Board. The candidates must have the ability to run 1.6 km and do 10 push-ups and 3 chin-ups at the time of reporting.

Tattoos

The conditions of permanent tattoos on any part of the body are as follows

  1. Permanent tattoos are not permitted except tattoos on the inner face of forearms and the reverse side of the palm of both hands. The candidates who have tattoos on these parts have to sign a self-declaration certificate.
  2. Small tattoos of religious symbols, names of near and dear ones are permitted only if they are not prejudicial to military discipline.
  3. Candidates belonging to tribal communities are allowed to have tattoos as per their existing customs and traditions, it can differ from case to case basis.

Narcotics

Consumption of intoxicants is banned. If a candidate consumes intoxicants during the time of training or service career, such candidate would be debarred from joining the IAF and will be removed from the service if they already joined.

AFCAT Previous Year Paper- Click to Download

AFCAT Cut Off Marks- Previous Year

AFCAT Eligibility 2024- FAQs

The qualifications for flying branch and ground duty(tech and non-tech) are different. Check the education qualification given on this page for all the branches of AFCAT.

No, candidates who passed 12th with a science background and have required graduation degrees are eligible for AFCAT.

Yes, a BSc Graduate can apply for AFCAT Exam.

Important Links