AFCAT 1 2026 Notification Out for 340 Vacancies, Apply Online Starts

Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the official AFCAT 1 2026 Notification PDF to recruit eligible candidates for 340 vacancies of Class-I Gazetted Officers Branch and Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) branches. The online form-filling process for the AFCAT 1 2026 Exam has started on 17th November 2025. Interested and eligible Indian citizens (Men and Women) can apply online through the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/ or the direct link shared below in the article.

What is the AFCAT Exam?

Air Force Common Admission Test is also known as AFCAT, a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Indian Air Force twice a year to select both male and female candidates for multiple posts in Flying and Ground Duty [Technical and Non-Technical]. The candidates who pass the Air Force Common Admission Test-2026 (AFCAT-1 Exam) will be shortlisted for 340 vacancies for the courses that start in January 2027, and they will be granted Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) branches. 

AFCAT 1 Notification 2026 PDF Out

The detailed AFCAT 1 Notification 2026 pdf has been released for 340 vacancies (Flying & Ground Duty) at the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/. The complete information, including vacancy, eligibility, selection process, etc, has been mentioned in the official notification. Candidates can check information by clicking the link shared below.

AFCAT 1 Notification 2025 Official PDF Out - Click to Download

AFCAT 1 2026 Exam

Indian Air Force (IAF) is responsible for conducting the AFCAT 2026 Exam for Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) and Gazetted Officers in the Flying Branch for the course commencing in January 2027. Under the selection process, candidates have to undergo the Written Test, AFSB Interview, and Medical Examination to be recruited for 340 vacancies for multiple posts in Flying and Ground Duty.

AFCAT 1 2026- Important Dates

Along with the release of the detailed AFCAT 2026 Notification PDF, the registration schedule for the AFCAT Exam 2026 has been released. The online form filling process for the AFCAT 1 2026 exam has started on 17th November 2025, and the application link will remain active till 14th December 2025. Candidates must keep in mind the important dates to avoid missing any deadlines. 

AFCAT 1 Vacancy 2026

This year, 340 vacancies for Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) and Gazetted Officers posts in Flying Branches for the course commencing in January 2027 have been released along with the detailed AFCAT 2026 Notification PDF. 

AFCAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria

AFCAT 1 2026 eligibility criteria for Ground Duty and Flying Branch posts are given below.

(A) AFCAT Age Limit (as on 01/01/2027)

(i) Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry: 20 to 24 years as on 01 January 2027 i.e. born between 02 January 2003 to 01 January 2007 (both dates inclusive). Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable up to 26 years i.e. born between 02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007 

(ii) Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical) Branches: 20 to 26 years as on 01 January 2027 i.e. born between 02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007 (both dates inclusive)

Note: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course and marriage is not permitted during training. A candidate who marries during the period of training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him/her by the Government

(B) AFCAT Educational Qualification

AFCAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Flying branch: 

Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 level. OR 

Graduation with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR

BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR

Candidates who have cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent

AFCAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Ground Duty (Technical)Branch:

(i)Aeronautical engineering (Electronics)(AE(L)): Minimum 60% marks each in physics and mathematics at 10+2 level and a degree in graduation/post-graduation in the field of engineering and technology from a recognized university.

Click Here to Check the AFCAT Eligibility Criteria in Details

AFCAT 1 Application Form 2026

Indian Air Force (IAF) has started accepting the AFCAT 1 2026 Application Form for courses commencing in January 2027 at the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/ on 17th November 2025. For the reference of candidates, the direct apply online link is also provided here, which will remain active till 14th December 2025. Candidates are advised to fill out their application on or before the last date to avoid last-minute technical glitches. 

AFCAT 1 Application Form 2026 Link (Active) - Click to Apply

Steps to Apply for the AFCAT 1 2026 Exam

Candidates interested in the AFCAT 1 2026 Exam can fill out their registration form through the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/ by following the step-by-step process below. 

Step 1- Registration Process

1. Click on the link provided below or visit the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/.
2. A new page will appear. New Users will have to register first.
3. Click on New User Register.
4. A new page will appear to enter your mobile no. and email to register yourself.
5. An OTP will be sent to your mobile no. and email, fill and click on “Submit”.
6. A Login Id and Password will be sent to your registered mobile no. and email id.

Step 2- Login

1. Login using the Registration Number and Password. Select the post.
2. Fill up other details such as educational qualifications etc. depending upon the educational qualification of the candidate.
3. Pay the examination fee as applicable, online using a Credit/Debit Card or Internet Banking
4. Candidates are required to upload their scanned color photograph and Signature (in English or in Hindi) in JPEG format.
5. Login with your Registration Number and Password in the link for “UPLOAD” and thereafter, upload the file/scanned filled
6. Upload all the required certificates
7. Apply. Print out the acknowledgment for records.

AFCAT 1 2026 Exam Application Fee

Candidates registering for AFCAT entry will have to pay an amount of Rs. 550/- + GST (non-refundable) (not applicable for NCC special entry) as an examination fee.

AFCAT 2026 Selection Process

Indian Air Force will send call letters to all the candidates who clear the AFCAT 1 2026 to appear for the second stage of selection i.e AFSB Testing.

AFSB Testing Stage 1

It includes the following two tests:

1. Officer Intelligence Rating Test.
2. Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP&DT)

Stage 1 is called the screening test and candidates who do not clear it will be rejected and will not be called for AFSB Testing Stage 2.

AFSB Testing Stage 2

All Stage 1 qualified candidates will have to appear for AFSB Stage 2 and undergo the following tests:

Psychological Tests: These are written psychological tests and are conducted by professional psychologists.

Group Tests: These tests involve mental and physical activities to examine the candidates on various mental and physical parameters.

AFSB Interview: In this round, the interviewing officer takes a personal round of interviews for the candidate.

Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) Test: This test is mandatory for only those candidates who have applied for the Flying Branch.

Medical Examination

Recommended candidates will be called for the medical examination. The Indian Air Force has prescribed only two centers for Medical Examination, which are the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengalur,u and Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME). After the medical examination, a final merit list would be prepared based on the marks scored by the candidate in the written and AFSB interviews. All the shortlisted candidates would be given the joining letter of the respective training academies they have applied to.

AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026

In the Table Below, we have provided you with the exam pattern of the AFCAT 2026 Exam.

AFCAT Exam 

Type of Questions: Multiple-Choice Questions

Time Duration: 2 hrs

No. of questions: 100

Max marks: 300

Subjects: Verbal ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, General Awareness and Military Aptitude.

Marking Scheme- 3 marks will be awarded for every correct answer

Negative Marking- There is a negative marking of 1 mark in all sections.

AFCAT Syllabus 2026

The candidates preparing for the Air Force Common Admission Test must begin with their preparation with the latest AFCAT Syllabus 2026 to score good marks in the entrance test. 

Syllabus for English Section:

This section of the AFCAT Exam consists of at least 20 questions and the level is from moderate to difficult. Questions would be asked from comprehension, cloze test, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, and Error spotting.

Syllabus for General Knowledge:

This section consists of questions from Indian History, Polity, Economics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Current Affairs. The level of difficulty of this section is from easy to moderate.

Syllabus for Reasoning Section:

Questions would be asked from Series, Venn Diagram, Syllogism, Blood Relation, Non Verbal questions, Verbal reasoning, military aptitude etc.

Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude Section:

The questions that are asked in the Mathematics sections of AFCAT are of Easy to Moderate level and questions would be asked from Number system, HCF and LCM, Time, Distance and Speed, Time and Work, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Average, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Pipes And Cistern etc.

Click Here To View Detailed AFCAT Syllabus 2026

AFCAT Previous Year Question Paper 

Here, we are providing the AFCAT Previous Year Question Papers which will help you for better exam preparation for the upcoming Indian Air Force AFCAT exam. All the candidates preparing for AFCAT 1 2026 can download AFCAT Previous Year Question Paper PDFs by clicking on the link given below.

Click Here to Download AFCAT Previous Year Question Paper 

AFCAT 2026 Salary 

1. Cadets in the final year of training will be given a stipend of Rs. 56,100.

2. After successful completion of training, level 10 in the Pay Matrix of the seventh Central Pay Commission will be allotted to the young Air Officers [56100-1,10,700]

3. Military Service Pay- 15,500 will also be included.

Additional Allowances

1. Flying Branch- Rs 11250 per month.

2. Technical Branch Officers: Rs 2500 per month.

In Addition to these officers are also entitled to other allowances such as TA, DA, Children Education Allowance, Ration Money Allowance etc.

AFCAT 1 2026 Admit Card 

Indian Air Force releases AFCAT admit cards / call letters for each stage of the Air Force Common Admission Test. The candidates have to download their admit cards and carry a printout along with them to the exam hall.  

AFCAT 2026 Result 

The AFCAT 2026 Exam will be conducted in two shifts each day, AFCAT 1 Result will be released around a month after the exam date. The candidates who have appeared in the written exam can check their results and cut-off marks once officially released. 

AFCAT 1 2026 Cut-Off

AFCAT 1 cut-off marks will be released along with the AFCAT Result on the official website. AFCAT Cut Off Marks for the previous year's AFCAT Exams have been tabulated below for your reference.

AFCAT Cut Off [Previous Year]- Click to Check