AFCAT 01/2027 Notification Out – Indian Air Force Flying & Ground Duty Officer Apply Online

AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment Notification Out – Indian Air Force Flying & Ground Duty Officer Apply Online The Indian Air Force has released the official notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 01/2027). Through this recruitment, the IAF is inviting Indian citizens, both men and women, to join as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The notification also covers NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry for courses starting in January 2028.

AFCAT 01/2027 Online applications opened on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and will close on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM. The online AFCAT exam is scheduled for 31 January 2027 (Sunday). According to the vacancy table in the notification, the combined AFCAT, NCC and GATE vacancies add up to around 284 posts, though the IAF clearly states these numbers are tentative. This guide explains eligibility, vacancies, fee, selection process, pay and the full application procedure in simple language.

AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment Overview

About AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment

AFCAT is the main gateway for graduates and engineers who want to become commissioned officers in the Indian Air Force. Selected candidates are trained at Air Force training establishments and are commissioned as Flying Officers. The notification offers both Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) for men and women, depending on the branch.

Under Permanent Commission, officers serve until the age of superannuation for their rank. Flying Branch SSC officers have an engagement period of fourteen years. Ground Duty SSC officers get an initial tenure of ten years, which may be extended by four years based on service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit. SSC officers are not entitled to pension, as per the notification.

AFCAT 01/2027 Vacancy Details

The table below shows the branch-wise vacancies. PC means Permanent Commission and SSC means Short Service Commission. The IAF has clarified that these numbers are tentative and may change without notice.

• NCC Special Entry (Flying): 10% of the CDSE vacancies for PC (Men) and 10% of the AFCAT vacancies for SSC (Men and Women).
• Law quota: Two seats from Ground Duty (Non-Technical) vacancies are reserved for candidates holding an LLB degree.
• NCC reservation: 10% of vacancies in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate holders.

AFCAT 01/2027 Educational Qualification

Candidates must have studied 10+2 in the regular pattern. Diploma holders applying in place of 10+2 are not eligible. The branch-wise requirements are given below.

• Final-year or final-semester students can apply if they have no present backlog, but must submit proof of completing their final exams by 30 November 2027.
• Minimum percentage marks required in 10+2 or degree: Not Mentioned in the Official Notification text provided. Candidates should check the branch rules on the official website.
• Two law-qualified candidates are considered in Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches, with a three-year LLB after graduation or a five-year LLB after 10+2.
• Where CGPA is given, conversion follows the university’s certified method. If none exists, the CGPA on a 10-point scale is multiplied by 10.

AFCAT 01/2027 Age Limit and Relaxations

• Both dates in each range are inclusive.
• Candidates must be unmarried at the start of the course, and marriage is not permitted during training.
• Only the date of birth in the Matriculation or equivalent certificate is accepted. Horoscopes, affidavits and municipal birth extracts are not valid.
• Category-wise age relaxation (SC/ST/OBC and others): Not Mentioned in the Official Notification.

AFCAT 01/2027 Application Fee

• AFCAT Entry: Rs. 550 plus 18% GST, non-refundable.
• NCC Special Entry: fee not applicable.
• GATE Score Entry: the notification states the examination fee is not applicable for GATE Score Entry in para 7.9.
• Payment mode: Net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI through the payment gateway. Cash, cheque and demand draft are not accepted.

AFCAT 01/2027 Salary and Benefits

• Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during training.
• Allowances such as Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance and Risk and Hardship Allowance apply depending on branch, duty and posting.
• Insurance: about Rs. 1.25 crore cover (on contribution) for death in service through AFGIS. Eligible retiring officers are covered by Air Veterans Insurance Cover of Rs. 24 lakh, later reducing to Rs. 12 lakh until age 75.

AFCAT 01/2027 Selection Process

1. Online AFCAT written exam: Candidates scoring above the cut-off fixed by the IAF are called to an Air Force Selection Board. NCC Special Entry candidates skip the written exam and go directly to AFSB.
2. AFSB testing (five centres): Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati. Stage I includes the Officer Intelligence Rating test, Picture Perception and discussion test, and is a screening stage. Stage II includes psychological tests, group tests and interview.
3. CPSS (Flying Branch only): The Computerised Pilot Selection System is conducted for recommended candidates and is a once-in-a-lifetime test.
4. Medical examination: Candidates must meet the medical standards in Appendix A of the notification.
5. Final merit list: Prepared from the total of written exam and AFSB marks. Candidates must secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in both.

AFCAT 01/2027 AFCAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus

• The exam is online, objective type and in English only.
• Marking: +3 for every correct answer, -1 for every wrong answer, and no marks for unattempted questions.
• If the exam runs in more than one shift, marks are normalised using the statistical formula given in the notification.
• English: comprehension, error detection, sentence completion, synonyms and antonyms, cloze test, idioms, analogy, sentence rearrangement and one-word substitution.
• General Awareness: history, geography, sports, polity, economy, science and technology, art and culture, environment, defence and current affairs.
• Numerical Ability: decimals, time and work, percentage, profit and loss, ratio, interest, time and distance, mensuration, probability and statistics (matriculation level).
• Reasoning and Military Aptitude: verbal and non-verbal reasoning.

AFCAT 01/2027 Important Dates

On exam day, reporting time is 08:00 Hrs and last entry is 09:00 Hrs. Candidates are not allowed inside after verification begins at 09:00 Hrs.

Physical and Medical Standards

• Minimum height, Ground Duty: 157 cm for men and 152 cm for women.
• Minimum height, Flying: 162 cm for pilots, Flight Test Engineers and WSO of Su-30 MKI; 157 cm for other aircrew duties.
• Candidates of Gorkha, North-Eastern and hilly Uttarakhand ethnicity get a 5 cm relaxation. Lakshadweep candidates get a 2 cm relaxation, subject to documents.
• Flying cadets must reach a minimum nude body weight of 48 kg before Stage I flying training on fixed wing aircraft.
• Weight must fall within the height-and-age chart in the notification. Detailed medical rules are in Appendix A and on careerairforce.gov.in.
• Permanent tattoos are restricted. They are permitted only on the inner forearm and the back of the hands, with a self-declaration.

Training Details

Training is expected to start in the first week of January 2028. Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) training lasts about 74 weeks, while Ground Duty (Non-Technical) training lasts about 50 weeks. Candidates are advised to prepare physically in advance with running up to 4 km in 15 minutes, at least 20 push-ups and sit-ups, 8 chin-ups, rope climbing of 3 to 4 metres and 25 metres of swimming.

AFCAT 01/2027 Required Documents

• Valid personal email ID and mobile number that stay active until the process ends.
• Aadhaar number (the last four digits are used in the application). Aadhaar is mandatory for online registration.
• Recent passport-size colour photograph in JPG/JPEG format, 100 KB to 200 KB.
• Signature in JPG/JPEG format, 80 KB to 150 KB, signed in black ink on white paper.
• Thumb impression, 50 KB to 100 KB. Men upload the left thumb and women the right thumb.
• Matriculation certificate, 10+2 and degree mark sheets for verification.
• For AFSB: original certificates, admit card, and NCC ‘C’ certificate or GATE scorecard where applicable.

How to Apply for AFCAT 01/2027

1. Visit the official website afcat.edcil.co.in and read the notification carefully.
2. Sign up with your full name (as per Class X certificate), mobile number and email ID, then generate and enter the OTPs and captcha.
3. Note the Application Sequence Number (User ID) and password sent by email and SMS, then click “Go to Application”.
4. Fill in personal, communication, qualification, course preference and additional details, clicking “Save and Next” on each part.
5. Upload the photograph, signature and thumb impression in the prescribed format and size.
6. Preview the form and check every detail, since it cannot be edited after submission.
7. Submit and pay the fee online (not applicable for NCC Special Entry).
8. Download and print the final application form for future reference.

AFCAT 01/2027 Important Links

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the last date to apply for AFCAT 01/2027?
The online application window runs from 12 November 2026 (11:00 Hrs) to 11 December 2026 (23:30 Hrs). The notification does not announce any extension, so candidates should finish the form and fee payment well before the deadline to avoid last-minute website or payment gateway problems.

2. When is the AFCAT 01/2027 exam?
The online AFCAT will be held on 31 January 2027, a Sunday. Reporting time is 08:00 Hrs, the last entry is 09:00 Hrs and the paper runs from 10:00 to 12:00 Hrs. Admit cards can be downloaded from 27 January 2027 onwards on the official portal.

3. What is the application fee for AFCAT 01/2027?
The fee is Rs. 550 plus 18% GST for AFCAT entry, and it is non-refundable. NCC Special Entry candidates do not pay this fee, and the notification also marks it not applicable for GATE Score Entry. Payment must be made online through net banking, cards or UPI.

4. What is the age limit for the Flying Branch?
For the Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry, the age limit is 20 to 24 years as on 01 January 2028, meaning birth between 02 January 2004 and 01 January 2008. Holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence can apply up to 26 years of age.

5. What is the age limit for Ground Duty branches?
For Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical branches, candidates must be 20 to 26 years old as on 01 January 2028. That means they should be born between 02 January 2002 and 01 January 2008, with both dates included. Candidates must also be unmarried when the course begins.

6. Can women apply for AFCAT 01/2027?
Yes. The notification invites both men and women for Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission in the listed branches. Separate vacancy numbers are shown for women in the Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical branches, and GATE Score Entry, as given in the vacancy table.

7. How many marks is the AFCAT paper and is there negative marking?
The AFCAT paper has 100 questions for a maximum of 300 marks in two hours. Each correct answer earns three marks, each wrong answer costs one mark, and unattempted questions carry no marks. The exam is conducted online and in English only.

8. What is the salary of an IAF officer after joining?
On commissioning as Flying Officer, the pay scale is Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500 in Level 10, with Military Service Pay of Rs. 15,500. During training, Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month. Allowances depend on branch and posting.

9. Can final-year students apply?
Yes, final-year or final-semester students can apply if they have no backlog at the time of submitting the application. They must submit proof of completing their final exams by 30 November 2027 and mention the likely result date. The IAF will not extend this date for any reason.

10. Is CPSS compulsory for the Flying Branch?
Yes, the Computerised Pilot Selection System is conducted for recommended Flying Branch candidates during AFSB testing. It is a once-in-a-lifetime test, so candidates who failed CPSS or PABT earlier, or were suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy, cannot apply for the Flying Branch.

11. Is a pension available for SSC officers?
As per the notification, SSC officers are not entitled to pension. Permanent Commission officers serve until superannuation. Later grant of Permanent Commission for SSC officers can be considered based on service needs, vacancies, willingness, suitability, merit and the policy in force at that time.

12. Can I submit more than one application?
It is not advisable. If more than one application is submitted against the same Aadhaar number, only the latest one is used for the admit card. The fee paid for earlier applications is not refunded, so complete one careful application instead of submitting several.

Sum Up and Advice

AFCAT 01/2027 is a strong opportunity for graduates and engineers to join the Indian Air Force as commissioned officers, with about 284 tentative vacancies across Flying, Technical and Non-Technical branches. The pay, training and career structure make it one of the most respected officer entries in India.

Check your branch-wise qualification and age carefully before applying, keep your photograph, signature, thumb impression and Aadhaar details ready, and submit the form well before 11 December 2026. Start your preparation for the 31 January 2027 exam now, and also work on physical fitness for the AFSB stage. Always confirm final details on the official websites.