Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Notification OUT – Apply Online for Flying & Ground Duty Branches
Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Notification: The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment Notification inviting applications from both Men and Women for grant of Short Service Commission (SSC) and Permanent Commission (PC) in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches. The notification also includes NCC Special Entry for the Flying Branch and GATE Score Entry for Ground Duty Technical Branches. Online registration opens on 20 May 2026 and closes on 19 June 2026 at the official website afcat.edcil.co.in. The course is scheduled to commence in July 2027.
Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Notification: Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 02/2026 |
| Post Type | Commissioned Officer |
| Branches | Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
| Entry Schemes | AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry, GATE Score Entry |
| Commission Type | Short Service Commission (SSC) & Permanent Commission (PC) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
| Official Website | afcat.edcil.co.in |
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release Date | 12 May 2026 |
| Online Registration Start Date | 20 May 2026 (11:00 Hrs) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 19 June 2026 (23:30 Hrs) |
| AFCAT Written Exam Date | To be notified (Expected July / August 2026) |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
Application Fee
| Entry Type | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | ₹550/- + GST (Non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry | Nil (No Fee) |
| GATE Score Entry | Nil (No Fee) |
Note: Fee must be paid online via Net Banking, Debit Card, or Credit Card. Candidates eligible for multiple entries must register separately for each entry. The application link for AFCAT Entry and NCC Special Entry will be different.
Age Limit (as on 01 July 2027)
| Branch / Entry | Age Limit | Date of Birth (Both Dates Inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Branch (AFCAT / NCC Special Entry) | 20 to 24 Years | 02 July 2003 to 01 July 2007 |
| Flying Branch (with valid CPL) | 20 to 26 Years | 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007 |
| Ground Duty – Technical & Non-Technical | 20 to 26 Years | 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007 |
Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Notification: Educational Qualification
| Branch | Required Qualification |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch | Graduate degree in any discipline with Maths & Physics at 10+2 level OR B.E. / B.Tech — Minimum 60% marks |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | B.E. / B.Tech in relevant Engineering stream (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, CS, etc.) — Minimum 60% marks |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Administration / Logistics | Graduate degree in any discipline — Minimum 60% marks |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Accounts | B.Com / M.Com — Minimum 60% marks |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Education | Post Graduate degree in relevant subject — Minimum 50% marks |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Meteorology | Post Graduate in Science (Physics / Maths / Statistics / Computer Applications / Oceanography / Environment Science) — Minimum 50% marks |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Law | LLB (3-year or 5-year integrated) — Minimum 55% marks |
GATE Score Entry: Available for Ground Duty (Technical) branches. Candidates with a valid GATE 2025 or GATE 2026 score in relevant disciplines can apply under this entry — No AFCAT exam required.
NCC Special Entry: Available for Flying Branch only. Candidates holding a valid NCC ‘C’ Certificate with Air Wing (Senior Division) are eligible — No AFCAT exam required.
Salary & Benefits
| Rank | Pay Scale | Military Service Pay (MSP) |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer (Post-Commissioning) | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 (Level 10) | ₹15,500/- per month |
Additional Allowances & Privileges
| Benefit | Details |
|---|---|
| Flying Allowance | Applicable for Flying Branch officers |
| Technical Allowance | Applicable for Technical Branch officers |
| Transport Allowance | As per Government norms |
| Risk & Hardship Allowance | As per posting norms |
| Accommodation | Furnished accommodation provided |
| Medical Cover | For self and dependents |
| Canteen Facilities | Available at IAF stations |
| Annual Leave | 60 days annual + 20 days casual leave |
| Insurance Cover | Up to ₹1.25 Crore |
| Loans | Available at subsidised rates |
Selection Process
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | AFCAT Written Exam (for AFCAT Entry) — Objective type: General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude |
| Stage 1 (Alt.) | GATE Score (for GATE Score Entry) OR NCC ‘C’ Certificate (for NCC Special Entry) |
| Stage 2 | Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview — 5-day process including Psychological Tests, Group Tests & Personal Interview |
| Stage 3 | Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT) — For Flying Branch candidates only |
| Stage 4 | Medical Examination — As per IAF medical standards |
| Stage 5 | Final Merit List — Based on combined performance across all stages |
How to Apply for Air Force AFCAT 02/2026
- Visit the official AFCAT website: afcat.edcil.co.in
- Click on the “AFCAT 02/2026 Registration” link on the homepage.
- Click on “New User? Register Here” and complete the initial registration to generate your Registration ID and Password.
- Log in using the credentials and fill in your personal details, educational qualifications, and branch/entry preferences carefully. (No changes are allowed after submission.)
- Upload scanned copies of:
- Recent passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Required educational and category documents
- Pay the application fee of ₹550/- + GST (for AFCAT Entry only). NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry are fee-exempt.
- Submit the application form and download & print a copy for future reference.
Important: Candidates eligible for multiple entry schemes must apply separately for each entry through the respective registration links.
Important Links
| Apply Online (Active from 20 May 2026) | Click Here to Apply |
| Official Notification PDF | Download Notification |
| Official Website | afcat.edcil.co.in |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. When does the AFCAT 02/2026 online application open and close?
The online registration for AFCAT 02/2026 opens on 20 May 2026 at 11:00 Hrs and the last date to apply is 19 June 2026 by 23:30 Hrs at afcat.edcil.co.in.
Q2. Can women candidates apply for the Flying Branch in AFCAT 02/2026?
Yes. The Indian Air Force invites both Men and Women to apply for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch as well as the Ground Duty branches under AFCAT 02/2026.
Q3. What is the application fee for AFCAT 02/2026?
Candidates applying under AFCAT Entry must pay ₹550/- + GST (non-refundable). Candidates applying under NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry are completely exempted from fee payment.
Q4. What is the GATE Score Entry in AFCAT 02/2026?
The GATE Score Entry is available for Ground Duty (Technical) branches.
Candidates with a valid GATE 2025 or GATE 2026 score in a relevant engineering discipline can apply under this scheme — they do not need to appear for the AFCAT written examination.
Q5. What is the salary of an IAF Officer after commissioning through AFCAT 02/2026?
A newly commissioned officer at the rank of Flying Officer receives a basic pay of ₹56,100/- per month (Pay Level 10) along with Military Service Pay of ₹15,500/- and various other allowances including Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, HRA, and an insurance cover of up to ₹1.25 Crore.
For more government job, defence, and recruitment updates, visit indrojgaralert.com
