Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Notification Released for July 2027 Courses
The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 02/2026) invites online applications for admission to Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches, along with NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry for courses beginning in July 2027.
Application Dates:
Online applications will be accepted from 20 May 2026 (11:00 AM) to 19 June 2026 (11:30 PM).
Candidates can apply online through the official AFCAT website: https://afcat.edcil.co.in.
AFCAT 02/2026 Notification: Indian Air Force Invites Applications for Group ‘A’ Officer Posts
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has invited applications from eligible Indian men and women candidates to join the force as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches through AFCAT 02/2026.
The online AFCAT examination is scheduled to be conducted on 08 August 2026 (Saturday).
Eligibility Conditions
Candidates must carefully check that they meet all prescribed eligibility requirements before applying.
- Admission to every stage of the selection process, including the Written Examination and AFSB/SSB Interview, will remain provisional.
- If at any stage before or after the examination/interview a candidate is found ineligible, the Indian Air Force may cancel the candidature.
- Issuance of an Admit Card or Call Letter does not mean that the candidature has been finally accepted by the IAF.
AFCAT 02/2026 Vacancy Details
Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry)
| Entry | Course Number | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
| Flying | 222/27F/SSC/M&W | — | — | 30 | 5 |
Ground Duty (Technical)
| Branch | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
| AE(L) | 2 | 2 | 107 | 25 |
| AE(M) | 8 | 2 | 52 | 13 |
Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
Men (SSC) Vacancies
- Weapon Systems (WS): 21
- Administration (Adm): 50
- Logistics (Lgs): 4
- Accounts (Accts): 5
- Education (Edn): 1
- Meteorology (Met): 1
Women (SSC) Vacancies
- Weapon Systems (WS): 5
- Administration (Adm): 12
- Logistics (Lgs): 2
- Accounts (Accts): 2
- Education (Edn): 2
- Meteorology (Met): 2
NCC Special Entry
For the Flying Branch, vacancies include:
- 10% seats from CDSE vacancies for Permanent Commission (PC)
- 10% seats from AFCAT vacancies for Short Service Commission (SSC)
GATE Score Entry – Ground Duty (Technical)
Vacancies under GATE Score Entry:
| Branch | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
| AE(L) | 1 | 1 | 12 | 3 |
| AE(M) | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
AFCAT 02/2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit, Marital Status & Educational Qualification
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the eligibility requirements for AFCAT 02/2026 recruitment for Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches, NCC Special Entry, and GATE Score Entry.
Nationality
Candidates applying for AFCAT 02/2026 must be Indian citizens under the provisions of the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
Age Limit
Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry)
Candidates must be 20 to 24 years old as on 01 July 2027.
Eligible birth dates: 02 July 2003 to 01 July 2007 (both dates inclusive).
Candidates holding a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot License (CPL) are eligible for an upper age relaxation up to 26 years.
Eligible birth dates for CPL holders: 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007.
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches
Candidates applying for Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical) through AFCAT and Technical Branch through GATE Score Entry must be 20 to 26 years old as on 01 July 2027.
Eligible birth dates: 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007.
Marital Status Rules
- Candidates must be unmarried at the commencement of training.
- Marriage is not permitted during the training period.
- Candidates marrying during training may face termination and may be required to refund government training expenses.
Date of Birth Guidelines
The Indian Air Force accepts date of birth only as recorded in:
- Matriculation/Secondary School Certificate
- Higher Secondary Certificate
- Equivalent certificate recognized by an Indian university
Documents such as affidavits, horoscopes, municipal birth certificates, or service records will not be accepted.
Candidates must carefully enter their date of birth during application submission. Any mismatch found later can result in disqualification.
AFCAT 02/2026 Educational Qualification
Flying Branch
Candidates must have Physics and Mathematics in Class 12 and fulfill one of the following:
- Graduation (minimum 3-year degree) in any discipline from a recognized university
OR - BE/B.Tech (4-year degree) from a recognized university
OR - Cleared Sections A & B of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India examination.
Ground Duty (Technical) Branch
Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – AE(L)
Candidates must have Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 level and possess:
- MSc Electronics with BSc Physics
OR - 4-year Engineering/Technology degree
OR - AMIE / Aeronautical Society qualification.
Eligible disciplines include major streams such as:
- Computer Science Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence & Data Science
- AI & Machine Learning
- Information Technology
- Electronics & Communication Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Instrumentation Engineering
- Robotics & Automation
- Cyber Security
- Data Science
- Power Electronics
- Telecommunications and related disciplines.
Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – AE(M)
Candidates must have Physics & Mathematics in 10+2 along with a 4-year Engineering degree in approved disciplines.
Major eligible branches include:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Automobile Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Production Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Metallurgy & Materials Engineering
- Automation & Smart Manufacturing.
GATE Score Entry – Technical Branch
Candidates applying through GATE Score Entry must possess a BE/B.Tech degree in approved disciplines and a valid GATE score obtained within the last three years.
Eligible GATE Subjects
AE(M) Branch:
- Aerospace Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Production & Industrial Engineering
- Engineering Sciences
- Metallurgical Engineering
AE(L) Branch:
- Computer Science & IT
- Data Science & Artificial Intelligence
- Electronics & Communication Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Instrumentation Engineering
You can download the AFCAT 02/2026 Notification
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches
Weapon Systems (WS)
Candidates must have Mathematics & Physics in Class 12 and:
- Graduation (minimum 3-year degree)
OR - BE/B.Tech degree.
Administration & Logistics
Candidates should have:
- 10+2 qualification
- Graduate degree (minimum 3-year course) in any discipline.
Accounts Branch
Eligible qualifications include:
- B.Com
- BBA/BMS/BBS with Finance specialization
- CA / CMA / CS / CFA
- B.Sc with Finance specialization.
Education Branch
Candidates must possess:
- 10+2 qualification
- Graduation in any discipline
- Post-Graduation in any discipline (including integrated PG courses).
Meteorology Branch
Candidates should have:
- 10+2 qualification
- B.Sc with Physics & Mathematics
OR
4-year Engineering degree in approved streams such as:
- Electronics & Communication Engineering
- Information Technology
- Computer Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering
- Telecommunication Engineering and related fields.
AFCAT 02/2026: Important Educational & Eligibility Notes
1. 10+2 Pattern Requirement
Only candidates who have completed Class 12 under the 10+2 education pattern are eligible to apply for AFCAT 02/2026 courses.
2. Reserved Seats for Law Graduates
The Indian Air Force has reserved two seats for Law-qualified candidates in Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches.
Selected candidates may be assigned legal duties in the IAF after commissioning.
Eligibility requirement:
- Candidates must hold a Bachelor of Law (LLB) degree from a recognized university.
3. CGPA / Grade to Percentage Conversion
Candidates awarded Grades or CGPA instead of percentage marks must provide a university-certified conversion formula.
If the university does not provide a CGPA conversion method:
- CGPA will be converted to a 10-point scale
- The obtained value will be multiplied by 10 to calculate equivalent percentage marks.
4. Final Year Candidates Eligibility
Candidates studying in the final year/semester of their degree programme are also eligible to apply, subject to the following conditions:
- No active backlog should exist at the time of application submission.
- Candidates must submit proof of completion of final examinations by 30 May 2027.
- Applicants must mention the expected result declaration date.
The IAF will not entertain requests for deadline extension due to:
- Delayed university examinations
- Late result declaration
- Any other academic or administrative reason.
5. Flying Branch Restriction – CPSS & Flying Training
Candidates will not be eligible for the Flying Branch if they:
- Previously failed the Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS), or
- Were suspended from Flying Training at the Air Force Academy as a Flight Cadet.
6. Weapon Systems (WS) Branch Training Requirement
Depending on operational requirements, candidates selected for the Weapon Systems (WS) Branch may be required to:
- Undergo Flying Training
- Perform Flying Duties after training completion.
7. Medical Criteria for Flying Branch
Candidates who are Habitual Wearers of Glasses (HWG) must ensure they meet the medical eligibility standards prescribed under Para 147 of Appendix A to remain eligible for the Flying Branch.
AFCAT 02/2026 Application Process: How to Apply Online
Candidates interested in joining the Indian Air Force (IAF) through AFCAT 02/2026 must submit their applications online through the official AFCAT portal: https://afcat.edcil.co.in.
Important: An Aadhaar Card is mandatory for completing online registration.
Instructions for Filling the Online Application Form
1. Fill the Application Carefully
Applicants must exercise extreme caution while entering details in the online form.
- Any incorrect or false information can lead to cancellation of candidature at any stage of the selection process.
- Candidates should carefully verify all details before clicking the “Submit” button.
- Once the application is submitted, previously entered details cannot be edited.
2. Multiple Applications Rule
If a candidate submits more than one application, only the latest application submitted using the same Aadhaar number will be considered for Admit Card issuance.
However:
- The application fee paid for additional or earlier applications will not be refunded.