Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Notification Out: Apply Online for 379 Commissioned Officer Posts

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the recruitment notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 02/2026). This presents an exceptional opportunity for dynamic male and female Indian citizens to join the elite ranks of the IAF as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers.

The notification announces 379 tentative vacancies across the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (both Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Selected candidates will be granted either a Permanent Commission (PC) or a Short Service Commission (SSC). The online registration window is active from 20 May 2026 through 19 June 2026.

AFCAT 02/2026: Recruitment Overview

Important Dates — Application Timeline

Failing to apply before the link deactivates could delay your defense career plans. Note down these critical phases:

• Online Application Opening Date: 20 May 2026 (11:00 hrs)
• Online Application Closing Date: 19 June 2026 (23:30 hrs)
• AFCAT Admit Card Release (Tentative): From 04 August 2026 (11:00 hrs)
• AFCAT Online Written Examination Date: 08 August 2026 (Saturday)
• Commencement of Official Training: First week of July 2027

Branch-Wise Vacancy Distribution

The entry-wise allocation details the tentative positions for both Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC):

1. Flying Branch

• AFCAT Entry: 30 Seats (Men – SSC) | 5 Seats (Women – SSC)
• NCC Special Entry: 10% seats are reserved out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC. (Exempted from written exam).

2. Ground Duty (Technical) — AE(L) & AE(M)

• AFCAT Entry (PC): Aeronautical Engineer Electronics [AE(L)]: 2 | Aeronautical Engineer Mechanical [AE(M)]: 8 (Men & Women)
• AFCAT Entry (SSC): AE(L): 107 (Men), 25 (Women) | AE(M): 52 (Men), 13 (Women)
• GATE Score Entry: AE(L): 13 (Men), 4 (Women) | AE(M): 7 (Men), 2 (Women) across PC and SSC quotas combined. (Exempted from written exam).

3. Ground Duty (Non-Technical)

• Weapon Systems (WS): 21 (Men – SSC) | 5 (Women – SSC)
• Administration (Adm): 50 (Men – SSC) | 12 (Women – SSC)
• Logistics (Lgs): 4 (Men – SSC) | 2 (Women – SSC)
• Accounts: 5 (Men – SSC) | 2 (Women – SSC) (Includes Law-qualified reservations)
• Education (Edn): 1 (Men – SSC) | 2 (Women – SSC)
• Meteorology (Met): 1 (Men – SSC) | 2 (Women – SSC)

Eligibility Criteria

Aspiring candidates must carefully review the specific eligibility parameters below before submitting their profile.

Age Limit (Calculated as on 01 July 2027)

• Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry):20 to 24 years (Born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007, both dates inclusive).
  • Relaxation: Upper age limit is extendable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by the DGCA (India).
• Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical): 20 to 26 years (Born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007, both dates inclusive).

Marital Status

Candidates must be unmarried at the time the course commences. Marrying during the training timeline is prohibited; any cadet doing so will be discharged and required to refund all training costs.

Essential Educational Qualifications

• Flying Branch: Must have cleared Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, alongside a minimum 3-year Graduation degree in any discipline OR a 4-year B.E./B.Tech degree with at least 60% marks.
• Ground Duty (Technical): Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 along with a minimum 4-year professional degree in specified engineering disciplines (Electronics, Mechanical, Computer Science, IT, etc.).
• Ground Duty (Non-Technical):
  • Weapon Systems (WS) / Administration & Logistics: Graduation degree or B.E./B.Tech in any discipline.
  • Accounts: B.Com / BBA / BMS / BBS with finance focus, or CA / CMA / CS / CFA.
  • Education & Meteorology: Post-Graduation in relevant streams matching the guidelines.
• Final Year Students: Candidates in their final year/semester can apply provided they do not have any current backlogs and can submit passing certificates by 30 May 2027.

Salary, Stipend, and Benefits

Commissioned Officers in the Indian Air Force enjoy premium salary scales, lifestyle structures, and high-value insurance coverage.

• Training Stipend: Flight Cadets receive a fixed monthly stipend of ₹56,100 during their one year of rigorous training.
• Pay Structure Upon Commissioning: Appointed as a Flying Officer under Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500), supplemented by Military Service Pay (MSP), DA, HRA, and specialized branch or posting allowances.
• Insurance Coverage: Officers are comprehensively protected under the Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS) with a death-in-service benefit cover of ₹1.25 Crore.

Selection Methodology

The recruitment lifecycle involves tough competitive benchmarking to maintain top-tier defense operational standards:

1. AFCAT Written Examination: An online objective test mapping general awareness, verbal ability, numerical ability, reasoning, and military aptitude.
2. Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview: Shortlisted candidates face psychological, group testing, and personal interview phases at designated AFSB centers.
3. Medical Examination: Comprehensive assessment to certify perfect physical and mental health for absolute deployment flexibility.

How to Apply Online for AFCAT 02/2026

1. Go to the official registration interface at [https://afcat.edcil.co.in](https://afcat.edcil.co.in) or follow the application link via [https://afcat.cdac.in](https://afcat.cdac.in).
2. Click on “Candidate Login” and proceed to create your portal account.
3. Fill in your personal, educational, 10+2 subject marks, and address details accurately.
4. Upload high-quality, clear scans of your photograph, signature, and left thumb impression.
5. Select your preferred examination city locations carefully.
6. Pay the non-refundable exam processing fee securely via net banking, credit, or debit cards.
7. Submit the application page and download the printed confirmation slip for future references.

If you have any questions or face issues during the application process, feel free to comment below.

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