AFCAT 01/2027 Notification Out – 284 Air Force Officer Posts
Posted By: Amrit
Indian Air Force has invited online applications for Group A Gazetted Officer positions in the Flying, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non-Technical branches. Under the AFCAT 01/2027 Notification, eligible men and women can apply between November 12, 2026 and December 11, 2026, through the official recruitment portal. The courses are scheduled to commence in January 2028, offering opportunities for graduates, engineers and postgraduate candidates. The selection process includes an online examination on January 31, 2027, followed by AFSB testing and medical assessment. Candidates interested in Indian Air Force Officer Recruitment 2027 should carefully review branch-specific qualifications, age limits and medical standards. This recruitment also offers promising career opportunities for aspirants exploring all defence job in India.
The Force Behind These Officer Openings
Indian Air Force conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test to recruit commissioned officers through Permanent and Short Service Commission. Candidates exploring Government Defence Jobs in India can apply for Flying and Ground Duty branches. The AFCAT Ground Duty Technical Vacancy 2027 includes 124 AFCAT vacancies and 16 additional positions through GATE Score Entry, offering opportunities for eligible engineering graduates.
Branch-Wise Seat Matrix for AFCAT 01/2027
| Post Name | Men PC | Women PC | Men SSC | Women SSC | Total Vacancies |
| Flying Branch | 0 | 0 | 28 | 8 | 36 |
| AE (L) AFCAT Entry | 5 | 2 | 54 | 27 | 88 |
| AE (M) AFCAT Entry | 8 | 2 | 18 | 8 | 36 |
| Weapon Systems | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 | 30 |
| Administration | 1 | 1 | 34 | 17 | 53 |
| Logistics | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| Accounts | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 8 |
| Education | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Meteorology | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| AE (L) GATE Entry | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 11 |
| AE (M) GATE Entry | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Grand Total | 20 | 11 | 177 | 76 | 284 |
Schedule Every Aspirant Should Track
- Application Start Date: November 12, 2026 (11:00 AM)
- Last Date to Apply: December 11, 2026 (11:30 PM)
- Admit Card Download: From January 27, 2027
- AFCAT Exam Date: January 31, 2027
- Objection Window: February 3, 2027 to February 5, 2027
- Course Start: January 2028
Pay Scale and Service Benefits
- Pay Level: Level 10 with Rs. 56,100/- to Rs. 1,77,500/-
- Military Service Pay: Rs. 15,500/-
- Training Stipend: Rs. 56,100/- per month for Flight Cadets
- Allowances: Flying, transport, technical and risk allowances as applicable
- Insurance: Cover of Rs. 1.25 Cr during service
Academic Eligibility for AFCAT 01/2027
| Branch | Qualification Required |
| Flying |
|
| AE (L) |
|
| AE (M) |
|
| GATE Entry |
|
| Weapon Systems |
|
| Admin and Logistics |
|
| Accounts |
|
| Education |
|
| Meteorology |
|
| Final Year Students |
|
Permitted Age Brackets
- Flying Branch: 20 to 24 years
- Flying Birth Window: January 2, 2004 to January 1, 2008
- Ground Duty: 20 to 26 years as on January 1, 2028
- Ground Duty Birth Window: January 2, 2002 to January 1, 2008
Age Concessions and Birth Proof Rules
- CPL Holders: Flying upper limit extends to 26 years with a valid DGCA licence
- Other Categories: No separate age relaxation is mentioned
- Accepted Proof: Matriculation or equivalent certificate only
- Not Accepted: Affidavits, horoscopes and municipal birth extracts
- Date Changes: No change request will be entertained
Exam Fee Details
- AFCAT Entry: Rs. 550/- plus 18 percent GST
- NCC and GATE Entry: No fee
- Payment Mode: Net banking, debit card, credit card or UPI
- Refund: Non-refundable
Selection Journey for AFCAT 01/2027
- Candidates first submit the online application and appear in the AFCAT written test, which is held only in English.
- Those who clear the minimum cut off are called to one of five Air Force Selection Boards.
- NCC Special Entry candidates skip the written test and go directly to AFSB testing.
- AFSB Stage I screens candidates through intelligence and picture perception tests and Stage II covers psychological tests, group tasks and interview.
- Flying aspirants take the CPSS test once and the final merit combines written and AFSB marks.
- Medically fit recommended candidates are placed in Central Government Jobs in India through branch allotment based on merit, vacancies and choices.
- Training starts in January 2028 and lasts 74 weeks for flying and technical branches and 50 weeks for non-technical branches.
Reference Books for Preparation
| Subject | Useful Books and Resources |
| General Awareness | Lucent’s General Knowledge and a monthly current affairs magazine |
| English | Objective General English by S.P. Bakshi |
| Numerical Ability | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by R.S. Aggarwal |
| Reasoning | A Modern Approach to Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning by R.S. Aggarwal |
| Mock Practice | Online practice test on the AFCAT portal |
Written Test Pattern and Syllabus
- Subjects: General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning and Military Aptitude.
- Total Questions: 100 multiple-choice questions.
- Maximum Marks: 300 marks.
- Exam Duration: 2 hours.
- Marking Scheme: 3 marks for each correct answer and 1 mark deducted for every incorrect answer.
- English: Comprehension, error detection, cloze test, idioms and sentence rearrangement.
- General Awareness: History, geography, polity, economy, science, defence and current affairs.
- Numerical Ability: Percentage, ratio, time and work, mensuration and number series.
Why Solving Earlier Papers Pays Off
- Understand the Exam Pattern: Learn the AFCAT question format, marking scheme and subject-wise distribution.
- Identify Important Topics: Recognise frequently asked questions and focus on important subjects.
- Improve Time Management: Practise completing 100 questions within the two-hour examination duration.
- Assess Preparation Levels: Identify your strengths and topics that need more practice.
- Build Exam Confidence: Become familiar with the test format and reduce exam-related anxiety.
- Strengthen Technical Preparation: Candidates targeting the AFCAT Ground Duty Technical Vacancy 2027 can practise relevant questions to improve their numerical, reasoning and technical skills.
Medical and Physical Benchmarks
| Medical Parameter | Prescribed Standard |
| Ground Duty Height | Minimum 157 cm for men and 152 cm for women |
| Flying Height | Minimum 162 cm for pilots and 157 cm for other aircrew |
| Minimum Weight | Flying cadets must weigh at least 48 kg before fixed-wing training |
| Chest Measurement | Minimum 77 cm for men with 5 cm chest expansion |
| Tattoos | Allowed on inner forearms and back of hands with tribal exceptions. |
Also Read: BSF LDCE SI Recruitment 2026 Out – Apply Online for 1167 Posts
Online Application Walkthrough for AFCAT 01/2027
- Visit the official website afcat.edcil.co.in and open the “News” section on the home page.
- Select the advertisement titled “Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT- 01/2027)” for Flying Branch and Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical Branches.
- Carefully read the complete notification and instructions before applying.
- Sign up with your name, mobile number and email, then verify both through the OTPs received.
- Log in with the user ID and password sent by email and SMS.
- Fill in the personal, communication and qualification details exactly as per your certificates and candidates of Indian Air Force Officer Recruitment 2027 should keep Aadhaar details ready.
- Choose the entry type and select every course preference, since the form does not proceed otherwise.
- Upload your photograph, signature and thumb impression in JPG format within the stated size limits.
- Capture the live image, tick the declaration and use Save and Next at each part.
- Preview the form, submit it and pay the fee through the payment gateway.
- Print the final application form and note the application number for future use.
Rules Applicants Must Follow
- Single Form: Only the latest application per Aadhaar number is considered and extra fees are not refunded, so followers of the AFCAT 01/2027 Notification should submit once.
- No Edits: Details cannot be changed after the Make Payment step and re-registration needs a different email ID.
- Active Contacts: The email ID and mobile number must remain valid until the process ends.
- Exam Day Items: Carry the printed admit card, original Aadhaar, a second photo ID and two photographs.
- Banned Items: Calculators, phones, watches and wearables are not permitted and candidates of Indian Air Force Officer Recruitment 2027 risk cancellation if found with them.
- Reporting Time: Entry closes at 9:00 AM and reporting starts at 8:00 AM.
- Branch Allotment: IAF may allot branches irrespective of the choices given.
- Helpdesk: Call +91 9513252077 or email afcathelpdesk@edcil.co.in and for eligibility queries call 011-23010231 Extn 7245.
FAQs
The notification lists 284 tentative vacancies across Flying, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non-Technical branches, including AFCAT and GATE entries. NCC Special Entry seats are given as a percentage and are not counted. The numbers may change as per IAF requirements.
Applications open on November 12, 2026 at 11:00 AM and close on December 11, 2026 at 11:30 PM. The form must be submitted on afcat.edcil.co.in and the fee must be paid in the same process.
AE (L) needs a four year BE or BTech in electronics, computer, electrical or instrumentation streams. AE (M) needs mechanical, aeronautical, production or related streams. Both need Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, and GATE score entry is also available.
Flying branch candidates must be 20 to 24 years and Ground Duty candidates 20 to 26 years as on January 1, 2028. CPL holders get relaxation up to 26 years for flying. The AFCAT entry fee is Rs. 550/- plus GST.
Official Links
| Official Notification | Download PDF |
| Official Website | www.afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Apply Online | www.cdn.digialm.com |
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Last date to apply
11 Dec, 2026