The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released an official recruitment advertisement for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027 / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry for courses commencing in January 2028. This prestigious recruitment drive invites applications from eligible Indian men and women to join as Commissioned Officers in Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches.
Candidates possessing the prescribed Graduation degree, BE / B.Tech engineering qualification, or DGCA commercial pilot license, as well as NCC ‘C’ certificate holders and qualified GATE scorers, can register online through the official portal. According to the official recruitment notification, online registrations will open on 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) and will conclude on 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). Selected officers will undergo comprehensive training at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad) starting January 2028.
Applicants should check the eligibility requirements, entry schemes, age limits, pay scale, and application fee before submitting their online applications.
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Recruiting Organization | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Examination / Entry Name | AFCAT 01/2027 / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry |
| Notification Reference | CBC 10801/11/0018/2627 (EN 32/58) |
| Post Name | Commissioned Officers (Flying and Ground Duty – Tech & Non-Tech) |
| Type of Commission | Permanent Commission (PC) & Short Service Commission (SSC) |
| Gender Eligibility | Men and Women (Unmarried Candidates) |
| Course Commencing | January 2028 at Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal (Hyderabad) |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Online Registration Start Date | 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Rank on Commissioning | Flying Officer (Pay Matrix Level-10: ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500/-) |
| Official Website | afcat.cdac.in / careerindianairforce.cdac.in |
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date & Time |
|---|---|
| Short Notification Release Date | 31 October 2026 |
| Online Registration Opening Date | 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Online Registration Closing Date | 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| AFCAT 01/2027 Online Examination Date | To be announced in detailed notification |
| Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview Dates | To be notified post result declaration |
| Commencement of Course at AFA Dundigal | First week of January 2028 |
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Entry Schemes & Branch Details
| Entry Type | Branch Name | Course Number | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying Branch | 223/28F/SSC/M&W | As published in notification for induction cycle 01/2027 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) – Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics & Mechanical) | 222/28T/PC/112AEC/M&W, 222/28T/SSC/112AEC/M&W | As published in notification for induction cycle 01/2027 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Administration, Accounts, Logistics, Education, Meteorology | 222/28G/SSC/M&W | As published in notification for induction cycle 01/2027 (2 seats reserved for Law qualified candidates) |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Weapon Systems (WS) Branch | 222/28G/PC/M&W, 222/28G/SSC/M&W | As published in notification for induction cycle 01/2027 |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying Branch | 223/28F/PC/M, 223/28F/SSC/M&W | 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 222/28T/PC/112AEC/M&W, 222/28T/SSC/112AEC/M&W | As published in notification for induction cycle 01/2027 |
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Age Limit (As on 01 January 2028)
| Branch / Entry | Age Limit | Date of Birth Range (Both Dates Inclusive) |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Entry) | 20 to 24 Years | Born between 02 January 2004 to 01 January 2008 |
| Flying Branch (Commercial Pilot License – CPL holders issued by DGCA) | 20 to 26 Years | Born between 02 January 2002 to 01 January 2008 |
| Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches | 20 to 26 Years | Born between 02 January 2002 to 01 January 2008 |
Marital Status: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. Marriage is strictly prohibited during the training period.
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Pay Scale & Allowances
| Designation / Stage | Pay Level & Matrix | Military Service Pay (MSP) / Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Cadet (During Training at AFA) | Fixed Monthly Stipend | Rs. 56,100/- per month |
| Flying Officer (On Commissioning) | Pay Level 10 (Rs. 56,100 – Rs. 1,77,500/-) | Rs. 15,500/- per month |
Allowances & Privileges: In addition to basic pay and MSP, officers receive Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance, Test Pilot / Flight Test Engineer Allowance, Risk and Hardship Allowance, subsidized mess facilities, furnished accommodation, comprehensive medical cover, LTC, 60 days annual leave, and 20 days casual leave.
Insurance Cover: Mandatory Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS) life insurance cover of Rs. 1.25 Crore is provided to serving officers on contribution basis.
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Application Fee
| Entry Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| Candidates registering for AFCAT Entry | Rs. 550/- + GST (Non-refundable) |
| Candidates registering for NCC Special Entry | Rs. 0/- (Exempted) |
| Candidates registering for GATE Score Entry | Rs. 0/- (Exempted) |
Payment Mode: Online via debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI through the payment gateway on the AFCAT registration portal.
How to Apply Online for IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment
- Visit the official Indian Air Force career portal at afcat.cdac.in.
- Click on the Candidate Login menu and select AFCAT 01/2027.
- Register a new account by providing your valid Email ID and active mobile number.
- Log in with your system-generated credentials and select the appropriate entry tab (AFCAT Entry / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry).
- Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, course preferences, and examination city choices.
- Upload required scanned documents, including passport-sized photograph, signature, and thumb impression as per prescribed specifications.
- Pay the non-refundable examination fee of Rs. 550/- plus GST online (exempted for NCC and GATE score entries).
- Carefully verify all details before final submission, as no modifications are permitted once the application is submitted.
- Submit the online form and take a printout of the confirmation page for your records.
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Selection Process
The selection process for Indian Air Force Commissioned Officers consists of:
- Online AFCAT Examination: An objective-type test assessing General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude.
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Testing: Shortlisted candidates (and direct applicants under NCC Special / GATE entry) will report to one of the AFSBs (Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi, or Guwahati) for:
- Stage I: Officer Intelligence Rating (OIR) Test and Picture Perception & Discussion Test (PPDT).
- Stage II: Psychological Tests, Group Tests (GTO), and Personal Interview conducted over 5 days.
- Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS): Mandatory only for candidates opting for the Flying Branch.
- Medical Examination: Recommended candidates undergo a rigorous medical assessment at designated Air Force Medical Establishments.
- All India Merit List & Training: Final empanelment based on written exam scores and AFSB marks, followed by training at Air Force Academy, Dundigal (74 weeks for Flying/Tech branches; 52 weeks for Non-Tech branches).
Important Links
| Particulars | Link |
|---|---|
| Apply Online (AFCAT Portal) | Click Here |
| Official AFCAT 01/2027 Short Notification PDF | Download PDF |
| Official Indian Air Force Career Portal | Visit Website |
| More Government Job Updates | Visit Placement Store |
Conclusion
IAF AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment provides an exceptional opportunity for men and women aspiring to serve as Commissioned Officers in the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branches of the Indian Air Force. Candidates should review the branch-wise age limits, educational qualifications, and physical criteria before submitting their online applications.
According to the supplied recruitment schedule, online registration opens on 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) and will close on 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). Candidates should check all instructions and register well in advance through the official AFCAT portal.
Disclaimer: This article is based on the recruitment information supplied for drafting and has not been independently verified against the latest official notification. Candidates should consult the official IAF website and recruitment documents for authoritative information, subsequent amendments and application status before applying.
💬 Discussion & Queries (0)
Ask questions or share updatesNo queries yet. Be the first to ask!