AFCAT I Notification 2026: Vacancies, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern, Selection Process

Defence | 08 Nov 2025

AFCAT I Notification 2026: Vacancies, Eligibility Criteria, Exam Pattern, Selection Process

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the AFCAT 1 Notification 2026, inviting applications for Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) posts. The recruitment is conducted through the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 2026, offering a golden opportunity for candidates who dream of serving the nation as commissioned officers in the Indian Air Force. Before applying, candidates should go through the official notification carefully to check all details, including eligibility, vacancies, age limit, educational qualifications, and the selection process.

👉 Click Here To Check The Short Notification

AFCAT 01/2026 Overview

Recruitment Organization	Indian Air Force
Post Name	Flying Officer
Vacancies	284
Job Location	All India
Category	AFCAT 01/2026 Notification
Official Website	afcat.cdac.in

Important Dates

Apply Start Date	10 November 2025
Apply Last Date	09 December 2025
Course Commence	January 2027

Application Fees

Gen/ OBC/ EWS	Rs. 550/-
SC/ ST/ PWD	Rs. 550/-
Mode of Payment	Online

Vacancy Details and Qualification

Age Limit: The age limit for this recruitment is 18-24/26 years. The crucial date for the calculation of the age limit is 1.1.2027. The age relaxation will be given as per the rules.

Post Name	Vacancy	Qualification
Flying Officer	284	Graduate/ Degree in Related Field (Non Technical)/ B.Tech (Technical)

Selection Process

The selection procedure for AFCAT 1 2026 consists of multiple stages to assess the candidates’ aptitude, intelligence, and personality traits.

Online Written Examination (AFCAT)
Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview
Medical Examination

Candidates who qualify in all stages will be selected for training at the Air Force Academy (AFA), Dundigal, Hyderabad.

Exam Pattern

The AFCAT written exam is conducted online and consists of 100 multiple-choice questions carrying a total of 300 marks. The duration of the exam is 2 hours.

Each correct answer is awarded +3 marks, while 1 mark is deducted for every wrong response.

Section-wise Distribution

Section	No. of Questions	Marks
General Awareness	20	60
Verbal Ability in English	30	90
Numerical Ability	15	45
Reasoning & Military Aptitude	35	105
Total	100	300

Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)

Candidates applying for the Technical Branch must appear for the EKT, which tests basic engineering knowledge.

Duration: 45 minutes
Number of Questions: 50
Maximum Marks: 150

The EKT is conducted immediately after the AFCAT exam on the same day.

Salary Structure

Candidates selected through AFCAT are commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force.

Rank: Flying Officer
Pay Scale: ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 per month (Level 10 of 7th CPC)
Additional Benefits: MSP, Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, and other admissible perks as per IAF rules.

How to Apply for AFCAT 01/2026

Follow these simple steps to apply online:

Check your eligibility from the official notification (link below).
Click on the “Apply Online” link.
Fill out the application form carefully.
Upload all required documents.
Pay the application fee online.
Take a printout of the submitted form for future reference.

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