IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2026

About This Job

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is inviting applications from men and women Indian citizens to join as Commissioned Officers in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches for courses commencing in July 2027. The recruitment covers AFCAT 02/2026 Entry, NCC Special Entry (Flying), and GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical). If you are a graduate (Flying), BE/B.Tech (Ground Duty Technical), or hold a relevant graduate/post-graduate degree (Ground Duty Non-Technical), you can apply online. Online registration opens on 20 May 2026 (1100 hrs) and closes on 19 June 2026 (2330 hrs). The starting pay is Rs. 56,100 per month (Level 10) plus MSP of Rs. 15,500.

Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2026

The Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 02/2026 notification for grant of Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches, with parallel openings under the NCC Special Entry for Flying Branch and GATE Score Entry for Ground Duty (Technical). Permanent Commission (PC) is offered for Men and Women in Ground Duty branches; SSC for Flying is for an initial engagement of 14 years. Two seats are reserved from Ground Duty (Non-Technical) vacancies for Law-qualified candidates. Training will commence in the first week of July 2027 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad) for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) and at Air Force Training Establishments for Ground Duty (Non-Technical).

Vacancy Breakdown

AFCAT Entry — Flying Branch (SSC)

• Men (SSC): 30
• Women (SSC): 5

AFCAT Entry — Ground Duty (Non-Technical)

• Weapon Systems Branch (Men SSC): 21; (Women SSC): 5
• Administration (Men SSC): 50; (Women SSC): 12
• Accounts (Men SSC): 5; (Women SSC): 2
• Education (Men SSC): 1; (Women SSC): 2
• Meteorology (Men SSC): 1; (Women SSC): 1

AFCAT Entry — Ground Duty (Technical)

• Men and Women (SSC) — vacancies as published in Notification for induction cycle 02/2026

NCC Special Entry — Flying Branch

• 10 percent of CDSE vacancies are reserved for Permanent Commission and 10 percent of AFCAT vacancies are reserved for Short Service Commission

GATE Score Entry — Ground Duty (Technical)

• Men and Women — vacancies as published in Notification for induction cycle 02/2026

Vacancies indicated are tentative and subject to change without notice. Actual intake depends on organisational requirements, cadre control mechanisms, availability of training slots, and actual vacancies accruing in July 2027.

Who Can Apply?

Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry / NCC Special Entry)

• Graduate in any discipline with a minimum of 60 percent marks and Maths and Physics at 10+2 level, OR BE/B.Tech degree with minimum 60 percent marks.

Ground Duty (Technical) — Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) / (Mechanical)

• BE/B.Tech in the relevant engineering stream (Electronics, Communication, Computer Science, Mechanical, Aeronautical, etc.) with minimum 60 percent marks. Eligible streams are listed in the official notification.

Ground Duty (Non-Technical)

• Weapon Systems / Administration / Accounts: Graduate degree in any discipline with minimum 60 percent marks.
• Education: Post-graduation in specified subjects with minimum 50 percent marks plus graduation with minimum 60 percent.
• Meteorology: Post-graduate in Science / Mathematics / Statistics / Geography / Computer Applications / Environmental Science / Applied Physics / Oceanography / Meteorology / Agricultural Meteorology / Ecology and Environment / Geo-physics / Environmental Biology, with minimum 50 percent marks (Maths and Physics at graduation with at least 55 percent each).
• Law (2 seats reserved within Ground Duty Non-Tech): LLB with minimum 55 percent marks.

Citizenship and Marital Status

• You must be an Indian citizen as per the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• You must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. Marriage during training is not permitted.

Age Limit

• Flying Branch: 20 to 24 years as on 1 July 2027 (born between 2 July 2003 and 1 July 2007, both dates inclusive). Upper age limit is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by DGCA India (born between 2 July 2001 and 1 July 2007).
• Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) and GATE Score Entry: 20 to 26 years as on 1 July 2027 (born between 2 July 2001 and 1 July 2007, both dates inclusive).

Salary

• Pay on commissioning: Rs. 56,100 per month at Level 10 of the Defence Pay Matrix (7th CPC).
• Military Service Pay (MSP): Rs. 15,500 per month.
• Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during the one year of training.
• Allowances: Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance, Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Allowance, Para Allowance, Special Forces Allowance, Risk and Hardship Allowance (as applicable based on branch and posting).
• Privileges: Canteen, Officers' Mess, subsidised LTC, 60 days annual + 20 days casual leave, comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents, loans at subsidised rates.
• Insurance: Mandatory cover of Rs. 1.25 crore under Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS) at a premium of Rs. 8,000 per month (subject to revision).

Physical Conditioning

You should be physically fit when you report to the Air Force Selection Board for testing. Suggested benchmarks to prepare:

• Run 1 mile (1.6 km) in 10 minutes
• 10 push-ups and 3 chin-ups
• Practise rope climbing and other forms of physical training and conditioning

You will undergo mandatory medical tests during training. Tattoos are not permitted on any other body part except the inner face of the forearms (from inside the elbow to the wrist on either hand) and on the back (dorsal) of the hands. Tribes with traditional tattoos are considered on a case-to-case basis.

Selection Process

1. Online AFCAT Exam: Online test for AFCAT entry candidates (NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates do not appear for AFCAT).
2. AFSB Interview: Air Force Selection Board interview for shortlisted candidates. Conducted at AFSB centres across India.
3. Medical Examination: Comprehensive medical fitness test at IAM Bengaluru / AFCME Delhi.
4. Merit List and Joining Instructions: Final selection based on AFSB performance, medical fitness, and all-India merit list.

How to Apply

1. Go to the AFCAT registration portal at afcat.cdac.in.
2. Register separately under each entry tab — eligible candidates can register for more than one entry.
3. Fill the online application carefully — no amendments will be allowed after submission.
4. Upload the required documents and a recent photograph.
5. Pay the AFCAT examination fee of Rs. 550 + GST (non-refundable) online. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates are exempted from the examination fee.
6. Submit the application before 19 June 2026, 2330 hrs.

Important Dates

• Notification Date: 12 May 2026
• Online Application Start: 20 May 2026 (1100 hrs)
• Last Date to Apply Online: 19 June 2026 (2330 hrs)
• AFCAT Exam Date: To be announced
• Admit Card Date: To be announced
• Course Commencement: First week of July 2027

• Fly fighter, transport, or helicopter aircraft on operational, peace-time, and combat missions as a Flying Branch officer
• Maintain, repair, and manage advanced avionics, weapon systems, and mechanical assets as a Ground Duty Technical officer
• Manage human resources, administration, accounts, logistics, and education as a Ground Duty Non-Technical officer
• Operate sophisticated radar, weapon, and surveillance systems in the Weapon Systems branch
• Lead airmen and ground crew in day-to-day station operations and disciplined service life
• Uphold the constitution of India and contribute to national defence under the IAF motto Touch the sky with glory
• Participate in disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and joint operations with sister services