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Defence | IAF

AFCAT AFCAT 02/2026

The Indian Air Force's twice-a-year online test for graduate entry into the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches as a commissioned officer, followed by the AFSB interview.

Result awaited3 stages1 free mock test

Overview

Conducting body
IAFafcat.cdac.in
Age limit
20 to 26 years
Application fee
₹550 to ₹550
Vacancies
To be announced
First stage duration
2 hr
Negative marking
1/3 mark per wrong answer

Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is conducted by Indian Air Force. Selection runs through 3 stages: AFCAT Online Test, AFSB Interview, Medical Examination.

  1. Register and apply online on afcat.cdac.in within the notification window.
  2. Sit the AFCAT online test at your allotted centre and shift.
  3. Clear the AFCAT cut-off and be shortlisted for the branch applied.
  4. Attend the AFSB interview (with the CPSS for the Flying branch).
  5. Qualify the medical examination.
  6. Selection follows the AFSB merit within the branch vacancies.

Important dates

Important dates
EventDateStatus
Notification (AFCAT 02/2026)

Released in mid-2026 on afcat.cdac.in. AFCAT is notified twice a year, usually around June (AFCAT 02) and December (AFCAT 01 of the next year).

To be announcedNot announced
Online application window

Runs for about a month after the notification on afcat.cdac.in.

To be announcedNot announced
AFCAT online test

AFCAT 02/2026 was conducted online on 8 August 2026 across multiple shifts, with marks normalised across shifts. The Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) has been discontinued from 2026.

8 Aug 2026Closed
AFSB interview and results

Shortlisted candidates are called to an Air Force Selection Board over the following months; the AFCAT 01/2027 notification is expected around December 2026.

To be announcedNot announced

Eligibility

Educational qualification

Open toGraduatePostgraduate

A recognised degree. Flying branch: a graduate (any stream) with 60% marks, having passed Physics and Mathematics at Class 12, or a BE/BTech, or a cleared Section A and B of the Associate Membership examination. Ground Duty (Technical): an engineering degree in the notified disciplines. Ground Duty (Non-Technical): a degree with the notified marks, plus a postgraduate qualification for some branches.

Exact percentage and subject requirements vary by branch; check the notification. From 2026, Ground Duty (Technical) candidates are shortlisted through a valid GATE score in place of the EKT.

Age

20 to 26 years as on the course commencement date stated in the notification (about 20 to 24 years for the Flying branch and 20 to 26 for Ground Duty branches).

Upper age relaxation

    Nationality

    A candidate must be one of the following:

    • A citizen of India as per the Indian Air Force's requirements

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    Application fee

    CategoryFee
    AFCAT entry (all candidates)

    Examination fee of Rs 550 (plus applicable GST). NCC Special Entry and Meteorology Entry candidates who apply without AFCAT are exempt. Confirm on the official notification.

    		₹550

    Fees have been stable across recent cycles but are the kind of detail a notification can revise. Confirm on the official notification before paying.

    Exam pattern

    Stage by stage structure with question counts, marks, timing and the marking scheme.

    Stage 1: AFCAT Online Test

    Computer based test
    SectionQuestionsMarks
    General Awareness2575
    Verbal Ability in English2575
    Numerical Ability2575
    Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test2575
    Total100300

    Duration: 2 hr|Negative marking: 1/3 mark per wrong answer

    • 100 objective questions for 300 marks in 2 hours, online, in English only.
    • The per-section split above is indicative; the Air Force does not publish a fixed section-wise count, and marks are normalised when there is more than one shift.
    • The Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) has been discontinued from 2026; Ground Duty (Technical) candidates are shortlisted through a valid GATE score.

    Stage 2: AFSB Interview

    Interview

    Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

    • A multi-day Air Force Selection Board assessment. Stage I is an officer intelligence rating test and a picture perception and discussion test.
    • Stage II covers psychological tests, group testing officer tasks and a personal interview.
    • Flying branch candidates also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS), attempted only once in a lifetime.

    Stage 3: Medical Examination

    Document and medicalQualifying only

    Duration: Varies|Negative marking: None

    • A detailed medical examination at an Air Force medical establishment against the standards for the branch.
    • The final merit list is drawn for medically fit candidates within the vacancies.

    Syllabus

    Every subject in the paper, topic by topic. Open a subject for its weightage in this exam, the full topic list and the mock tests, practice sets and notes that cover it.

    General Awareness

    • History, geography and Indian polity
    • Current affairs and sports
    • Defence, awards and static general knowledge
    • Basic science and the environment
    General Awareness guide & weightage →

    English Language

    • Comprehension
    • Error detection and sentence completion
    • Synonyms, antonyms and vocabulary
    • Idioms and phrases
    English Language guide & weightage →

    Quantitative Aptitude

    • Decimal fractions and simplification
    • Percentage, ratio and average
    • Profit and loss, simple interest
    • Time and work, time and distance
    • Number system
    Quantitative Aptitude guide & weightage →

    Reasoning Ability

    • Verbal and non-verbal reasoning
    • Coding-decoding and analogies
    • Series, odd-one-out and pattern completion
    • Military aptitude and spatial reasoning
    Reasoning Ability guide & weightage →

    How to apply

    1. Register on afcat.cdac.in

      Create an account with your personal, educational and branch-choice details.

    2. Fill the application and choose branches

      Select the Flying and/or Ground Duty branches you are eligible for and complete the form.

    3. Pay the fee and book your slot

      Pay the Rs 550 fee (where applicable), then download the admit card and appear for the online test at your allotted centre.

    Documents to keep ready

    • Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates
    • Degree or engineering marksheets and certificate
    • Valid GATE scorecard (for Ground Duty Technical, from 2026)
    • Photo identity proof such as Aadhaar
    • Recent passport-size photograph and signature matching the uploads

    Salary and job profile

    Pay and allowances

    Pay scale:
    Level 10 of the Defence Pay Matrix on commissioning as a Flying Officer
    Initial basic pay:
    To be announced
    Approximate in-hand:
    To be announced

    Allowances

    • Military Service Pay
    • Flying allowance (Flying branch)
    • Technical and other branch allowances
    • Dearness Allowance and posting-based allowances

    Perks

    • Free medical care for self and dependants
    • Subsidised accommodation and messing
    • Pension and gratuity on retirement (permanent commission)
    • Adventure, sports and flying opportunities

    On commissioning as a Flying Officer, pay is at Level 10 (starting about Rs 56,100) plus Military Service Pay and branch allowances. During training a fixed stipend is paid. Confirm current figures from the official notification.

    What the job involves

    • Commission as an officer in the Flying, Technical or Non-Technical (Ground Duty) branch of the Indian Air Force.
    • Flying branch: fly and operate fighter, transport or helicopter fleets.
    • Technical branch: maintain and manage aircraft and systems (aeronautical engineering, electronics and mechanical).
    • Ground Duty (Non-Technical): administration, logistics, accounts, education, meteorology and other support roles.

    Free mock tests

    Written to this exam's pattern, with the same interface, sectional locking and marking scheme you will face on exam day.

    • AFCAT: 28-question practice mock

      28 questions | 28 min

      Start

    Study material

    हिंदी में भी उपलब्ध

    How to prepare for AFCAT

    • AFCAT rewards speed across four mixed sections in two hours — practise moving quickly between General Awareness, English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning rather than getting stuck.
    • The +3 / −1 marking makes accuracy valuable: a confident 60 attempts can beat a reckless 90, so learn which questions to skip.
    • General Awareness leans on defence, current affairs and static GK — keep a running note of Air Force facts, aircraft, exercises and awards.
    • Numerical Ability is Class 10 arithmetic; drill percentage, ratio, average, time-and-work and speed for quick, error-free solving.
    • Take timed, English-only online mocks so the interface and the two-hour clock feel routine, and start AFSB-oriented preparation early.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is there negative marking in AFCAT?

    Yes. Each correct answer earns 3 marks and 1 mark is deducted for each wrong answer. Unattempted questions are not penalised, so avoid blind guessing.

    Has the EKT been removed?

    Yes. From 2026 the Engineering Knowledge Test has been discontinued. Ground Duty (Technical) branch candidates are now shortlisted through a valid GATE score instead.

    Can women apply through AFCAT?

    Yes. Women candidates are eligible across the notified Flying and Ground Duty branches, subject to the branch-wise vacancies and conditions.

    In which language is AFCAT conducted?

    AFCAT is conducted online in English only, unlike some other defence exams that are bilingual.

    Last verified 23 August 2026(33 days ago, by editorial)

    Not yet confirmed for this cycle: status, the schedule, the vacancy count and the application fee. Where we have a figure from previous cycles we show it and label it as expected; where we do not, the page says "to be announced". Check the official source below before you rely on any of it.

    Official sources

    Found something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it, citing the source.