Indian Air Force AFCAT 01/2027 Online Form - 284 Posts (Flying, Ground Duty, NCC, GATE Entry)
The Indian Air Force has released the notification for AFCAT 01/2027 to select men and women as Group 'A' Gazetted Officers for courses starting in January 2028. There are 284 vacancies in all: 36 in the Flying Branch, 124 in Ground Duty (Technical) for Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and (Mechanical), 108 in Ground Duty (Non-Technical) covering Weapon Systems, Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education and Meteorology, and 16 through the GATE Score Entry. NCC Special Entry seats for the Flying Branch are in addition. Online applications are open on afcat.edcil.co.in from 12 November 2026 (11 AM) to 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM), and the online exam is on 31 January 2027.
Vacancy Details
| Post | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry - Flying Branch (SSC: Men 28, Women 8) | 36 |
| AFCAT Entry - Ground Duty (Technical): AE(L) 88, AE(M) 36 | 124 |
| AFCAT Entry - Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Weapon Systems 30, Administration 53, Logistics 11, Accounts 8, Education 4, Meteorology 2 | 108 |
| GATE Score Entry - Ground Duty (Technical): AE(L) 11, AE(M) 5 | 16 |
| NCC Special Entry - Flying Branch | - |
| Total | 284 |
Eligibility
Flying Branch: Maths and Physics at 10+2, plus a 3-year graduation in any discipline or a 4-year BE/B.Tech (or AMIE / Aeronautical Society of India Section A & B). Ground Duty (Technical): Physics and Maths at 10+2 and a 4-year engineering or technology degree in one of the disciplines listed in the notification (for AE(L), MSc Electronics with BSc Physics also qualifies). Weapon Systems: Maths and Physics at 10+2 plus graduation or BE/B.Tech. Administration & Logistics: graduation in any discipline. Accounts: B.Com, BBA/BMS/BBS (Finance), B.Sc Finance or CA/CMA/CS/CFA. Education: post-graduation in any discipline. Meteorology: B.Sc with Physics and Maths or a listed 4-year engineering degree. A Diploma in place of 10+2 is not accepted.
Age is counted as on 1 January 2028. For the Flying Branch you must be 20 to 24 years old, that is, born between 2 January 2004 and 1 January 2008; holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence can be up to 26. For Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) the limit is 20 to 26 years (born between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2008). You must be unmarried when the course starts, and marriage is not allowed during training.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Application Start | 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Last Date for Online Application | 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| AFCAT 01/2027 Online Exam | 31 January 2027 (Sunday), 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon |
| Course Commencement | January 2028 |
Application Fee
| AFCAT Entry (all candidates) | ₹550 + 18% GST (non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry | No fee |
| Payment Mode | Online via payment gateway - credit/debit card or net banking |
Salary / Pay
On commissioning, a Flying Officer is placed in Pay Level 10 (₹56,100-1,77,500) and also gets Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 a month, plus the allowances that apply to the branch and posting. During training, Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month. Officers are also covered by the Air Force Group Insurance Society scheme.
Selection Process
The AFCAT online exam has 100 objective questions for 300 marks in 2 hours, covering General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Each correct answer earns 3 marks and each wrong answer loses 1 mark. The paper is in English only. Shortlisted candidates are then called for testing at an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB), followed by a medical examination. The final merit list is drawn up according to the vacancies in each branch.
How to Apply
Register on afcat.edcil.co.in between 12 November and 11 December 2026. Aadhaar is mandatory for registration. Fill in the form, upload your photo and documents, and pay the exam fee of ₹550 plus 18% GST online by card or net banking. There is no fee for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. After paying, print the application for your records. Admit cards will be put up on the same website before the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many vacancies are in AFCAT 01/2027?
284: 36 Flying, 124 Ground Duty (Technical), 108 Ground Duty (Non-Technical) and 16 GATE Score Entry, with NCC Special Entry seats in addition.
What is the last date for AFCAT 01/2027?
11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) on afcat.edcil.co.in.
When is the AFCAT 01/2027 exam?
31 January 2027 (Sunday), from 10 AM to 12 noon.
What is the age limit?
20-24 years for the Flying Branch and 20-26 years for Ground Duty branches, as on 1 January 2028.
What is the AFCAT fee?
₹550 plus GST for AFCAT entry; no fee for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry.
Is there negative marking in AFCAT?
Yes. Each correct answer gets 3 marks and each wrong answer loses 1 mark.