Under the AFCAT 2 Exam 2026, candidates will be recruited for Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) and Gazetted Officers in the Flying Branch for the course commencing in January 2027. Online AFCAT examination will be conducted on 08 Aug 26 (Saturday). REGISTRATION FOR ONLINE APPLICATION WILL OPEN ON 20 MAY 2026 (1100 Hr) AND CLOSE ON 21 JUNE 2026 (2330 Hr).
The detailed AFCAT 2 Notification 2026 pdf for the courses commencing in July 2027 has been released on 20th May 2026 in the Employment Newspaper. Candidates can get information, including vacancy, eligibility, selection process, etc, through official notification. Candidates can check information by clicking the link shared below.
Under the AFCAT 2 Exam 2026, candidates will be recruited for Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) and Gazetted Officers in the Flying Branch for the course commencing in January 2027. Candidates interested in applying for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) can register through online mode only from the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in/.
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AFCAT Exam 2026 – Summary |
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| Exam Name | AFCAT 2/2026 |
| Conducted by | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Vacancies | 379 |
| Post Name | Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) and Gazetted Officers in Flying Branches |
| Frequency | Twice in a year |
| Registration Dates | 20th May to19th June 2026 |
| Total Number of Questions | AFCAT : 100 & EKT : 50 |
| Exam Language | English |
| Selection Process | Written Test – AFSB Test – Medical Exam |
| Salary |
Rs. 56100 – Rs. 177500 (Flying Officer) |
| Official Website | www.afcat.edcil.co.in |
This year, 379 vacancies for Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) and Gazetted Officers posts in Flying Branches for the course commencing in July 2027 have been released along with the detailed AFCAT 2026 Notification PDF.
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Entry |
Branch | Course Name | Men (PC) | Women (PC) | Men (SSC) | Women (SSC) |
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 222/27F/SSC / M&W | 30 | 05 | ||
| Ground Duty (Technical) | 221 / 271 / PC / 111AEC / M&W | AE (L) : 2 | AE (L) : 2 | AE (L) : 107 | AE (L) : 25 | |
| 221 / 271 / SSC / 111AEC / M&W | AE (M) : 8 | AE (M) : 2 | AE (M) : 52 | AE (M) : 13 | ||
| Ground Duty (Non -Technical) | 221 / 27G / SSC / M&W | — | — |
WS : 21 Adm : 50 Lgs : 4 Accts : 5 Edn : 1 Met : 1 |
WS : 5 Adm : 12 Lgs : 2 Accts : 2 Edn : 2 Met : 2
|
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| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 221 / 27F / PC / 221 / 27F / SSC / M&W | — | — | 10% SEATS OUTS OF CDSE VACANCIES FOR PC AND 10% SEATS OUT OF AFCAT VACANCIES FOR SSC |
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| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 221 / 271 / PC / 111AEC / M&W | AE (L) : 1 | AE (L) :1 | AE (L) : 12 | AE (L) : 3 |
| 221 / 271 / SSC / 111AEC / M&W | AE (M) : 1 | AE (M) :1 | AE (M) : 6 | AE (M) : 1 | ||
Permanent Commission (PC) for Men & Women :
Candidates joining as PC officers would continue to serve till the age of superannuation in their respective branches as per their rank.
Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men & Women :
1. The engagement period for Flying Branch (Men and Women) SSC Officers is fourteen years from the date of Commissioning.
2. The initial tenure for Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) SSC Officers would be for a period of ten years. An extension of four years may be granted subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit.
3. Grant of Permanent Commission (PC) (at a later date) would be considered subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, willingness, suitability, merit and as per prevailing policies on the subject.
4. SSC officers are not entitled for grant of pension.
(i) Flying Branch :
Candidates should have mandatorily passed with Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 level
and
Graduation with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University.
OR
BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University.
OR
Candidates who have cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University.
(ii) Ground Duty (Technical) Branch :
(iii) Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch :
Weapon Systems (WS) Branch : Candidates should have mandatorily passed with Maths and Physics at 10+2 level and
Graduation with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University.
BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University.
Administration & Logistics : Passed 10+2 and Graduate Degree (Minimum three years degree course) in any discipline from a recognized university or {cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university.}
Accounts Branch : Passed 10+2 and done graduation in any of the following streams from a recognized university.
(a)Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry : 20 to 24 years as on 01 Jul 2027 i.e. born between 02 Jul 2003 to 01 Jul 2007 (both dates inclusive). Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 years i.e. born between 02 Jul 2001 to 01 Jul 2007 (both dates inclusive).
(b) Ground Duty (Technical/ Non-Technical) Branches : All Ground Duty Branches including Technical Branch through (AFCAT) and Ground Duty (Technical) Branch through Graduate Aptitude Test for Engineering (GATE) Score Entry : 20 to 26 years as on 01 Jul 2027 i.e. born between 02 Jul 2001 to 01 Jul 2007 (both dates Inclusive).
Examination fee for AFCAT Entry : After filling in the online application form, the examination fee of ₹550/- + GST (non-refundable) for AFCAT entry (not applicable for NCC special entry/GATE Score Entry) will be paid online after submitting application. No cash or cheque or demand draft (DD) will be accepted towards payment of examination fee. The examination fee can be paid using credit/ debit cards/ net banking through the payment gateway. Applicants are advised to follow the instructions/ steps given on the payment gateway, and also print/keep the transaction details for their records. After confirmation from bank that the payment is received, the “Payment Status” will display “Application Number” which the candidate may note down for future correspondence. Simultaneously, the candidate will receive a confirmatory SMS and e-mail downloadable from his/her Login on the online application Portal and communication regarding download of Admit Card will be sent to registered Candidate’s through SMS and e-Mail.
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Indian Air Force will send call letters to all the candidates who clear the AFCAT 2 2026 to appear for the second stage of selection i.e AFSB Testing.
It includes the following two tests:
Stage 1 is called the screening test and candidates who do not clear it will be rejected and will not be called for AFSB Testing Stage 2.
All Stage 1 qualified candidates will have to appear for AFSB Stage 2 and undergo the following tests:
Psychological Tests: These are written psychological tests and are conducted by professional psychologists.
Group Tests: These tests involve mental and physical activities to examine the candidates on various mental and physical parameters.
AFSB Interview: In this round, the interviewing officer takes a personal round of interviews for the candidate.
Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) Test: This test is mandatory for only those candidates who have applied for the Flying Branch.
Recommended candidates will be called for the medical examination. The Indian Air Force has prescribed only two centers for Medical Examination, which are the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengalur,u and Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME). After the medical examination, a final merit list would be prepared based on the marks scored by the candidate in the written and AFSB interviews. All the shortlisted candidates would be given the joining letter of the respective training academies they have applied to.
In the Table Below, we have provided you with the exam pattern of the AFCAT 2026 Exam.
he candidates who are preparing for the NDA Exam 2026 must be familiar with the exam pattern that is followed by UPSC. We have discussed the details for the NDA Exam Pattern 2026 below:
1. The exam will be conducted in an offline mode
2. The questions will be in multiple-choice format
3. The questions will be asked in bilingual languages (English & Hindi)
4. There will be a negative marking of 0.83 marks for Maths, 1.33 for English, and 1.33 marks for GK
5. Have a look at the detailed exam pattern for the NDA 2 Examination
| AFCAT 2026 Exam Pattern | ||||
| Name of Exam | Subjects | Time Duration | Number of Questions | Max. Marks |
| AFCAT 2 Exam 2026 | General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test. |
02 Hours | 100 | 300 |
AFCAT Exam
Type of Questions: Multiple-Choice Questions
Time Duration: 2 hrs
No. of questions: 100
Max marks: 300
Subjects: Verbal ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, General Awareness and Military Aptitude.
Marking Scheme- 3 marks will be awarded for every correct answer
Negative Marking- There is a negative marking of 1 mark in all sections.
Syllabus for English Section:
This section of the AFCAT exam consists of at least 20 questions, and the level is from moderate to difficult. Questions would be asked from comprehension, cloze test, synonyms and antonyms, idioms and phrases, and Error spotting.
Syllabus for General Knowledge:
This section consists of questions from Indian History, Polity, Economics, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Current Affairs. The level of difficulty of this section is from easy to moderate.
Syllabus for Reasoning Section:
Questions would be asked from Series, Venn Diagram, Syllogism, Blood Relation, Non Verbal questions, Verbal reasoning, military aptitude etc.
Syllabus for Quantitative Aptitude Section:
The questions that are asked in the Mathematics sections of AFCAT are of Easy to Moderate level and questions would be asked from Number system, HCF and LCM, Time, Distance and Speed, Time and Work, Ratio and Proportion, Percentage, Average, Simple Interest and Compound Interest, Pipes And Cistern etc.
he candidates preparing for the Air Force Common Admission Test must begin their preparation with the latest AFCAT syllabus 2026 to score good marks in the entrance test.
1. Cadets in the final year of training will be given a stipend of Rs. 56,100.
2. After successful completion of training, level 10 in the Pay Matrix of the seventh Central Pay Commission will be allotted to the young Air Officers [56100-1,10,700]
3. Military Service Pay- 15,500 will also be included.
Additional Allowances
1. Flying Branch- Rs 11250 per month.
2. Technical Branch Officers: Rs 2500 per month.
In Addition to these officers are also entitled to other allowances such as TA, DA, Children Education Allowance, Ration Money Allowance etc.
| AFCAT – 2 2026 Salary Structure | ||
| Rank | Level | Pay Scale (in Rs.) |
| Flying Officer | Level 10 | Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500 |
| Flight Lieutenant | Level 10B | Rs. 61,300 – 1,93,900 |
| Squadron Leader | Level 11 | Rs. 69,400 – 2,07,200 |
| Wing Commander | Level 12A | Rs. 1,21,200 – 2,12,400 |
| Group Captain | Level 13 | Rs. 1,30,600 – 2,15,900 |
| Air Commodore | Level 13A | Rs. 1,39,600 – 2,17,600 |
| Air Vice Marshal | Level 14 | Rs. 1,44,200 – 2,18,200 |
| Air Marshal HAG Scale | Level 15 | Rs. 1,82,200 – 2,24,100 |
| HAG + Scale | Level 16 | Rs. 2,05,400 – 2,24,400 |
| VACS / Airforce Cdr / Air Marshal (NFSG) | Level 17 | Rs. 2,25,000 /- (fixed) |
| CAS | Level 18 | Rs. 2,50,000 /- (fixed) |
The AFCAT 2026 Exam will be conducted in two shifts each day, AFCAT Result will be released around a month after the exam date. The candidates who have appeared in the written exam can check their results and cut-off marks once officially released.
AFCAT cut-off marks will be released along with the AFCAT Result on the official website. AFCAT Cut Off Marks for the previous year’s AFCAT Exams have been tabulated below for your reference.
| AFCAT Previous Year Cut-Off Marks | ||
| Previous years | AFCAT-1 Cut Off | AFCAT – 2 Cut Off |
| AFCAT 2025 | 121 | 140 |
| AFCAT 2024 | 137 | 139 |
| AFCAT 2023 | 155 | 151 |
| AFCAT 2022 | 157 | 157 |
| AFCAT 2021 | 165 | 157 |
| AFCAT 2020 | 153 | 155 |
| AFCAT 2019 | 133 | 142 |
| AFCAT 2018 | 155 | 140 |
| AFCAT 2017 | 160 | 150 |
| AFCAT 2016 | 132 | 148 |
| AFCAT 2015 | 126 | 144 |