Indian Military Veterans

Officers  Cadre in Indian Air Force Recruitment 2026  (Courses Commencing January 2027) – AFCAT 01/2026 & NCC Special Entry

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has announced recruitment for Indian citizens, both men and women, to join as Commissioned Officers in the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branches. The recruitment will take place through AFCAT 01/2026 and NCC Special Entry, for courses beginning in January 2027.

Online applications will be available from 10 November 2025 (1100 hrs) and will close on 08 December 2025 (2330 hrs) at the official website: https://afcat.cdac.in.

Vacancies and Branches for IAF Officers through AFCAT

Entry Type	Branch Name	Course Code	Vacancies	Remarks
AFCAT Entry	Flying	221/27F/SSC/M & W	To be notified	Short Service Commission for both male and female
AFCAT Entry	Ground Duty (Technical)	120/26T/SSC/M & W	To be notified	Engineering backgrounds required
AFCAT Entry	Ground Duty (Non-Technical)	221/27G/SSC/M & W	To be notified	For graduates in eligible subjects
NCC Special Entry	Flying	221/27F/PC/M and SSC/M & W	10% seats of CDSE + 10% AFCAT seats	NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate required

Note: Vacancies are provisional and may change based on training capacity & administrative requirements.

Type of Commission to be awarded to IAF Officers

Short Service Commission (SSC):

• Flying Branch: 14 years from commissioning.
• Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech): Initially for 10 years, extendable to 14 years based on service needs and performance.

Permanent Commission (PC):

• May be granted later based on policy, vacancies and performance.

Age Limit (as on 01 January 2027) for selection of IAF Officers

Branch	Age Criteria	Additional Conditions
Flying Branch	20 to 24 years	Upper age limit 26 years for candidates with valid Commercial Pilot License (DGCA). Born between 02 Jan 2003 to 01 Jan 2007.
Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech)	20 to 26 years	Born between 02 Jan 2001 to 01 Jan 2007.

Educational Qualifications required for IAF Officers cadre

Flying Branch:

• May be granted later based on policy, vacancies and performance.

Age Limit (as on 01 January 2027) for selection of IAF Officers

Branch	Age Criteria	Additional Conditions
Flying Branch	20 to 24 years	Upper age limit 26 years for candidates with valid Commercial Pilot License (DGCA). Born between 02 Jan 2003 to 01 Jan 2007.
Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech)	20 to 26 years	Born between 02 Jan 2001 to 01 Jan 2007.

• Graduation with minimum 50% marks, and
• 50% marks in Physics & Mathematics at 10+2,
• OR B.E./B.Tech with minimum 50% marks.

Ground Duty (Technical):

• B.E./B.Tech in relevant engineering discipline with minimum 50%.

Ground Duty (Non-Technical):

• Graduation or post-graduation in relevant subjects with minimum 50%.

NCC Special Entry:

• NCC ‘C’ Certificate in Air Wing with minimum ‘B’ Grade.

Training & Allowances Applicable to IAF Officers

• Training will be conducted at Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
• Candidates receive stipend during training.
• After commissioning, officers receive pay as per 7th CPC, allowances & benefits such as:
  • Insurance
  • Medical & CSD facilities
  • Travel concessions
  • Accommodation

Selection Process for Indian Air Force Officers Cadre

1. AFCAT Online Written Exam
2. AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) Interview
3. Medical Examination
4. Final Merit List

NCC Special Entry candidates are directly called for AFSB Interview (no AFCAT exam)

 Online Application Guidelines

• Apply only through: https://afcat.cdac.in
• Use valid Email ID and Mobile number.
• Fill personal and educational details carefully.
• Upload scanned documents as per instructions.
• Pay application fee (if applicable for AFCAT entry).

Key Instructions for Candidates for AFCAT Examination

• Tattoos permitted only on inner forearm areas; religious tattoos allowed as per rules.
• No involvement in court cases or criminal acts.
• Must meet medical & physical standards.
• Use only original personal details; documents will be verified.

Conclusion

This recruitment provides an excellent opportunity for young, motivated individuals to serve the nation as Commissioned Officers in the Indian Air Force. Candidates interested in aviation, engineering, administration, and defense service should start preparation for AFCAT 01/2026 well in advance.

For detailed guidelines and updates, visit:
https://afcat.cdac.in