Indian Air Force (IAF) has released a notification on its official website for the recruitment of AFCAT 01/2027 — Flying & Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry. This recruitment is for 284 posts positions. IAF Application Form will start on 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) & candidates can apply until 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). Minimum age required is 20 Years & the Maximum Age is 26 Years as on 01 January 2028. Candidates must check the complete details for AFCAT 01/2027 — Flying & Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry Recruitment 2026 given below. (Advt No. : AFCAT 01/2027, courses commencing January 2028 (detailed notification dated 11 November 2026; short notice 02 November 2026))
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has invited online applications from unmarried Indian men and women for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027, along with NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses commencing in January 2028. The notification, released on 11 November 2026, offers 284 fixed vacancies — 36 in the Flying Branch, 124 in Ground Duty (Technical), 108 in Ground Duty (Non-Technical) and 16 through GATE Score Entry. Online applications open on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and close on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM.
Flying Branch needs 10+2 with Mathematics and Physics plus a graduation degree or BE/B.Tech, with age 20–24 years as on 01 January 2028. Ground Duty (Technical) needs 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics and a four-year engineering degree with at least 60% marks, while Ground Duty (Non-Technical) takes graduates — Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology and Weapon Systems — with age 20–26 years. NCC Air Wing ‘C’ certificate holders can apply through NCC Special Entry without the written test, and engineering graduates with a valid GATE score can apply through GATE Score Entry.
Selection is through the online AFCAT written examination on 31 January 2027, followed by AFSB testing and medical examination. The examination fee is Rs. 550 plus GST for AFCAT entry only; NCC and GATE entry candidates pay no fee. Apply only through the official portal afcat.edcil.co.in and read the detailed 66-page notification before filling the form, because the vacancies are tentative and subject to change.
Candidates are advised to confirm dates from the IAF official website.
Examination fee of Rs. 550 + GST (non-refundable) for AFCAT entry only, payable online by credit/debit card or net banking after submitting the application. No fee for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates. No cash, cheque or demand draft is accepted.
- Minimum Age: 20 Years
- Maximum Age: 26 Years
- Flying Branch (AFCAT and NCC Special Entry): 20–24 years (born between 02 January 2004 and 01 January 2008, both dates inclusive); Commercial Pilot Licence holders relaxable up to 26 years. Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical): 20–26 years (born between 02 January 2002 and 01 January 2008). Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. Vacancies are tentative and subject to change.
| 💼 Post Name | No. Of Posts |
|---|---|
| 💼 Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry) | 36 |
| 💼 Ground Duty (Technical) | 124 |
| 💼 Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 108 |
| 💼 GATE Score Entry — Ground Duty (Technical) | 16 |
| Total | 284 posts |
- Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry): 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics + 3-year graduation in any discipline, OR 4-year BE/B.Tech, OR Sections A & B of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) / Aeronautical Society of India. Age 20–24 years as on 01 January 2028. Unmarried candidates only.
- Ground Duty (Technical) — AE(L) / AE(M): 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics + 4-year degree / integrated post-graduation in Engineering/Technology in the notified disciplines (or Sections A & B as above), with minimum 60% marks in aggregate. Age 20–26 years as on 01 January 2028.
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Weapon Systems: 10+2 Maths & Physics + 3-year graduation or BE/B.Tech. Administration & Logistics: 10+2 + graduation in any discipline. Accounts: 10+2 + B.Com / BBA (Finance) / BMS (Finance) / BBS (Finance), or CA/CMA/CS/CFA, or B.Sc. with Finance specialisation. Education: 10+2 + post-graduation in any discipline. Meteorology: 10+2 + B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics, or 4-year engineering graduation. Age 20–26 years as on 01 January 2028.
- NCC Special Entry (Flying): NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate + graduation as for Flying Branch. Written exam exempted; directly called for AFSB testing. Age 20–24 years as on 01 January 2028. Seats are 10% of Flying Branch seats.
- GATE Score Entry: BE/B.Tech in any of the 133 notified disciplines + qualified in any of the 10 GATE disciplines, with a GATE score obtained within the last three years from the course commencement date. Age 20–26 years as on 01 January 2028.
- Age Limit: Flying Branch: 20–24 years; Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical): 20–26 years, as on 01 January 2028. Commercial Pilot Licence holders relaxable up to 26 years for Flying Branch. Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course.