Indian Air Force Issues AFCAT 01/2026 Notification for 340 Officer Posts

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the AFCAT 01/2026 notification to recruit 340 officers across the Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), Ground Duty (Non-Technical), and NCC Special Entry branches. The online application process was opened on November 17, 2025, and will remain active until December 14, 2025, through the official portal afcat.edcil.co.in. The online AFCAT examination has been scheduled for January 31, 2026.

According to the notification, the posts will be filled through Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) entries. Vacancies have been distributed branch-wise, including Flying, Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical), Weapon Systems, Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, and Meteorology. Ten per cent of the vacancies have been reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate holders under NCC Special Entry.

Eligibility criteria have been prescribed as per branch requirements. A graduation degree with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level or a BE/B.Tech qualification has been mandated for the Flying Branch. Technical branches require BE/B.Tech degrees in specified engineering disciplines, while non-technical branches require graduation or post-graduation in relevant fields. For the Flying Branch, candidates aged between 20 and 24 years as on January 1, 2027, are eligible, with upper age relaxation up to 26 years for holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence. For Ground Duty branches, the age limit has been set between 20 and 26 years.

The pay for a Flying Officer has been placed under Level 10 of the Defence Pay Matrix, ranging from Rs. 56,100 to Rs. 1,77,500, along with a Military Service Pay (MSP) of Rs. 15,500. Flight Cadets undergoing training will receive a monthly stipend of Rs. 56,100. Additional allowances such as Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, Transport Allowance, and Risk and Hardship Allowance will be provided depending on the nature of duty and place of posting.

The selection process will be carried out in stages through the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB). Stage-I will include the Officer Intelligence Rating Test and a Picture Perception and Discussion Test. Only candidates who qualify this stage will proceed to Stage-II, which will include psychological tests, group tasks, and interviews conducted over five days. Candidates shortlisted for the Flying Branch will undergo the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test, which will be administered only once in a lifetime. Candidates who have failed CPSS/PABT in earlier attempts will not be eligible.

The final merit list will be prepared based on the marks secured in the written examination and AFSB tests. Candidates must obtain the minimum qualifying marks separately in both stages as decided by the IAF. Branch allocation will depend on merit, medical fitness, available vacancies, and preference.

Applications must be submitted online using Aadhaar-based registration. Candidates have been advised to ensure accuracy while filling the application form, as details cannot be edited after submission or fee payment. Multiple applications submitted using the same Aadhaar number will result in only the latest application being considered, while fees paid for earlier submissions will not be refunded.

The detailed notification, online application link, and advertisement have been made available on the official AFCAT website.