Indian Airforce AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment Details and Eligibility
The Indian Airforce’s AFCAT 01/2027 recruitment cycle covers Flying, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non Technical opportunities, alongside NCC Special Entry provisions. Prospective applicants need to assess the qualification requirements for their intended entry rather than treat the recruitment as a single, uniform eligibility route.
The application process takes place online, with registration and fee payment governed by the same closing date. Academic qualifications, the specified age-calculation date and entry-specific fee exceptions are separate checks that candidates should complete before submitting their applications.
AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment: Vacancy Structure and Application Requirements

The recruitment carries 379 posts, but individual vacancy counts for Flying, Ground Duty Technical, Ground Duty Non Technical and NCC Special Entry are not specified. The overall total therefore does not establish how many positions are available in any particular branch.
NCC Special Entry has a separate allocation condition: 10% of the seats from CDSE vacancies are reserved for Permanent Commission (PC), while 10% of the seats from AFCAT vacancies are reserved for Short Service Commission (SSC). These percentages refer to different vacancy pools and should not be combined into a single reservation percentage.
Application Schedule and Deadline Coordination
Online applications open on 12 November 2026, and both application submission and fee payment close on 11 December 2026. Applicants who must pay the fee should coordinate both actions within that window rather than assume that payment remains available after registration closes.
The examination date will be notified later, so the application deadline is the immediate scheduling priority. Admit cards are scheduled before the examination, while a result date has not been specified.
| Event | Date or timing |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 12 November 2026 |
| Last date to apply online | 11 December 2026 |
| Last date for fee payment | 11 December 2026 |
| Examination | To be notified later |
| Admit card | Before the examination |
| Result | Date not specified |
Age Eligibility and the Reference Date
The stated minimum age is 20 years, and the maximum age is 26 years. Age is calculated as on 01 January 2028, not on the application opening or closing date.
This distinction matters because the registration window falls in 2026, whereas the age reference point falls in 2028. Candidates should assess their age against that specified reference date before proceeding with the academic eligibility check.
Flying and Ground Duty Technical Qualifications
Flying and Ground Duty Technical use different academic criteria, so eligibility for one does not by itself establish eligibility for the other. The Flying criteria provide a bachelor’s-degree route linked to school-level subjects, or a B.E./B.Tech route.
The technical qualification specified here is for Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics), with both a school-level marks requirement and a degree-duration requirement. Candidates should compare the full qualification description with their educational record rather than rely only on the title of their degree.
| Branch | Academic requirement |
|---|---|
| Flying | Bachelor’s Degree in any stream with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, or a B.E./B.Tech degree. |
| Ground Duty Technical — Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) | 60% in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 and a minimum four-year Graduation or Integrated Postgraduate Degree in Engineering or Technology. |
Ground Duty Non Technical Qualifications and Height Standards
Ground Duty Non Technical eligibility varies across Administration & Logistics, Accounts and Education. Administration & Logistics accepts a bachelor’s degree in any stream, while Accounts specifies Commerce and Education specifies particular postgraduate qualifications.
The marks threshold also differs between these routes, making both the qualification and the percentage relevant to branch choice. For these three categories, the stated minimum height is 157.5 cm for male candidates and 152 cm for female candidates.
| Category | Required qualification | Minimum marks |
|---|---|---|
| Administration & Logistics | Bachelor’s Degree in any stream | 60% |
| Accounts | Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce (B.Com) | 60% |
| Education | MBA, MCA, MA or M.Sc. | 50% |
Meteorology and NCC Special Entry Requirements
Meteorology Entry requires a Master’s Degree in any discipline from a recognized university. Its stated academic requirement is distinct from the branch-specific qualifications outlined above.
NCC Special Entry — Flying requires an NCC Air Wing Senior Division “C” Certificate along with the other qualifications prescribed for the Flying Branch. The certificate is therefore an additional requirement, not a replacement for Flying Branch academic eligibility.
Application Fee and Entry-Specific Exceptions
The general application fee is ₹550 for all candidates, subject to the named entry exceptions. NCC Special Entry and Meteorology Entry each carry a fee of ₹0.
The fee distinction is tied to the entry route, so applicants should identify their route before determining the amount payable. A fee exemption does not replace the qualification requirements for that entry.
| Applicant or entry type | Application fee |
|---|---|
| All candidates, except the entries below | ₹550 |
| NCC Special Entry | ₹0 |
| Meteorology Entry | ₹0 |
Selection Process and Assessment Sequence
The listed selection process comprises a Written Exam, Air Force Selection Board (AFSB), Document Verification and Medical Examination. This structure separates examination and board assessment from the subsequent verification and medical stages.
Candidates should therefore view the written examination as one component of the process rather than the complete selection exercise. Examination-pattern details, including marks, duration and negative marking, are not specified.
- Written Exam
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB)
- Document Verification
- Medical Examination
How to Approach the Online Application
Candidates must use the official AFCAT website to complete the online application process. Before entering their details, they should identify the relevant entry and compare their qualifications with its stated requirements.
That comparison should keep degree type, required marks, school-level subjects and any additional certificate requirement distinct. Completing these checks before submission helps candidates avoid choosing an entry on the basis of only one matching qualification.
- Visit the official AFCAT website.
- Complete the online application for the relevant entry.
- Submit the application within the prescribed window and complete fee payment where applicable.
Important Links
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