AFCAT 1 2026 Notification Out: Exam Date, Syllabus, and How to Apply for 221 & 220 Courses. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the official AFCAT 1 2026 Notification. This is a golden opportunity for Indian citizens (both Men and Women) to join the elite force as Group ‘A’ Gazetted Officers. Applications are invited for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches for courses commencing in January 2027.
AFCAT 1 2026 Notification: All Important Dates
The first step is to mark your calendar. The IAF has announced a clear schedule for the application and examination process.
| Event | Date |
| Online Application Start Date | 17 November 2025 (11:00 Hr) |
| Online Application Last Date | 14 December 2025 (23:30 Hr) |
| AFCAT 1 2026 Exam Date | 31 January 2026 (Saturday) |
| Admit Card Download | From 22 January 2026 (11:00 Hr) |
How many vacancies are in Air Force 1 in 2026?
The Air force afcat 01 2026 notification includes vacancies for both Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) for men and women. Here is a breakdown of the vacancies:
AFCAT 1 2026 Vacancy Details (Intake 01/2026)
| Entry | Branch | Commission | Men | Women |
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | SSC | 34 | 04 |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | PC (AE(L)) | 03 | 03 | |
| SSC (AE(L)) | 100 | 23 | ||
| PC (AE(M)) | 09 | 03 | ||
| SSC (AE(M)) | 38 | 09 | ||
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | SSC (Weapon Systems) | 21 | 05 | |
| SSC (Admin) | 48 | 12 | ||
| SSC (Lgs) | 09 | 02 | ||
| SSC (Accts) | 08 | 02 | ||
| SSC (Edn) | 02 | 02 | ||
| SSC (Met) | 01 | 02 | ||
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | PC & SSC | 10% of CDSE (PC) & 10% of AFCAT (SSC) vacancies |
AFCAT 1 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Before you apply, you must ensure you meet all the eligibility conditions set by the IAF.
Age Limit (As on 01 January 2027)
This is a common question: What is the age limit for AFCAT 1 2026 ? The age is calculated as of 01 January 2027.
- Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry):
- Age: 20 to 24 years.
- Born Between: 02 January 2003 to 01 January 2007 (both dates inclusive).
- Relaxation: Upper age limit is relaxable up to 26 years for candidates with a valid and current Commercial Pilot License (CPL).
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch:
- Age: 20 to 26 years.
- Born Between: 02 January 2001 to 01 January 2007 (both dates inclusive).
Note: Candidates must be unmarried at the time of commencement of the course. Marriage is not permitted during training.
Educational Qualification
This is the most critical section. The requirements change for each branch.
Flying Branch
- Candidates must have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level.
- AND
- Graduation (3-year course) in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks OR
- BE/B.Tech degree (4-year course) with a minimum of 60% marks.
Ground Duty (Technical) Branch {AE(L) & AE(M)}
- Candidates must have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level.
- AND
- A minimum of four years degree (BE/B.Tech) with 60% marks in one of the relevant engineering disciplines as listed in the official notification.
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch
- Weapon Systems (WS) Branch: 10+2 with 50% in Maths & Physics AND 60% in Graduation (any discipline) or 60% in BE/B.Tech.
- Administration & Logistics Branch: 10+2 passed AND Graduate Degree (any discipline) with a minimum of 60% marks.
- Accounts Branch: 10+2 passed AND 60% marks in B.Com, BBA (Finance), BMS (Finance), CA, CMA, CS, CFA, or B.Sc. (Finance) .
- Education Branch: 10+2 passed AND 60% marks in Graduation (any discipline) AND 50% marks in Post-Graduation (any discipline).
- Meteorology Branch: 10+2 passed AND B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics with 60% marks OR 60% in a relevant Engineering/Technology degree.
Answering a Key Question: Can I clear AFCAT without Maths?
Yes, you can, but only for specific Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches.
- Branches that DO NOT require Maths & Physics at 10+2:
- Administration & Logistics
- Accounts Branch
- Education Branch
- Branches that MANDATORILY require Maths & Physics at 10+2:
- Flying Branch
- Ground Duty (Technical)
- Ground Duty (Weapon Systems)
- Ground Duty (Meteorology) (unless you have a B.Sc. with Physics & Maths)
AFCAT 1 2026 Selection Process (In Detail)
The selection for AFCAT is a multi-stage process.
Step 1: Online AFCAT Exam
All candidates who apply for AFCAT entry (except NCC Special Entry) must appear for the online written test on 31 Jan 26. Candidates applying for the NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch) are exempted from the written exam and will be directly called for the AFSB interview.
Step 2: AFSB Interview (SSB)
Candidates who clear the AFCAT written exam will be called for testing at one of the Air Force Selection Boards (AFSBs) in Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi, or Guwahati. This testing is a 5-day process.
- Stage-I: This is a screening test conducted on the first day. It includes the Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PP&DT). Candidates who clear Stage-I will stay for the remaining tests.
- Stage-II: Conducted over the next five days, this includes a Psychological Test, Group Tests, and a personal Interview.
- For Flying Branch: Candidates who pass Stage-II and have applied for the Flying branch will also have to undergo the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) test. This is a “once in a lifetime” test. If you have failed it once, you can never apply for the Flying branch again.
Step 3: Medical Examination
Candidates who are recommended by the AFSB will be sent for a detailed medical examination at an Air Force Medical establishment. The specific medical standards are detailed in Appendix A of the notification.
Step 4: Final Merit List
A final merit list will be prepared based on the candidate’s total marks in the AFCAT written exam and the AFSB interview. The final allotment of the branch will depend on vacancies, merit, medical fitness, and the candidate’s choice.
AFCAT 1 2026 Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme
Understanding the exam pattern is essential for your preparation.
| Exam | Subject | Duration | No. of Questions | Max Marks |
| AFCAT | General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test | 02 Hours | 100 | 300 |
- Type of Exam: Objective type questions.
- Language: The paper will be in English only.
- Marking Scheme:
- Correct Answer: +3 Marks
- Incorrect Answer: -1 Mark
- Un-attempted: 0 Marks
What is the syllabus for AFCAT exam 2026?
The syllabus for the AFCAT 1 2026 exam is as follows (this also answers queries for “What is the syllabus of AFCAT exam 2025 ? .
English
Comprehension, Detect Error in Sentence, Sentence Completion/Filling in of correct word, Synonym/Antonym, Cloze Test, Idioms and Phrases, Analogy, Sentence Rearranging, Substitution in a Sentence/One Word Substitution, and Transformation of Sentence.
General Awareness
History, Geography, Sports, National & International Organisations, Art & Culture, Personalities, Environment & Ecology, Indian Polity, Economy, Basic Science Based Knowledge, Science & Technology, Current Affairs (National & International), and Defence.
Numerical Ability
Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average/Percentage, Profit & Loss, Ratio & Proportion, Simple and Compound Interest, Time & Distance and Races (Trains/Boats & Streams), Area and Perimeter, Probability, Number System & Number Series, Mixture & Allegation Rules, and basic statistics.
- Standard: The standard for this section will be of Matriculation (10th) level.
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test
This section will include both Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning questions.
How to Apply for AFCAT 1 2026 (Step-by-Step)
Applications must be submitted online through the official AFCAT website. Aadhaar Card is mandatory for online registration.
Official Website: https://afcat.edcil.co.in
Application Fee
- AFCAT Entry: A non-refundable fee of ₹550/- + GST is applicable.
- NCC Special Entry: No application fee is required.
Step-by-Step Application Guide
- Step 1: Registration / Sign-up:
- Visit the official website
https://afcat.edcil.co.in. - Go to “Candidate Login” and click on “Sign-up” or “Registration.”
- Fill in your personal details (Name, Email, Mobile No.) and generate an OTP.
- A User ID (Application Sequence No.) and Password will be sent to your registered email and mobile.
- Visit the official website
- Step 2: Sign-in and Fill Application:
- Log in using your User ID and Password.
- Click on “Go To Application”.
- Fill in your Personal Details, Communication Details, Qualification Details, and Course Preferences.
- Step 3: Upload Documents:
- Upload scanned copies of your recent photograph, signature, and thumb impression in the specified format.
- Document Specifications:
- Photograph: 100kb to 200kb (jpg/jpeg)
- Signature: 80kb to 150kb (jpg/jpeg)
- Thumb Impression: 50kb to 100kb (jpg/jpeg) (Left thumb for males, Right thumb for females)
- Step 4: Make Payment:
- After uploading, you will be redirected to the payment gateway.
- Pay the ₹550 + GST fee via Net Banking, Debit Card, Credit Card, or UPI. (Not applicable for NCC Special Entry).
- Step 5: Print Application:
- After successful payment, your application will be submitted.
- Print a copy of your final application form and keep it for future reference.
Air force afcat 01 2026 notification pdf download
To read the complete details, including the extensive list of eligible engineering degrees and in-depth medical standards, you can download the Air force afcat 01 2026 notification pdf directly from the official website https://afcat.edcil.co.in.
Important Links
| Details of Topic | Direct Links |
| Download Exam City/ Admit Card Official Link | Check Here |
| Official Notification | Click Here |
| Apply Link | Click Here |
| Official Website | Click Here |
| Join Telegram Channel | Click Here |
| Join Youtube Channel | Click Here |
Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is for informational purposes only and is based on the official AFCAT 01/2026 Notification. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, candidates are strictly advised to read the official notification thoroughly before applying. In case of any ambiguity, the policies, rules, and regulations of the IAF/Govt. of India will be final.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is the AFCAT 1 2025 form out?
No. The application window for AFCAT 1 2025 is closed. This article details the AFCAT 1 2026 notification. The online applications for AFCAT 1 2026 will be accepted from 17 November 2025 to 14 December 2025.
Q2. What is the exam date for AFCAT 1 2026?
The AFCAT 1 2026 online examination will be conducted on a single day, Saturday, 31 January 2026.
Q3. What is the age limit for AFCAT 1 2026 Flying Branch?
For the Flying Branch, candidates must be between 20 to 24 years as of 01 January 2027. This means you must be born between 02 January 2003 and 01 January 2007.
Q4. Can female candidates apply for this notification?
Yes, the Air force afcat 01 2026 notification for female candidates is open. As per the notification, vacancies for women are available in the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches.
Q5. Can I apply for AFCAT without Maths in 10+2?
Yes, you can, but only for specific Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches. The Administration, Logistics, Accounts, and Education branches do not require Maths and Physics at the 10+2 level. However, Flying, GD (Technical), WS, and Meteorology branches have a mandatory 10+2 Maths & Physics requirement.