AFCAT 2026 — Air Force Common Admission Test: Officer entry into the Indian Air Force through AFCAT — Flying Branch (pilots), Technical Branch (engineers), and Ground Duty Branch (admin/logistics).Branches: Flying, Tech, GD. Salary: ₹56K+ basic. Exam: Twice/year. Age: 20-26 (varies).AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is conducted twice a year by the Indian Air Force for recruiting officers in three branches: Flying Branch (to become fighter/transport/helicopter pilots), Technical Branch (for engineering officers maintaining aircraft and systems), and Ground Duty Branch (for administration, logistics, accounts, education, and meteorology officers).
Registration OpenUpdated: March 2026
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AFCAT 2026 — Air Force Common Admission Test
Officer entry into the Indian Air Force through AFCAT — Flying Branch (pilots), Technical Branch (engineers), and Ground Duty Branch (admin/logistics)
Branches
Flying, Tech, GD
Salary
₹56K+ basic
Exam
Twice/year
Age
20-26 (varies)
📋Key Details
Conducting BodyIndian Air Force
Flying BranchAge 20-24. Graduate with 60% + Physics & Maths at 12th level.
Technical BranchAge 20-26. B.E./B.Tech in relevant engineering discipline with 60%.
Ground DutyAge 20-26. Graduate with 60% (MBA/MCA/MA/MSc for specific posts).
SelectionAFCAT Written → AFSB Interview (5 days) → Medical → Merit
ServiceShort Service Commission (14 years) or Permanent Commission (till retirement)
📝AFCAT Written (2 hours)
100 MCQs across 4 sections. Online exam at designated centers.
General Awareness25 Qs · 75 marks
Verbal Ability in English25 Qs · 75 marks
Numerical Ability18 Qs · 54 marks
Reasoning & Military Aptitude32 Qs · 96 marks
Total100 Qs · 300 marks · 120 minutes
⚠️ Negative marking: 1 mark deducted per wrong answer (each Q carries 3 marks)
💰Posts & Salary
Flying Officer — Pilot(Indian Air Force — Flying Branch)
₹95,000–1,20,000/monthFlying Officer — Technical(Indian Air Force — Technical Branch)
₹80,000–95,000/monthFlying Officer — Ground Duty(Indian Air Force — Admin/Logistics)
₹80,000–95,000/month✈️Three Branches — Which to Choose?
| Branch | Who Can Apply | Role | Unique Perk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying | Graduates with Physics+Maths at 12th, age 20-24 | Fighter/transport/helicopter pilot | Flying Allowance ₹25,000/mo, the thrill of flying |
| Technical (Aero/Elec) | B.E./B.Tech in relevant branch, age 20-26 | Aircraft maintenance, radar systems, weapons engineering | Work on cutting-edge technology |
| Ground Duty | Graduates/Post-graduates, age 20-26 | Admin, accounts, logistics, education, meteorology | More stable lifestyle, less physical demand |
📅Important Dates
AFCAT 1/2026February 2026
AFCAT 2/2026August 2026
AFSB2-3 months after written results
📚Preparation Strategy
1.AFCAT written test is moderate difficulty — easier than CDS/NDA. Focus on: English grammar + vocabulary (25 marks), current affairs + defense awareness (25 marks), basic maths (18 marks), and reasoning (32 marks — highest weightage).
2.Military aptitude questions are unique to AFCAT — spatial reasoning, direction sense, and group judgment. Practice with AFCAT-specific mock tests. These questions don't appear in other competitive exams.
3.For Flying Branch: Start preparing for PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test) early. It tests hand-eye coordination, spatial orientation, and instrument comprehension. PABT is a ONE-TIME test — if you fail, you can never reattempt for Flying Branch.
4.AFSB interview preparation is as important as the written exam. Read about Officer Like Qualities (OLQs), practice group discussions, work on physical fitness, and develop strong opinions on defense and national security topics.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
🔗Related Exams
AFCAT Portal
afcat.cdac.in