Indian Air Force Recruitment for Commissioned Officers
The Indian Air Force (IAF) invites applications from eligible Indian citizens (Men and Women) for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 02/2025 for the selection of Commissioned Officers in the following branches:
1. Type of Commission
- Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men and Women:
- Flying Branch: 14 years from the date of commissioning.
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical): Initial tenure of 10 years, with a possible extension of 4 years based on service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability, and merit.
- Permanent Commission (PC) may be considered later based on service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability, merit, and prevailing policies.
2. Eligibility Criteria
(a) Nationality
- Candidates must be citizens of India.
(b) Age
- Flying Branch: 20 to 24 years as of 01 July 2026 (born between 02 July 2002 and 01 July 2006). Upper age limit for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years (born between 02 July 2000 and 01 July 2006).
- Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical): 20 to 26 years as of 01 July 2026 (born between 02 July 2000 and 01 July 2006).
(c) Educational Qualifications
- Flying Branch:
- Minimum 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level.
- Graduation with a minimum of three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent, OR
- BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent, OR
- Candidates who have cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
- Ground Duty (Technical) Branch:
- Minimum 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level.
- Four-year degree in Engineering/Technology with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in specified disciplines (e.g., Aeronautical, Mechanical, Electronics, Computer Science, etc., as listed in the original document).
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches:
- Weapon Systems (WS) Branch: Same as Technical Branch.
- Administration & Logistics: Graduation with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
- Accounts: B.Com with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
- Education: Post-Graduation with 50% marks in any discipline and 60% marks in Graduation.
- Meteorology: B.Sc with Physics and Mathematics with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent, or four-year Graduation in Engineering/Technology in specified streams.
(d) Physical and Medical Standards
- Candidates must meet the physical and medical standards as specified in Appendix A of the notification (e.g., height, weight, vision, etc.).
- Height:
- Flying Branch: Minimum 162.5 cm.
- Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical): Minimum 157.5 cm (men), 152 cm (women).
- Specific measurements for sitting height, leg length, and thigh length apply for aircrew.
- Weight: Must be proportionate to height as per the Weight for Height Charts (Appendix A for males, Appendix B for females).
- Vision Standards: Detailed in Appendix D (e.g., Flying Branch requires 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6 both eyes).
- Candidates with tattoos must comply with the policy outlined in the notification (permitted only on specific body parts for tribal communities or small innocuous tattoos).
(e) Other Eligibility Conditions
- Candidates debarred by the Ministry of Defence, convicted on criminal charges, or removed from Defence Training Establishments on grounds of indiscipline are ineligible.
- Serving Airmen and Government employees must apply through proper channels and produce a No Objection Certificate (NOC) at the time of AFSB testing.
3. Application Process
- Online Application: Apply through https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in.
- Aadhaar Card: Mandatory for online registration.
- Steps:
- Sign up with full name, email, mobile number, and CAPTCHA verification.
- Fill in personal details (name, parents’ names, DOB, gender, etc.).
- Provide qualification details, course preferences, and communication details.
- Upload documents (photo, signature, thumb impression; 10-50 KB each in JPEG format).
- Select exam city and AFSB center (for NCC Special Entry).
- Make payment via online methods (credit/debit cards, net banking).
- Note: Ensure accuracy in all details, as incorrect information may lead to cancellation of candidature. DOB and gender cannot be changed after the “Make Payment” step.
4. Examination Details
- AFCAT Dates: 23 and 24 August 2025 (reserve day: 25 August 2025).
- Schedule:
- 1st Shift: Reporting at 08:00 AM, Exam from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
- 2nd Shift: Reporting at 01:00 PM, Exam from 03:00 PM to 05:00 PM.
- Exam Structure:
- Objective type questions in English.
- Subjects: General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning, and Military Aptitude Test.
- Total: 100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours.
- Marking: +3 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect answers, 0 for unattempted questions.
- Normalization: Marks will be normalized using the formula provided in the notification to account for variations across shifts.
- Syllabus:
- General Awareness: History, Geography, Sports, Polity, Economy, Science, Current Affairs, etc.
- Verbal Ability: Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Completion, Synonyms, Antonyms, etc.
- Numerical Ability: Decimal Fraction, Percentage, Ratio, Time & Work, etc.
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude: Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.
- Standard: Numerical Ability at Matriculation level; other subjects at Graduation level.
5. Selection Process
- Stage 1: AFCAT written examination (except for NCC Special Entry candidates, who are directly called for AFSB testing).
- Stage 2: Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Testing:
- Stage-I: Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and Discussion Test.
- Stage-II: Psychological Tests, Group Tests, Interview, and CPSS (for Flying Branch).
- Stage 3: Medical Examination as per IAF standards.
- Final Merit List: Based on total marks in AFCAT and AFSB tests. 10% of vacancies are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate holders.
6. Pay and Allowances
- Pay on Commissioning (as per 7th CPC):
- Flying Officer: Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500 (Level 10) + MSP Rs. 15,500.
- Flight Cadets: Fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during training.
- Allowances: Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, Transport Allowance, Risk and Hardship Allowance, etc., based on branch and posting.
- Insurance: Rs. 1.25 crore cover from Air Force Group Insurance Society (on contribution).
7. Important Dates
- Application Period: As per the notification (typically opens in June 2025).
- Examination Dates: 23-24 August 2025.
- Admit Card: Issued two weeks before the exam, downloadable from the website.
8. How to Apply
- Apply online at https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in.
- Ensure all documents (Matriculation/10+2 certificates, degree certificates, NCC certificate if applicable) are ready.
- Contact AFCAT Cell for queries: 020-25503105/06 or afcatcell@cdac.in.
- For eligibility and selection process queries: 011-23010231 Extn: 7610.
9. Important Links
- Official Website: Click here
- Apply Now: Click here
- Notification: Click here
10. Important Notes
- Selection is merit-based and fair. Any attempt to influence the process or use unfair means will lead to cancellation of candidature and legal action.
- Candidates must meet all eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications as per UGC guidelines.
- No RTI queries will be entertained for information already available on the official website after the specified period.