AFCAT 01/2027 Notification: 284 Vacancies in IAF Flying & Ground Duty, Apply Online 12 Nov – 11 Dec, Exam 31 January

The Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 01/2027 notification for Group 'A' gazetted officer posts in the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, plus the NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses starting in January 2028. There are 284 vacancies for men and women. Apply online at afcat.edcil.co.in from 12 November 2026 (11 AM) to 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM). The online exam is on Sunday, 31 January 2027.

Graduates and engineers aged 20–24 (Flying) or 20–26 (Ground Duty) can apply, including final-year students. Officers start at ₹56,100 a month (Level 10) plus Military Service Pay. All details below are from the official AFCAT 01/2027 notification.

AFCAT 01/2027 — Overview

Important Dates

Vacancy Details (284)

PC = Permanent Commission; SSC = Short Service Commission (Flying: 14 years; Ground Duty: 10 years, extendable by 4). Vacancies are tentative. 10% of Ground Duty seats are for NCC Air Wing 'C' certificate holders, and two Non-Tech seats are for LLB holders.

Eligibility

Age (as on 1 January 2028)

• Flying (AFCAT and NCC Special Entry): 20–24 years, born 2 January 2004 to 1 January 2008. Holders of a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence: up to 26 years.
• Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical): 20–26 years, born 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008.
• Candidates must be unmarried at the start of training; marriage is not allowed during training.

Educational Qualification

• Final-year students with no current backlog can apply; proof of completing final exams is needed by 30 November 2027.
• Diploma holders in place of 10+2 are not eligible.
• Marks: the eligibility section of this notification (para 5.3) does not state a minimum percentage. Earlier AFCAT notices required 50–60%, so read para 5 of the official PDF carefully before applying.
• Those who failed CPSS earlier, or were suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy, cannot apply for Flying.

Exam Pattern

NCC Special Entry candidates (NCC Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate obtained within the last two years) skip the written exam and go straight to the AFSB.

Selection Process

1. AFCAT online exam on 31 January 2027 (not for NCC Special Entry).
2. AFSB testing at an Air Force Selection Board: Stage I, then Stage II (psychological tests, group tests, interview); CPSS for Flying.
3. Medical examination as per IAF standards.
4. Final merit on written + AFSB marks (minimum marks needed in each), then branch allotment by merit, medical fitness and choice.

Training, Pay and Benefits

• Training: about 74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty Technical, 50 weeks for Non-Technical, from January 2028.
• Stipend during training: ₹56,100 a month (fixed).
• Pay on commissioning: Flying Officer, Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) + Military Service Pay ₹15,500, plus allowances such as Flying and Technical allowance.
• Insurance: ₹1.25 crore cover (on contribution) through AFGIS.
• Fitness: the notification advises preparing for a 4 km run in 15 minutes, 20 push-ups and sit-ups, 8 chin-ups, 3–4 m rope climbing and 25 m swimming. Flying cadets must weigh at least 48 kg before flying training.

How to Apply

1. Open afcat.edcil.co.in and click the AFCAT 01/2027 registration link (direct login page). Aadhaar is mandatory.
2. Fill in personal details, 10+2 percentages in Physics and Maths, graduation details and branch preferences.
3. Upload photo, signature and thumb impression (our resizer can help).
4. Pay ₹550 + GST online (not for NCC Special Entry), submit by 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM, and print the form.

Helpdesk: +91-9513252077, afcathelpdesk@edcil.co.in.

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