The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the recruitment advertisement for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 02/2026 Batch). This national-level entrance exam offers entry into commissioned officer roles across the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branches for courses commencing in July 2027.
Eligible male and female candidates can submit their AFCAT July 2027 online application through the official portal (afcat.cdac.in or afcat.edcil.co.in) from May 20, 2026, to June 19, 2026 (until 11:30 PM).
Indian Airforce AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment Online Form
The Indian Air Force (Bhartiya Vayu Sena) has issued the official notification for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 02/2026). This recruitment cycle includes commissions for Flying branches, Ground Duty Technical/Non-Technical branches, along with the NCC Special Entry scheme for courses commencing in July 2027. Eligible Indian male and female defense aspirants can apply online within the designated timeline schedule.
Alert Notice: The last date to complete online registrations and submit fees for the AFCAT 02/2026 entry is 19/06/2026. Make sure to complete your application profile before the deadline.
Recruitment Overview
| IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Summary Matrix | |
|---|---|
| Conducting Authority | Indian Air Force (Bhartiya Vayu Sena) |
| Exam Name | AFCAT 02/2026 / NCC Special Entry (July 2027 Course) |
| Job Profile Streams | Flying & Ground Duty (Technical / Non-Technical) Officers |
| Official Direct Webspace | afcat.cdac.in |
Application Processing Fees
- AFCAT Entry (All Candidates): Rs. 550/-
- NCC Special Entry / Meteorology Entry: Rs. 0/- (Exempted)
- Payment Modes: Examination fee can be seamlessly paid online utilizing Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking, or UPI infrastructure options only.
Important Timeline Dates
| Recruitment Phase Event | Target Timeline Schedule |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Opening Date | 20/05/2026 |
| Last Date for Submitting Application Online | 19/06/2026 |
| Last Date to Finalize Exam Fee Payment | 19/06/2026 |
| AFCAT 02/2026 Examination Date | 08/08/2026 (Saturday) |
| Admit Card Release Window | Available shortly before the online written exam |
Age Limitations & Target Boundaries (As on 01/07/2027)
- Flying Branch Batch: 20 to 24 Years (Candidates must be born between 02/07/2003 and 01/07/2007).
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches: 20 to 26 Years (Candidates must be born between 02/07/2001 and 01/07/2007).
- For descriptive age queries matching NCC Special and Meteorology entry types, check out the formal notification handbook parameters.
Branch-Wise Vacancy Details Breakdown
| Entry System | Branch / Post Code Designation | Male Vacancies | Female Vacancies | Total Seats Available |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying Branch | 30 | 05 | 35 |
| Ground Duty Technical | Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – PC | 02 | 02 | 04 |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – PC | 08 | 02 | 10 | |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – SSC | 107 | 25 | 132 | |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – SSC | 52 | 13 | 65 | |
| Ground Duty Technical (GATE Score) | Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – PC | 01 | 01 | 02 |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – PC | 01 | 01 | 02 | |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) – SSC | 12 | 03 | 15 | |
| Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) – SSC | 06 | 01 | 07 | |
| Ground Duty Non-Technical | Administration (Admin) | 50 | 12 | 62 |
| Logistics (LGS) | 04 | 02 | 06 | |
| Accounts | 05 | 02 | 07 | |
| Education | 01 | 02 | 03 | |
| Weapon Systems (WS) Branch | 21 | 05 | 26 | |
| Meteorology Entry | Meteorology Branch | 01 | 02 | 03 |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying Branch | 10% seats from CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats from AFCAT vacancies for SSC. | ||
Eligibility Standards & Educational Thresholds
| Branch Streams | Minimum Educational & Professional Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch | Bachelor Degree in any stream with Physics & Mathematics at 10+2 Intermediate level OR B.E / B.Tech engineering course credentials from a recognized institution. |
| Ground Duty Technical |
|
| Administration & Logistics |
Bachelor Degree in any academic domain with an aggregate scoring threshold of at least 60% marks.
Physical Measurement Baselines: Height Male: 157.5 CMS | Height Female: 152 CMS. |
| Accounts |
Bachelor Degree in Commerce (B.Com) containing at least a minimum score metric of 60% marks.
Physical Measurement Baselines: Height Male: 157.5 CMS | Height Female: 152 CMS. |
| NCC Special Entry (Flying) | Possession of an active NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate along with the academic benchmarks satisfying the core Flying Branch parameters. |
How to Fill out the Indian Airforce AFCAT 02/2026 Form
- Eligible candidate streams can fill up the interactive application system using the official recruitment window during the active cycle from 20 May 2026 to 19 June 2026.
- Candidates are firmly requested to scan and carefully read the detailed AFCAT 02/2026 text notice before launching their registration.
- Collect all necessary base documents — Handwriting draft samples, eligibility proofs, unique ID logs, and complete baseline address updates.
- Prepare high-resolution scans of your validation parameters including passport photo, left-hand thumb impression, and digital signature records.
- Review your detailed application draft via the form preview interface options before making a final system submission.
- Submit the online examination fee if your category requires it. Unpaid application cycles will automatically be flagged as invalid or incomplete.
- Always print out your electronic confirmation copy and keep your payment receipts recorded securely for further tracking.
Strategic Success Note: ground duty candidates applying through the GATE entry path must hold a valid GATE score card within the relevant core subjects to be qualified for shortlisting straight into the AFSB selection pipeline.
Direct Official Reference Links
| Target System Operation Channels | Official URL Channel Links |
|---|---|
| Apply Online / Registration Portal Gateway | Click Here to Apply |
| Download Complete Detailed Notification PDF | Click Here for PDF |
| Official Indian Airforce Recruitment Website | Visit Official Portal |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. What is the final deadline to submit the online form for AFCAT 02/2026?
The final target threshold to conclude online profile matching registrations and clear system application fees is 19 June 2026.
Q2. What are the defined physical height expectations for non-technical Ground Duty candidates?
Male applicants are required to hit a baseline height metric of 157.5 CMS, while female candidates need to reach a minimum standard of 152 CMS.
Q3. Are Commerce grads eligible to register across all distinct Ground Duty sections?
While B.Com graduates can apply for Administration and Logistics paths (provided they hold an aggregate score of 60%), they have custom eligibility privileges tailored for the specialized Accounts Branch.
Important Disclaimer: All core recruitment matrices, branch seat balances, and timeline schedules presented above are carefully structured for candidate convenience. For authoritative adjustments, official exam syllabus variants, and updated instructions, cross-check the live web-portals at naukridisha.com with the official Indian Air Force announcement portals.
