The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the short notice for AFCAT 01/2027, the Air Force Common Admission Test, along with NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. Through these routes, young men and women can become Commissioned Officers in the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The online application opens on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and closes on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM. The training course starts in the first week of January 2028.
This is the short notice, so the total vacancies, the detailed qualifications and the medical standards will come in the full notification. This guide gives you everything that is confirmed today: dates, age limits with exact birth dates, fee, pay and stipend, training length, entry routes, the exam pattern and a 12-week plan. It also shows how the +3 and −1 marking works in numbers, which is the most useful thing to understand before you start preparing.
AFCAT 01/2027 Notification Out — Indian Air Force Officer Entry (Course Starts January 2028)
Flying and Ground Duty Branches | AFCAT, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry | Apply Online 12 November to 11 December 2026
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| Particulars | Details |
| Organization | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 01/2027 |
| Other Entries | NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry |
| Post | Commissioned Officer (Flying Officer on commissioning) |
| Branches | Flying; Ground Duty (Technical); Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
| Total Vacancies | To be announced in the detailed notification |
| Age Limit | Flying: 20 to 24 years. Ground Duty: 20 to 26 years (as on 1 January 2028) |
| Application Fee | ₹550 + GST (AFCAT Entry). No fee for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry |
| Application Start | 12 November 2026, 11:00 AM |
| Last Date | 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM |
| Course Start | First week of January 2028 |
| Training Place | Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad |
| Application Website | afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Career Website | careerairforce.gov.in |
AFCAT 01/2027 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
| Notification (Short Notice) | November 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 12 November 2026, 11:00 AM |
| Last Date to Apply Online | 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM |
| AFCAT Exam Date | To be announced |
| Admit Card | To be announced |
| AFSB Interview | To be announced |
| Course Commencement | First week of January 2028 |
The window is 30 days, and it opens in 10 days from today (2 November). Since the course starts in January 2028, a candidate who joins will complete the exam, interview and medical well in advance, so there is time to prepare properly before the application even opens. Use these 10 days to check your eligibility, ID, photograph and certificates.
Three Ways to Become an IAF Officer in This Notice
| Entry Route | Branches | Fee | Who Is It For |
| AFCAT Entry | Flying; Ground Duty (Technical); Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | ₹550 + GST | Candidates who clear the AFCAT online exam |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying Branch (10% seats as specified in the notification) | No fee | Candidates with the required NCC qualification |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | No fee | Candidates with a valid GATE score, where eligible |
- Candidates who are eligible for more than one entry must register separately for each entry
- Flying Branch gives a Short Service Commission (SSC)
- Ground Duty branches give Permanent Commission (PC) or Short Service Commission (SSC) opportunities
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical) includes Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education and Meteorology, and the short notice also lists Weapon Systems under it
The NCC and GATE routes have no fee and use their own selection path, so a candidate holding an NCC certificate or a good GATE score has an extra door, apart from the AFCAT exam. Apply through every route for which you are eligible, because each one is a separate chance.
Age Limit With Exact Date of Birth Ranges
| Branch | Age Limit | Eligible Date of Birth (Both Dates Included) |
| Flying Branch | 20 to 24 years | 2 January 2004 to 1 January 2008 |
| Flying Branch with a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence | Up to 26 years | 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008 |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | 20 to 26 years | 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008 |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 20 to 26 years | 2 January 2002 to 1 January 2008 |
Age is counted on 1 January 2028, which is 14 months after the application closes. A candidate born in December 2007 who is only 18 today can still apply, because he or she will be 20 by January 2028. Equally, a candidate born in early January 2002 will be at the upper limit for Ground Duty, so check your date against the table carefully.
Qualification and Physical Standards
The short notice does not list the exact qualification, marks or medical standards, and says that they are in the detailed notification. In earlier AFCAT cycles, the usual requirements were as follows, and you must confirm them in the new notification before you apply.
| Branch | Usual Qualification in Earlier Cycles (Confirm in the New Notice) |
| Flying | Graduation with at least 60% marks, with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level (at least 50%), or a B.E./B.Tech degree with at least 60% |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | B.E./B.Tech in the notified engineering branches, with the minimum marks stated in the notice |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | Graduation or post-graduation as per the specific branch (for example Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology) |
- Candidates must satisfy the medical standards and the marital-status conditions of the notification
- Final-year students are usually allowed only if they meet the result timeline given in the notice
Application Fee in Numbers
| Entry | Fee |
| AFCAT Entry | ₹550 + GST (non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry | No fee |
| GATE Score Entry | No fee |
If GST is charged at the normal 18% rate, the AFCAT fee comes to about ₹649 in total, but the portal shows the exact amount at the payment page. Candidates who qualify for an NCC or GATE entry pay nothing for that entry.
Pay, Stipend and Benefits
| Particulars | Amount |
| Training Stipend | ₹56,100 per month |
| Rank on Commissioning | Flying Officer |
| Pay Level | Level 10 |
| Pay Scale | ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 |
| Military Service Pay (MSP) | ₹15,500 |
| Starting Pay Plus MSP | ₹71,600 per month (before other allowances) |
- Allowances such as Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance and Transport Allowance may be given depending on your branch, posting and nature of duty
- The stipend is fixed during training
A trainee gets ₹56,100 every month from the first day of training, which means about ₹6.7 lakh in a year even before commissioning. On becoming a Flying Officer, the starting pay of ₹56,100 plus MSP of ₹15,500 gives ₹71,600 per month before allowances. This is the main reason why AFCAT is one of the most sought-after officer entries.
Training Duration at the Air Force Academy
| Branch | Training Duration | Approximate Length |
| Flying Branch | 74 weeks | About 17 months |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | 74 weeks | About 17 months |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 50 weeks | About 11.5 months |
Training begins in the first week of January 2028 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
Selection Process — Three Steps
- Online written test: AFCAT, and for Ground Duty (Technical) candidates an additional Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB): a 5-day assessment of personality and officer-like qualities. Flying Branch candidates also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS)
- Medical examination: candidates must meet the medical standards for their branch
The detailed notification gives the exact rules for each entry route. Follow only the official instructions of the IAF.
AFCAT Exam Pattern (Based on Recent Cycles)
| Test | Questions | Marks | Duration | Marking |
| AFCAT (all candidates) | 100 | 300 | 2 hours | +3 correct, −1 wrong |
| EKT (Ground Duty Technical only) | 50 | 150 | 45 minutes | +3 correct, −1 wrong |
| Section | Approximate Questions | Approximate Marks |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 |
| Verbal Ability in English | 25 | 75 |
| Numerical Ability | 18 to 20 | 54 to 60 |
| Reasoning and Military Aptitude | 30 to 32 | 90 to 96 |
| Total | 100 | 300 |
The pattern above follows recent AFCAT cycles. The section-wise split changes a little every year, so the numbers are approximate, and the short notice for 01/2027 does not print them. The exam is online and in English.
You get 72 seconds per question (120 minutes for 100 questions). Reasoning and Military Aptitude has the biggest weight (about 30%), followed by General Awareness and English at about 25% each. Numerical Ability is only about 18 to 20 questions and is at the Class 10 level, so it is the quickest section to improve.
The +3 and −1 Rule — What It Really Means
A correct answer gives 3 marks and a wrong one takes away 1 mark, so one wrong answer cancels one third of a correct answer. This is the real maths of guessing on a four-option question:
| Situation | Expected Marks per Question |
| Pure guess among 4 options | 0 (the gain and the loss cancel out) |
| You can remove 1 wrong option (3 left) | About +0.33 |
| You can remove 2 wrong options (2 left) | +1.00 |
| You are sure of the answer | +3.00 |
| Attempted | Correct | Wrong | Net Marks (Out of 300) |
| 60 | 52 | 8 | 148 |
| 70 | 56 | 14 | 154 |
| 80 | 60 | 20 | 160 |
| 90 | 60 | 30 | 150 |
Look at the last two rows. Attempting 80 questions with 60 correct gives 160, but attempting 90 with the same 60 correct gives only 150, because the extra 10 attempts were all wrong. The best strategy is to attempt as many as you can with high accuracy, and not to attempt all 100 by guessing.
12-Week Preparation Plan Before the Exam
| Weeks | Focus |
| Week 1–2 | Read the full notification when it comes. Make a list of topics. Start daily newspaper reading for General Awareness and English |
| Week 3–4 | English: grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and cloze test. Numerical Ability: percentage, ratio, average, time and work, speed and distance |
| Week 5–6 | Reasoning: verbal and non-verbal reasoning, analogy, series, Venn diagrams. Start the Military Aptitude basics |
| Week 7–8 | General Awareness: history, geography, polity, economy, science, defence and aviation news, awards and sports |
| Week 9–10 | Sectional tests with a timer. Technical candidates: start EKT subjects (Mechanical, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronics) |
| Week 11 | Full-length mock tests of 100 questions in 120 minutes with +3 and −1 marking |
| Week 12 | Revise weak areas, stay fit and prepare for AFSB (reading about the stages, practising group discussion and clear speaking) |
The exam date is not announced yet, so keep this plan flexible. If the exam is later, repeat Weeks 3 to 10 with higher difficulty.
Prepare for the AFSB From Day One
- AFSB is a 5-day test of personality, so practise speaking clearly, working in a group and taking quick decisions
- Stay physically fit with running, stretching and basic exercises, because officer training is demanding
- Read about the Indian Air Force, its aircraft, recent operations and defence news
- Flying Branch candidates should also be ready for the computerised pilot test, which tests reaction and coordination
- Be honest in every test. Assessors look for natural, consistent behaviour
Documents and Things to Keep Ready
- Class 10 certificate for date of birth proof
- Class 12 marksheet and graduation or engineering marksheets, with the percentage
- NCC certificate, for the NCC Special Entry
- Valid GATE scorecard, for the GATE Score Entry
- DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence, for the Flying age relaxation
- Recent photograph and signature, a valid e-mail ID and mobile number
- Debit card, credit card or net banking for the fee, for AFCAT Entry
Check the portal for the exact file sizes and formats. Once you submit the application, the notice says that changes to the submitted information will not be allowed, so check every detail before the final submission.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying only through AFCAT when you are also eligible for the NCC or GATE entry
- Not registering separately for each entry route
- Counting your age on today’s date and not on 1 January 2028
- Guessing all 100 questions in the exam, and losing marks with −1
- Waiting for the last day, when the portal can be slow
- Ignoring fitness and AFSB preparation until after the written exam
- Believing unofficial websites about vacancies before the detailed notification
Important Links |
|
| Apply Online for AFCAT 01/2027 (From 12 November 2026) | click here |
| Download Short Notification PDF | click here |
| Indian Air Force Career Website | click here |
| firstjob24 jobs | click here |
| Join WhatsApp Channel | click here |
| Subscribe on YouTube | click here |
AFCAT 01/2027 Notification — FAQs
Q. Is the AFCAT 01/2027 notification out?
Yes. The IAF has released the short notice for AFCAT 01/2027, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry.
Q. What are the application dates?
From 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) to 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM).
Q. How many vacancies are there?
The short notice does not give a number. Vacancies will be in the detailed notification.
Q. What is the age limit?
Flying: 20 to 24 years (up to 26 with a valid DGCA CPL). Ground Duty: 20 to 26 years. Age is counted on 1 January 2028.
Q. What is the application fee?
₹550 + GST for AFCAT Entry. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry have no fee.
Q. What is the salary of a Flying Officer?
Pay Level 10 (₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500) plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500.
Q. What is the training stipend?
₹56,100 per month during training.
Q. When does the course start?
In the first week of January 2028 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
Q. How long is the training?
74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical), and 50 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical).
Q. What is the AFCAT exam pattern?
100 questions, 300 marks, 2 hours, +3 for each correct answer and −1 for each wrong answer. Technical candidates also take a 50-question EKT.
Q. Can women apply?
Yes. Eligible Indian men and women can apply.
Q. Do I need to apply separately for NCC and GATE entries?
Yes. Candidates eligible for more than one entry must register separately for each.
