AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification Out: Check Eligibility & Exam Details
The Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification on 2 December 2024. The AFCAT 1 application window will remain open from December 2 to December 31, 2024. Eligible candidates can apply online for Short Service Commission (SSC) positions in the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches and the NCC Special Entry Scheme for the Flying Branch. These courses are set to commence in January 2026.
Interested candidates should apply by visiting the official website of the IAF in the stipulated time to avoid last-minute technical difficulties. A total of 336 vacancies are announced through the AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification for various branches. Scroll down this page to get updates on AFCAT 01/2025.
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification
The AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification is released, providing all the essential details candidates need to know before applying for AFCAT 01/ 2025. Aspiring candidates for AFCAT 01/2025 are advised to thoroughly review the AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification which outlines crucial information such as eligibility criteria, available vacancies, exam dates, and other key details.
The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is a prestigious and competitive exam conducted by the Indian Air Force to recruit candidates for the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches. Held twice a year, the AFCAT exam allows candidates to apply online. Those who qualify in the AFCAT online test are invited to the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) for further assessment.
AFCAT Overview 2025
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification must be checked by the candidates to ensure if they are eligible to apply for the AFCAT 01/ 2025. Get all the important details related to the AFCAT 2025 as a quick overview in the table below:-
|
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification Important Updates |
|
|
Exam Conducting Organization |
Indian Air Force |
|
Exam Name |
Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) |
|
Post Name |
Flying Branch and Ground Duty Staff (Technical & Non-Technical)/ NCC Special Entry |
|
Vacancies |
336 |
|
Application Dates |
2 December to 31 December 2024 |
|
Application Mode |
Online |
|
Examination Mode |
Online |
|
Frequency of Exam |
Twice a Year |
AFCAT (I) Important Dates 2025
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification is out now with the announcement of AFCAT Application Dates 2025. Know all the important dates related to AFCAT 2025:-
|
Event |
Date |
|
Notification Release Date |
2 December 2024 |
|
Application Start Date |
2 December 2024 |
|
Last Date to Apply |
31 December 2024 |
|
Exam Date |
To Be Announced |
|
Admit Card Release Date |
To Be Announced |
|
Answer Key |
To Be Announced |
|
Result/Final Selection |
To Be Announced |
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification: Important Links
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification PDF is issued with AFCAT details. Candidates can refer to the table below for all the essential links related to AFCAT 2025:-
|
AFCAT Admit Card 2025 (Inactive) |
|
AFCAT 2025 Answer Key (Inactive) |
|
AFCAT Result 2025 (Inactive) |
AFCAT 2025 Vacancy
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification contains the detailed vacancies for the AFCAT and NCC Entry. In the table below, we are providing AFCAT vacancy details for your reference:-
|
Branch |
Course Name |
Vacancies |
|
|
Men (SSC) |
Women (SSC) |
||
|
AFCAT Entry |
|||
|
Flying |
219/26F/SSC/M & W |
21 |
09 |
|
Ground Duty (Technical) |
218/26T/SSC/ 108AEC/M & W |
AE(L) : 95 AE(M) : 53 |
AE(L) : 27 AE(M) : 14 |
|
Ground Duty (Non-technical) |
218/26G/SSC/M & W |
Weapon Systems (WS) Branch: 14 Admin: 42 Lgs: 13 Accts: 11 Edn: 07 Met: 07 |
Weapon Systems (WS) Branch: 03 Admin: 11 Lgs: 03 Accts: 02 Edn: 02 Met: 02 |
|
NCC Special Entry |
|||
|
Flying |
219/26F/PC/M and 219/26F/SSC/M & W |
10% of the CDSE vacancies are reserved for the Permanent Commission (PC), and 10% of the AFCAT vacancies are allocated for the Short Service Commission (SSC). |
|
AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2025
Candidates who want to appear in the AFCAT 01/ 2025 should check the eligibility criteria first. In this section, we are detailing AFCAT eligibility criteria which contain nationality, age limit & educational qualification etc. Eligibility criteria for flying Branch & Ground Duty (Technical and Non-technical) branches are as follows:-
Nationality:
To be eligible for this examination, the candidate must be an Indian citizen as per the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955.
AFCAT Age Limit & Marital Status
AFCAT 01/ 2025 Notification will detail the age limit requirement for the AFCAT 01/ 2025. Here we are providing age limit requirements:-
|
Branch |
Age Limit |
Marital Status |
|
Flying Branch & NCC Special Entry |
Candidates must be aged between 20 and 24 years, born between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2006. The upper age limit is extended to 26 years for candidates with a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India). Such candidates must be born between 2 January 2000 and 1 January 2006. |
Candidates must be unmarried at the start of the course, and marriage, is not permitted while training. A candidate who marries during his training period will be discharged and obligated to reimburse the government for all expenses incurred on his behalf. |
|
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) |
Candidates must be between 20 and 26 years of age, meaning they should be born between 2 January 2000 and 1 January 2006. |
Educational Qualification for AFCAT 2025
|
Branch |
Educational Qualification |
|
|
Flying Branch |
Candidates must have passed with a minimum of 50% marks in Maths and Physics at the 10+2 level, as well as (aa) a three-year degree course in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR (ab) a four-year BE/B Tech degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR (ac) Candidates who have passed Sections A and B of the Associate Membership Examination of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% or equivalent. |
|
|
Ground Duty (Technical) Branch |
(aa) Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) {AE (L)} |
Candidates must have a minimum of 50% marks in Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, as well as a four-year degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from a recognised university, OR they must have passed Sections A and B of the Associate Membership examination of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India, or the Graduate Membership examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent disciplines. |
|
(ab) Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)} |
Candidates must have a minimum of 50% marks in Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, as well as a four-year degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/Technology from a recognised university, OR they must have passed Sections A & B of the Associate Membership examination of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks, or equivalent disciplines. |
|
|
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches |
(aa) Weapon Systems (WS) Branch |
Candidates must have a minimum of 50% marks in Maths and Physics at the 10+2 level, as well as (aaa) a three-year degree course in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR (aab) a four-year BE/B Tech degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. |
|
(ab) Administration & Logistics |
Passed 10+2 and a Graduate Degree (minimum three-year degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent, Or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. |
|
|
(ac) Accounts Branch |
Passed 10+2 and graduated with 60% or higher from a recognised university in any of the following fields:- (aaa) Bachelor of Commerce (minimum three-year course) (aab) Bachelor of Business Administration (with a finance specialisation)/ Bachelor of Management Studies (with a finance specialisation)/ Bachelor of Business Studies (with a finance specialisation) (aac) CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA qualified. (aad) Bachelor of Science in Finance. |
|
|
(ad) Education |
Passed 10+2 and Post-Graduation with 50% marks in any discipline, including integrated courses offering PG (single degree without permission to exit and lateral entry), and Graduation with 60% marks in any discipline. |
|
|
(ae) Meteorology |
Passed 10+2 and BSc with Physics and Mathematics with at least 60% marks or equivalent, or four-year Graduation in Engineering/Technology discipline with at least 60% marks or equivalent streams. |
|
Note: For further details, candidates are advised to refer to the official notification.
Physical & Medical Standards for AFCAT 2025
During their induction, all candidates should meet the basic physical fitness standards that will allow them to complete the training successfully and subsequent service in various climatic and work environments. Candidates will be subjected to a variety of tests at AFSB while reporting to the SSB.
Flying Branch will have a minimum height of 162.5 cm. Acceptable leg length, thigh length, and sitting height measurements for such aircrew will be as follows: -
|
Sitting height Minimum |
Minimum |
81.5 cm |
|
Maximum |
96.0 cm |
|
|
Leg Length |
Minimum |
99.0 cm |
|
Maximum |
120.0 cm |
|
|
Thigh Length |
Maximum |
64.0 cm |
Note: The minimum acceptable height for entry into ground duty branches will be 157.5 cm and 5 cm less (152.5 cm) for Gorkhas and individual belonging to North-Eastern regions of India and hilly regions of Uttarakhand. In case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cm (155.5 cm).
Physical Standards (For Females)
Height: The minimum height for various branches is as follows:-
(i) Flying Branch – 162.5 cm
(ii) Other Branches – 152 cm
Note: For other branches only – a lower minimum height of 147 cm will be accepted for candidates from the North East region or hilly regions of Uttarakhand. The minimum acceptable height for candidates from Lakshadweep will be 150 cm.
Weight. Weight should be in accordance with the height and age standards specified in Appendix 'B' to this notification. Female candidates can have variations of up to one standard deviation.
AFCAT Online Application Process
Candidates can apply for this position in the Indian Air Force (IAF) online through the AFCAT CDAC's official website only. Fill out the form by following these steps:
- Visit the AFCAT_CDAD Official Website.
- Click on the AFCAT 01/2025 under Candidate Login Tab on the homepage.
- To register yourself, enter your name, email address, phone number, and so on.
- Log in and carefully fill out the form with your desired selection entry, Personal, Educational, and other required details.
- Upload the required documents in the prescribed format, namely a photo, signature, and thumb impression.
- Choose your exam city and proceed to pay your exam fee.
- Download and take a printout of the final application form for future reference.
AFCAT 2025 Application Fees
Candidates applying for AFCAT will be required to pay the below-mentioned application fee, whereas candidates applying for NCC special entry and Meteorology will not be required to pay when submitting the application form. The application fee should be paid online only. IAF will not accept cash or demand drafts (DD) for application fee payment.
|
Entry |
Fees |
|
AFCAT |
Rs. 550/- (Non-refundable) |
|
NCC Special entry |
Not Applicable |
Note:
- Candidates are advised to save/download the transaction details/receipt for future reference.
- Fees/Intimation charges, once paid, will NOT be refunded or held in reserve for any other examination or selection.
AFCAT 2025 Selection Process:
The AFCAT selection process is divided into stages. Candidates who pass all the following stages and are on the final merit list will be considered for the position.
- The first stage will consist of a written exam (AFCAT). Prior to the announcement of the results, the marks earned by candidates appearing in different shifts will be normalised to rationalise them by using a statistical method.
- Candidates who pass AFCAT will be called up for the SSB Test, including Picture Perception and Discussion tests, Psychological tests, and so on.
- Candidates must also be physically fit when they appear for the SSB Interview because they will be subjected to various physical tests.
- Finally, the candidates' medical fitness will be evaluated.
Date and Duration of AFCAT Training
All training courses at the Airforce Academy Dundigal (Hyderabad) are scheduled to commence in the first week of January 2026. The training duration is approximately 62 weeks for both the Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) Branches, and 52 weeks for the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches.
AFCAT 2025 Exam Pattern
The AFCAT Written Exam will be objective type based multiple choice questions. In order to receive an AFSB call letter, one must obtain the minimum qualifying marks.
- There will be a negative marking of 1 mark for each wrong answer.
- If a question is not attempted, no marks are deducted.
The AFCAT exam subjects, time limit, and maximum marks will be as follows:-
|
Exam |
Subject(s) |
No. of Questions |
Max Marks |
Duration |
|
AFCAT |
General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
100 |
300 |
120 minutes (02 hours) |
Note: An online Practice Test for AFCAT is available on the IAF website.
AFSB Testing
The AFSB testing will be divided into three stages, as shown below:-
(i) The first stage: On the first day, an officer intelligence rating test, as well as a picture perception and discussion test, will be administered. The Stage-I test is a screening test, only those who pass will be subjected to further testing. All Stage-I qualified candidates will be subjected to a document check to determine their eligibility for the branches for which they have applied. Candidates who do not qualify in Stage I or meet the required eligibility criteria would be sent back on first day itself.
(ii) The second stage: On Day 1 (Evening), a psychological test will be administered, followed by group tests and interviews over the next five days.
(iii) For Flying Branch: Only recommended candidates would be subjected to the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS). This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Candidates who have previously failed the CPSS/PABT or who have been suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy will not be eligible.
AFCAT Syllabus 2025
|
Subjects |
Chapter/Topics |
|
English |
|
|
General Awareness |
|
|
Numerical Ability |
|
|
Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning |
Note:
Numerical Ability Questions will be of Matriculation level. The questions in other subjects will be of graduation level (Indian University).
AFCAT (I) 2025 Admit Card
The AFCAT Admit Card 2025 has not yet been released. The Indian Air Force will make the AFCAT (I) Admit Card 2025 available on its official AFCAT website. Candidates who have successfully submitted their application form and examination fee can access their admit card by logging in with their registered email address and password. The link to the Admit Card will also be emailed to the candidate's registered email address. We have provided a step-by-step process to download the admit card here.
- Visit the AFCAT examination's official website @afcat.cdac.in.
- Select AFCAT 01/2025 from the Candidate Login drop-down menu.
- Enter your registered email address, password, and Captcha, then click the login button.
- Your AFCAT Admit Card will be displayed on the screen.
- Check that all the information on your AFCAT Admit Card is correct.
- Print the AFCAT 01/2025 Admit Card after downloading it.
When the admit cards are available, candidates must download them and bring them to the examination centre. Candidates will not be permitted to enter the examination hall unless they have an AFCAT hall ticket.
AFCAT (I) Answer Key 2025
The AFCAT Answer Key will be uploaded after the exam is conducted, allowing candidates to review it. Download the AFCAT Answer Key by carefully following the below-steps:
- Visit the Official Website of AFCAT.
- Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and find the link labeled "Download Paper."
- This link will lead you to all the question papers and the AFCAT 2025 Answer Key.
- Click on the "Answer Key AFCAT" link.
- Download the PDF to check your responses and calculate your marks.
AFCAT 1 Result 2025
The AFCAT Written Exam will be declared after the exam is successfully conducted. To check the result, candidates can follow the below-mentioned steps:
- Go to the AFCAT website’s Candidate login, or use the direct link provided above in the important links.
- Enter your Registration ID, Password, and CAPTCHA code carefully.
- Your result will be shown on the screen.
- Download the outcome and print it out for future reference.
After the written exam results get announced, the AFSB will conduct the SSB process for all shortlisted candidates and call them to take part in the recruitment process.
AFCAT (I) 2025 Exam Cut-off
AFCAT Exam Cut-off Marks will be declared by the Indian Airforce, once the exam is conducted successfully. Cut-off marks will be declared separately for both AFCAT and EKT. Once the cut-of marks for AFCAT 2024 will declare, we will provide the direct link below to download the AFCAT (I) 2025 Cut-off:-
AFCAT (I) 2025 Result Link (Inactive)
AFCAT Salary and Allowance
During their one-year training, flight cadets will be paid a fixed monthly stipend of Rs. 56,100/-. On commissioning, they will be paid as per the 7th Pay commission. Further details are given in the table below:
|
Rank |
Pay as per Defence Matrix |
Level |
MSP |
|
Flying Officer |
Rs.56100 – 177500 |
10 |
Rs. 15500 |
Other Allowances:-
Furthermore, allowances are applicable to pay based on the nature of duty/place of posting and include Flying, Transport, Technical, Field Area, Special Compensatory (Hill area), Special Force, Siachen, Island Special Duty, Test Pilot & Flight Test Engineer, Area and Remote Locality Allowance, and so on.
Insurance:
- Serving officers are eligible for the Rs. 1.10 crore insurance cover (on contribution).
- Flying Branch Officers are eligible for an additional cover of Rs. 15 lakhs (on contribution).
