Indian Air Force has officially released IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment notification and if you are an Indian citizen between 20 and 26 years of age with a graduation degree and you have been waiting for a commissioned officer opportunity in one of the most respected defence forces in the world then Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non-Technical vacancies are open right now at afcat.cdac.in.
Online registration starting 20 May 2026 at 11:00 AM and closing 19 June 2026 at 11:30 PM, course commences July 202.
Flying Officer pay scale is Rs.56,100 to Rs.1,77,500 at Level 10 plus Rs.15,500 Military Service Pay on top — which means if your age, degree and unmarried status all check out there is exactly one thing to do from 20 May onwards.
Commissioned officer. Indian Air Force. Flying Branch and Ground Duty both open. Men and women eligible. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry also open — zero fee for both. AFCAT entry fee is Rs.550 plus GST. One important thing before anything else — candidates must be unmarried at course commencement and must remain unmarried through training. Marriage during training means discharge and full cost recovery. Know this before applying.
Indian Air Force Recruitment 2026 | Defence Jobs 2026 | Commissioned Officer Jobs 2026 | NDA CDS 2026
- IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment 2026 — Overview
- Important Dates — IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
- Branch, Entry and Course Details — AFCAT 02/2026
- Type of Commission — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
- Age Limit — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
- Educational Qualification — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
- Pay Scale and Benefits — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
- Application Fee — AFCAT 02/2026
- Selection Process — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
- How to Apply — IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
- Important Instructions — AFCAT 02/2026 Candidates
- Final Words
IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment 2026 — Overview
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Organization | Indian Air Force (IAF), Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India |
| Notification | AFCAT – 02/2026 / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry |
| Post | Commissioned Officer — Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) |
| Commission Type | Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) — Men and Women |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online only — afcat.cdac.in |
| AFCAT Exam Fee | Rs.550/- + GST (Non-refundable) — NCC and GATE Entry: NIL |
| Pay Scale | Flying Officer: Rs.56,100 – Rs.1,77,500/- (Level 10, 7th CPC) + MSP Rs.15,500/- |
| Official Website | afcat.cdac.in |
Important Dates — IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online Registration Opens | 20 May 2026 (11:00 AM) | Live |
| Last Date to Apply | 19 June 2026 (11:30 PM) | Upcoming |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 | — |
Registration opens 20 May 2026 at 11:00 AM sharp. Last date 19 June 2026 at 11:30 PM. Apply well before the last date — last minute technical issues will not be entertained.
Branch, Entry and Course Details — AFCAT 02/2026
| Entry | Branch | Course Number |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 222/27F/SSC/M&W |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 221/27T/PC/, 111AEC/M&W and 221/27T/SSC/, 111AEC/M&W |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 221/27G/SSC/M&W |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 222/27F/PC/M and 222/27F/SSC/M&W |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 221/27T/PC/, 111AEC/M&W and 221/27T/SSC/, 111AEC/M&W |
Two seats reserved from Ground Duty Non-Technical vacancies for Law qualified candidates. Vacancies are tentative — actual intake depends on organizational requirements and training slot availability.
Type of Commission — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
| Commission | Details |
|---|---|
| Permanent Commission (PC) — Men and Women | Serve till superannuation in respective branch as per rank |
| SSC — Flying Branch (Men and Women) | 14 years from date of commissioning |
| SSC — Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical (Men and Women) | Initial 10 years — extension of 4 years possible subject to service requirements and merit |
| PC at Later Date | Considered subject to service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability and prevailing policy |
SSC officers are not entitled for pension. PC officers and SSC officers completing full tenure get retirement benefits as per respective rules.
Age Limit — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
All age calculations as on 01 July 2027.
| Branch / Entry | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch (AFCAT Entry) | 20 to 24 years as on 01 July 2027 (born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007) |
| Flying Branch — CPL holders | Upper age relaxable up to 26 years (born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007) |
| Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical (AFCAT and GATE Entry) | 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027 (born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007) |
Educational Qualification — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
| Branch | General Qualification |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch | Graduation with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR BE/B.Tech degree |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | BE/B.Tech in relevant engineering disciplines. GATE Score Entry candidates must have valid GATE scores in specified disciplines |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | Graduation in relevant discipline as per sub-branch — Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology, Weather Service |
Full branch-wise detailed qualification requirements available on official AFCAT notification at afcat.cdac.in — read it before applying.
Pay Scale and Benefits — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
| Rank | Pay Scale | Level | MSP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer | Rs.56,100 – Rs.1,77,500/- | Level 10 (7th CPC) | Rs.15,500/- per month |
Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs.56,100/- per month during one year of training.
Allowances on commissioning: Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, Technical Allowance, Test Pilot and Flight Test Engineer Allowance, Risk and Hardship Allowance — applicable based on branch and posting.
Privileges: Furnished accommodation, comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents, canteen, Officers' Mess, loans at subsidised rates, LTC, 60 days annual leave and 20 days casual leave subject to service exigencies.
Insurance: Mandatory Group Insurance through AFGIS — Rs.1.25 crore for death while in service (on contribution). PC officers retiring after 20 years and SSC officers after 14 years covered under AVIC for Rs.24 lacs initially for 15 years post retirement.
Application Fee — AFCAT 02/2026
| Entry Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry (Men and Women) | Rs.550/- + GST (Non-refundable) |
| NCC Special Entry | NIL |
| GATE Score Entry | NIL |
Selection Process — IAF AFCAT 02/2026
Merit-based Four stages
| Stage | Details |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | AFCAT Online Examination / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Screening |
| Stage 2 | Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview — Psychological Test, Group Tests, Personal Interview |
| Stage 3 | Medical Examination at AFCME / IAM |
| Stage 4 | Final Merit List and Joining Instructions |
Physical conditioning before AFSB — aim for 1 mile in 10 minutes, 10 push-ups, 3 chin-ups minimum. RFA training including running, swimming, rope climbing recommended. Mandatory fitness tests conducted during training.
How to Apply — IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
- Visit afcat.cdac.in
- Register with valid email ID and active mobile number — both must stay active throughout selection process.
- Fill application form — personal details, date of birth, educational qualification, branch preference, entry type.
- Aadhaar card mandatory for registration.
- Pay Rs.550 + GST for AFCAT entry online. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry — no fee.
- Candidates eligible for multiple entries must register separately for each entry.
- Review every detail carefully — no amendments allowed after submission. Date of birth once entered is final.
- Download application slip with unique application number after submission — keep it safe.
- Queries on exam and registration — +91 9513252077 or afcathelpdesk@cdac.in.
- Queries on eligibility, AFSB centres, merit list — 011-23010231 Extn 7610 or Toll Free 1800-11-2448.
🔗 Click Here to Apply Online Now
Important Instructions — AFCAT 02/2026 Candidates
- Indian citizens only as per Citizenship Act 1955.
- Must be unmarried at course commencement — marriage during training leads to discharge and cost recovery.
- Permanent body tattoos not permitted except on inner forearm (elbow to wrist) and reverse side of both hands — self-declaration certificate mandatory for small innocuous tattoos.
- Use or possession of narcotics banned — candidates found using narcotics at any stage during training will be debarred.
- PAN Card and account in SBI or nationalised bank mandatory at time of joining Air Force Academy.
- Travel Allowance reimbursed for first-time AFSB appearance at AC-III tier/AC Chair Car or actual bus fare — no TA for repeat appearances at same entry type.
- Any attempt to influence selection process, forgery, impersonation or false information leads to termination of candidature and legal action.
Final Words
IAF AFCAT 02/2026 — commissioned officer vacancies in Flying Branch and Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry also open, registration starts 20 May 2026 at afcat.cdac.in and closes 19 June 2026, Flying Officer pay Rs.56,100 plus MSP Rs.15,500 on commissioning and if you are between 20 and 26 years with the right degree and unmarried status this is the air force opening you act on from 20 May. Physical conditioning starts today — AFSB tests fitness and the fitter you walk in the better your chances. Also check SSB Sports Quota Recruitment 2026 — 404 Constable GD posts open till 07 June at recruitment.ssb.gov.in — and Oil India Recruitment 2026 — 49 PwBD posts open till 08 June at oil-india.com. 300 plus Flying Officer vacancies. Indian Air Force. Register at afcat.cdac.in from 20 May. Don't wait.
All details here are based on the officia IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment notification. Always check afcat.cdac.in before you apply.