The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT), conducted twice a year by the Indian Air Force (IAF), is the gateway to becoming a commissioned officer in the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches. This guide covers the complete AFCAT 2026 syllabus, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, vacancies, and preparation strategy based on the official AFCAT 2/2026 notification.
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AFCAT 2026: Overview
| Conducting Body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) |
| Frequency | Twice a year (AFCAT 1 and AFCAT 2) |
| AFCAT 2/2026 Application Window | 20 May 2026 to 19 June 2026 |
| AFCAT 2/2026 Exam Date | 8 August 2026 |
| Total Vacancies (AFCAT 2/2026) | 379 (tentative) |
| Selection Process | Written Exam (AFCAT + EKT) → AFSB Interview → Medical Exam |
| Application Fee | ₹550 + 18% GST (exempt for NCC Special Entry & GATE Entry) |
AFCAT 2026: Vacancy Breakdown
The Indian Air Force has declared 379 tentative vacancies for AFCAT 2/2026 across the following branches:
| Branch | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch | 35 (30 men, 5 women, SSC) |
| Ground Duty (Technical) – incl. Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics & Mechanical) | 211 |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) – Weapon Systems, Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology | 107 |
| GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical) | 26 |
Note: Vacancy numbers are revised for every AFCAT cycle. Always cross-check the exact figures in the latest official notification at afcat.cdac.in before applying.
AFCAT 2026: Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
| Branch | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry) | 20-24 years as on course commencement (relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence) |
| Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) | 20-26 years as on course commencement |
Educational Qualification
- Flying Branch: Minimum 3-year graduation degree with Maths and Physics at 10+2 level, OR BE/B.Tech degree
- Ground Duty (Technical): BE/B.Tech in a relevant engineering discipline, OR MSc in Electronics/Physics/Computer Science with Maths and Physics at 10+2, OR qualified via GATE score (within 3 years of completing BE/B.Tech)
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Graduation degree in any discipline (minimum 60% marks, varies by sub-branch); Weapon Systems Branch additionally requires Maths and Physics at 10+2 level
AFCAT 2026: Exam Pattern
AFCAT selection involves an online written test, followed by the AFSB interview and a medical examination.
AFCAT Written Test (All Candidates)
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 300 (3 marks per correct answer) |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark deducted per wrong answer |
| Sections | General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test |
Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) – Ground Duty Technical Candidates Only
| Total Questions | 50 |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Duration | 45 minutes |
| Subject Areas | Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering (choose your relevant stream) |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark deducted per wrong answer |
AFCAT 2026: Syllabus Highlights
- General Awareness: Current affairs, history, geography, polity, economy, general science, defence & space
- Verbal Ability: Comprehension, error detection, sentence completion, vocabulary, synonyms/antonyms
- Numerical Ability: Decimal fractions, ratio & proportion, average, percentage, profit & loss, time & work, simplification
- Reasoning & Military Aptitude: Verbal and non-verbal reasoning, spatial ability, numerical series, direction sense, military-situation-based questions
Selection Process After the Written Exam
- AFSB Interview: A 5-day multi-stage assessment (Officer Intelligence Rating tests, Psychological tests, Group Testing Officer tasks, Personal Interview, Conference)
- Medical Examination: Conducted by Air Force medical boards as per IAF medical standards
- Final Merit List: Based on combined AFSB and written exam performance
AFCAT 2026: Preparation Strategy
- Start with NCERT-level General Science, History, Geography, and Polity to strengthen General Awareness
- Read a daily newspaper for current affairs, with special focus on defence, space, and sports news
- Practice previous years’ AFCAT question papers to understand the difficulty level and time management
- Ground Duty Technical aspirants should revise core engineering subjects (as per their EKT stream) from standard undergraduate textbooks
- Work on verbal and non-verbal reasoning daily since Military Aptitude questions carry significant weight
Related Defence Exams
If you’re preparing for AFCAT, you may also be preparing for other UPSC-conducted defence exams: NDA Exam, CDS Exam, and CAPF AC Exam.