AFCAT
Air Force Common Admission Test
AFCAT is conducted by the Indian Air Force twice a year. It selects candidates for officer training in the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, with Permanent or Short Service Commission depending on the branch. Candidates who reach the qualifying marks in the online test are called to an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB). AFSB testing has a first-day screening stage (an officer intelligence rating test and a picture perception and discussion test), then psychological tests, group tests and an interview. Recommended Flying Branch candidates also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates are called directly to AFSB testing without taking AFCAT. Eligibility, pattern, vacancies and dates are set in each cycle's official notification.
Frequency
Twice a year (Cycle 01 and Cycle 02). AFCAT 01/2026 was held on 31 January 2026 and AFCAT 02/2026 on 8 August 2026
Duration
2 hours (AFCAT 02/2026)
Format
Computer-based
Score range
300: 100 objective questions, with +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong one (AFCAT 02/2026)
Eligibility
Indian citizens, men and women, who must be unmarried when the course starts. Age as on 1 July 2027 (AFCAT 02/2026): Flying Branch 20–24, or up to 26 with a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence; Ground Duty branches 20–26. Flying Branch: Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, plus a three-year degree in any discipline or a four-year BE/B.Tech (or AMIE/AeSI Sections A and B). Ground Duty (Technical): Physics and Mathematics at 10+2, plus a four-year engineering degree in listed disciplines. Ground Duty (Non-Technical): a degree matching the branch, for example a B.Com or finance degree for Accounts, or a postgraduate degree for Education. Final-year students may apply
Conducting body
Indian Air Force
Registration fee
₹550 + 18% GST, non-refundable (AFCAT 02/2026). Not charged for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry
Source: Indian Air Force. Details here are for guidance only — fees, dates and eligibility change each cycle, so confirm on the official site before applying.
Verified against: Indian Air Force — AFCAT 02/2026 notification, courses commencing July 2027 (PDF); AFCAT — official portal (Indian Air Force); Indian Air Force — official website.
Last verified: 30 September 2026.
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