AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment – Flying and Ground Duty Officer Posts, Eligibility, Dates and Apply Online

The AFCAT 01/2027 Recruitment short notice has been released by the Indian Air Force for the Air Force Common Admission Test, along with NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses commencing in January 2028. According to the published information, eligible Indian men and women can apply for Commissioned Officer opportunities in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches.

The online application process for AFCAT 01/2027 will begin on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and close on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM. Candidates should note that this is a short notice: branch-wise vacancy numbers and detailed educational qualifications will be published in the detailed notification, so applicants should verify the full conditions on the official portal before applying.

Overview

Important Dates

Vacancy Details

According to the published information, the short notice does not confirm a total vacancy number. Branch-wise vacancies will be published in the detailed notification for induction cycle 01/2027, and the numbers remain subject to change as per Indian Air Force requirements and training capacity.

The Ground Duty (Non-Technical) category includes branches such as Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education and Meteorology, and the short notice also lists Weapon Systems entry under Ground Duty (Non-Technical). Candidates who are eligible for more than one entry must register separately for each entry, as per the published instructions.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants for AFCAT 01/2027 must satisfy the educational qualifications, physical standards and medical requirements prescribed for their selected entry and branch. The short notice directs candidates to the detailed notification for the exact educational qualifications and selection requirements, including graduation subjects, engineering disciplines, minimum marks, NCC qualifications and GATE conditions where applicable. Candidates should verify the applicable conditions for their branch before applying, rather than assuming eligibility from the short notice alone.

As with other defence officer entries, candidates must also satisfy the applicable marital status and other eligibility conditions stated in the detailed notification. Those applying through the Flying Branch should pay special attention to the Commercial Pilot Licence relaxation described in the age limit section below.

Age Limit

The age limit is calculated as on 1 January 2028. The branch-wise requirements are as follows.

The dates of birth shown above are inclusive, according to the published information. Candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) receive the specified Flying Branch age relaxation up to 26 years.

Application Fee

The AFCAT examination fee is non-refundable, according to the published information.

Selection Process

According to the published information, selection follows the procedure prescribed for each entry route. For AFCAT Entry, this includes an online examination, followed by Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) assessment and medical standards. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates follow the selection procedure prescribed for their respective routes, as detailed in the full notification. Candidates should follow only the official instructions for their selected entry.

Training for selected candidates is scheduled to commence in the first week of January 2028 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad. The training duration is 74 weeks for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical), and 50 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical).

Salary and Training Stipend

Applicable allowances may include Flying Allowance, Technical Allowance, Transport Allowance and other benefits depending on the branch, posting and nature of duty. Candidates interested in other defence officer opportunities can also check the UPSC CAPF AC Admit Card 2026 and the SSC GD Constable Result 2026 pages on this site.

How to Apply

Eligible candidates can apply for AFCAT 01/2027 through the official recruitment portal from 12 November 2026. Separate registration options will be available for AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry.

1. Visit the official AFCAT application website.
2. Select the AFCAT 01/2027 recruitment notification.
3. Read the detailed eligibility requirements for the selected branch.
4. Choose AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry, as applicable.
5. Complete registration using the required personal and contact information.
6. Fill in the application form with accurate educational and eligibility details.
7. Upload the prescribed documents according to the portal instructions.
8. Pay the applicable examination fee if applying through AFCAT Entry.
9. Review all entered details before final submission, since the notification states that changes to submitted application information will not be permitted subsequently.
10. Save a copy of the completed application for future reference.

Documents to Keep Ready

Candidates should keep their educational certificates, identity proof, photograph and signature, and branch-specific eligibility documents (such as NCC certificates or GATE scorecard where applicable) ready before the application window opens. The exact document list and format will be given in the detailed notification and on the application portal, so applicants should verify the prescribed specifications there before uploading.

Important Links

• Apply Online for AFCAT 01/2027 (from 12 November 2026) – Official Portal
• Indian Air Force Career Website – Official Website
• AFCAT Official Website

FAQs

Disclaimer: This article is based on the published short notice for AFCAT 01/2027. Vacancy numbers, detailed qualifications and exam dates will be confirmed only in the detailed notification. Candidates should verify all details on the official Indian Air Force portal before applying.