Indian Air Force has released the official notification for AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment for Commissioned Officer vacancies in Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The recruitment includes AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry, and GATE Score Entry for courses commencing in July 2027.
Interested and eligible candidates can apply online through the official AFCAT portal from 20 May 2026 to 19 June 2026. Candidates should check all eligibility conditions, age limit, application fee, selection process, and important instructions before submitting the application form.
Overview of Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment 2026
| Organisation | Indian Air Force (IAF), Ministry of Defence |
| Notification Name | AFCAT 02/2026 / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Entry |
| Post Name | Commissioned Officer |
| Branches | Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) |
| Type of Commission | Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) |
| Total Vacancies | 300+ Expected |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Job Location | Across India |
| Selection Process | Online Exam, AFSB Interview, Medical Examination and Merit List |
| Official Website | afcat.cdac.in |
All the important details regarding this recruitment are given in this article. Read further to know more about the recruitment process, important dates, application fee, age limit, qualifications, and other details.
Important Dates for IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
Below is the table for the important dates.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Opening of Online Registration | 20-05-2026 (1100 Hrs) |
| Last Date for Online Registration | 19-06-2026 (2330 Hrs) |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
Vacancy Details of Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
| Entry | Branch | Course Number |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 222/27F/SSC/M&W |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 221/27T/PC/, 111AEC/M&W, 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, 221/27T/SSC/, 111AEC/M&W |
| Branch | Vacancies |
|---|---|
| Flying Officer | 300+ Expected |
Note: Vacancies are tentative and may change depending on organisational requirements.
Eligibility Criteria of IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Vacancies
| Branch | Educational Qualification | Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Flying Branch | Graduation with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or BE/B.Tech degree | 20 to 24 years as on 01 July 2027 |
| Ground Duty (Technical) | BE/B.Tech in relevant engineering disciplines. Valid GATE score required for GATE Score Entry candidates | 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027 |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | Graduation in relevant discipline as per sub-branch requirements | 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027 |
For Flying Branch, candidates holding valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA can get upper age relaxation up to 26 years.
Application Fee
| Entry Type | Examination Fee |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Rs. 550/- + GST |
| NCC Special Entry | NIL |
| GATE Score Entry | NIL |
Salary Details
| Rank | Pay Scale | Level | Military Service Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying Officer | Rs. 56,100 – 1,77,500/- | Level 10 | Rs. 15,500/- |
Flight Cadets will receive a stipend of Rs. 56,100/- per month during one year of training.
Selection Process for IAF AFCAT 02/2026
| Stage | Process |
|---|---|
| Stage 1 | AFCAT Online Examination / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Screening |
| Stage 2 | AFSB Interview including Psychological Test, Group Tests and Interview |
| Stage 3 | Medical Examination |
| Stage 4 | Final Merit List and Joining Instructions |
How to Apply for Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment
Candidates can apply online through the official AFCAT website from 20 May 2026 to 19 June 2026. No other mode of application will be accepted.
Applicants should keep their email ID and mobile number active throughout the recruitment process. Candidates eligible for multiple entries must register separately for each entry.
Candidates should carefully enter all details in the online application form because no correction facility will be provided later.
Important Instructions for Candidates
- Only Indian citizens are eligible to apply.
- Candidates must be unmarried at the commencement of the course.
- Aadhaar Card is mandatory for registration.
- PAN Card and SBI/Nationalised Bank account are mandatory at the time of joining.
- Permanent body tattoos are allowed only on specific permitted areas.
- No employment guarantee is provided after selection.
- Candidates should maintain good physical fitness before reporting for SSB.
IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Official Notification & Apply Details
| Official Website | afcat.cdac.in |
| Notification | AFCAT 02/2026 Notification PDF |
| Application Mode | Online |
| Apply Online Dates | 20-05-2026 to 19-06-2026 |