Looking for the latest Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment 2026 notification? Here’s the complete update for candidates preparing for defence jobs, government jobs, Indian Air Force jobs, AFCAT exam 2026, Flying Branch jobs, Ground Duty jobs, SSC officer recruitment, and latest Sarkari Naukri alerts.

The Indian Air Force has officially released the AFCAT 02/2026 Notification for recruitment of Commissioned Officers in Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches. The course will commence in July 2027.

Eligible candidates can apply online through the official AFCAT portal: AFCAT Official Website from 20 May 2026 to 19 June 2026.

This recruitment is a golden opportunity for candidates searching for:

Indian Air Force Recruitment 2026
AFCAT 02/2026 Notification PDF
AFCAT Apply Online 2026
Defence Jobs for Graduates
Flying Officer Vacancy 2026
Government Jobs for Men and Women
Latest Air Force Jobs 2026
SSC Officer Recruitment India

Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment Overview

Organization Name	Indian Air Force
Exam Name	AFCAT 02/2026
Notification Type	AFCAT Entry / NCC Special Entry / GATE Entry
Post Name	Commissioned Officer
Branches	Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical, Ground Duty Non-Technical
Course Start	July 2027
Application Mode	Online
Official Website	Apply Online Here
Exam Fee	₹550 + GST
NCC Special Entry Fee	NIL
GATE Entry Fee	NIL
Salary	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500
Military Service Pay	₹15,500
Job Location	Across India
Category	Defence Jobs / Sarkari Result / Government Jobs

AFCAT 02/2026 Important Dates

Candidates must remember these important dates for AFCAT Recruitment 2026:

Event	Date
Notification Release Date	Released
Online Application Start Date	20 May 2026 (11:00 AM)
Last Date to Apply Online	19 June 2026 (11:30 PM)
AFCAT Admit Card	Available Soon
AFCAT Exam Date	To Be Announced
Course Commencement	July 2027

AFCAT 02/2026 Vacancy Details

The Indian Air Force has announced 300+ expected vacancies for officer posts.

Entry Type	Branch	Course Number
AFCAT Entry	Flying Branch	222/27F/SSC/M&W
AFCAT Entry	Ground Duty Technical	221/27T/PC & SSC
AFCAT Entry	Ground Duty Non-Technical	221/27G/SSC/M&W
NCC Special Entry	Flying Branch	222/27F/PC/M & SSC/M&W
GATE Entry	Ground Duty Technical	221/27T/PC & SSC

Note: Vacancy numbers are tentative and may change based on organisational requirements.

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 – Type of Commission

Type	Details
Permanent Commission (PC) – Men & Women	Candidates joining as PC will continue to serve in the Indian Air Force till the age of superannuation according to their rank.
SSC – Flying Branch (Men & Women)	Engagement period for Flying Branch SSC officers is 14 years from the date of commissioning.
SSC – Ground Duty Technical & Non-Technical (Men & Women)	Initial tenure is 10 years. An extension of 4 additional years may be granted based on service requirements, vacancies, willingness, suitability, and merit.
Grant of PC (Later Stage)	Permanent Commission may be granted later depending on organizational requirements and prevailing policies.

Note: SSC officers are not eligible for pension benefits.

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Age Limit

Candidates must fulfill all eligibility conditions 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 to 01 July 2007)
Flying Branch (With Valid CPL)	Upper age limit relaxable up to 26 years for candidates holding valid Commercial Pilot License issued by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India)
Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) – AFCAT Entry	20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027 (Born between 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2007)
Ground Duty (Technical) – GATE Entry	20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Educational Qualification

Candidates must meet branch-wise educational eligibility requirements before applying.

Branch	Educational Qualification
Flying Branch	Graduation with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR BE/B.Tech degree (Refer official notification for detailed marks criteria).
Ground Duty (Technical)	BE/B.Tech degree in relevant engineering disciplines. GATE Entry candidates must possess valid GATE scores.
Ground Duty (Non-Technical)	Graduation/Post Graduation in relevant disciplines such as Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology, and Weather Services.

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Pay, Allowances, Privileges, Exam Fee & Selection Process

Candidates applying for Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment should also know about the salary structure, allowances, benefits, examination fees, and complete selection process before applying. Here’s the complete information in the same format for candidates preparing for AFCAT 2026, defence jobs, Indian Air Force officer recruitment, flying branch careers, and government jobs.

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Pay Structure

The Indian Air Force offers an attractive salary package after commissioning as per the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

Rank	Pay Scale	Level	Military Service Pay (MSP)
Flying Officer	₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500	Level 10	₹15,500

Training Stipend

During the training period, Flight Cadets will receive a fixed stipend of:

₹56,100 per month

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Allowances

After joining the Indian Air Force, officers are eligible for various allowances depending on posting location and branch.

Flying Allowance
Transport Allowance
Technical Allowance
Test Pilot Allowance
Flight Test Engineer Allowance
Risk Allowance
Hardship Allowance
Other branch-specific allowances

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Privileges & Benefits

Air Force officers enjoy multiple government benefits and facilities.

Privileges	Details
Accommodation	Furnished accommodation
Medical Benefits	Comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents
Canteen Facility	Available
Officers Mess	Available
Loan Benefits	Subsidized loan facilities
LTC	Leave Travel Concession
Annual Leave	60 Days
Casual Leave	20 Days

Note: Leave benefits are subject to service requirements.

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Insurance Benefits

Air Force Group Insurance Society provides mandatory insurance coverage to Air Force officers.

Insurance Type	Coverage
Death While in Service	₹1.25 Crore
Air Veterans Insurance Cover (AVIC)	₹24 Lakh
Annual Transfer Benefit	₹12 Lakh till age 75

AVIC Eligibility

Permanent Commission officers after completing 20 years of service
SSC officers after completing 14 years of service

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Examination Fee

Entry Type	Fee
AFCAT Entry (Men & Women)	₹550 + GST
NCC Special Entry	NIL
GATE Score Entry	NIL

Note: Examination fee is non-refundable.

IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Selection Process

The selection process for Indian Air Force AFCAT recruitment is merit-based.

Stage	Process
Stage 1	AFCAT Online Examination / NCC Special Entry / GATE Score Screening
Stage 2	Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview
Stage 3	Medical Examination
Stage 4	Final Merit List & Joining Instructions

AFSB Interview Includes

Candidates shortlisted for AFSB will undergo:

Psychological Tests
Group Tests
Personal Interview

The interview is conducted at various AFSB centres.

Medical Examination Centres

Medical tests are conducted at:

Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME)
Institute of Aviation Medicine (IAM)

Physical Fitness Requirements

Candidates are advised to maintain proper physical fitness before reporting for selection.

Recommended fitness goals:

Run 1.6 km in 10 minutes
Complete 10 Push-ups
Complete 3 Chin-ups

Candidates should also prepare for:

Swimming
Rope Climbing
Physical Training Activities

Mandatory physical tests are conducted during training.

How to Apply for IAF AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment | Step-by-Step Online Application Process

Candidates interested in applying for Indian Air Force AFCAT 02/2026 Recruitment must complete the online application process through the official AFCAT portal. No offline application form or any other mode of application will be accepted by the Indian Air Force.

Eligible candidates can apply online from 20 May 2026 (11:00 AM) to 19 June 2026 (11:30 PM) through the official website:

Apply Online – AFCAT Official Website

Step-by-Step Process to Apply Online

Follow these steps to complete your AFCAT 02/2026 online form:

Step 1: Visit Official Website

Go to the official AFCAT portal:

AFCAT Portal

Step 2: Register Yourself

Click on AFCAT 02/2026 Registration
Enter your basic details
Create login credentials

Step 3: Fill Application Form

Enter all required information carefully:

Personal Details
Educational Qualifications
Communication Details
Entry Type Selection

Important: Information submitted in the application form will be treated as final. No correction will be allowed later.

Step 4: Upload Required Documents

Upload:

Passport Size Photograph
Signature
Educational Certificates
Identity Proof

Step 5: Pay Application Fee

Entry Type	Fee
AFCAT Entry	₹550 + GST
NCC Special Entry	NIL
GATE Score Entry	NIL

Step 6: Submit Application Form

Review all entered details carefully and submit the final form.

Step 7: Download Application Slip

After successful submission, candidates must download the application slip containing their unique application number for future reference.

Important Instructions Before Registration

Candidates must keep the following points in mind before applying for Indian Air Force AFCAT Recruitment:

Must have a valid Email ID throughout the selection process
Must keep an active mobile number
State Bank of India / Nationalized bank account is mandatory at the time of joining
PAN Card is mandatory
Aadhaar Card is mandatory for registration
Candidates must be unmarried at the time of course commencement
Marriage during training can lead to discharge and recovery of training expenses by the Government

Multiple Entry Applications

Candidates eligible for more than one entry type must apply separately for each entry.

For example:

AFCAT Entry
NCC Special Entry
GATE Score Entry

Each requires a separate registration.

AFCAT Helpdesk Details

For issues related to:

Online Registration
Admit Card
Online Examination

Contact:

📞 +91 9513252077
📧 afcathelpdesk@cdac.in

For queries related to:

Eligibility
AFSB Centre Allotment
Interview Process
Merit List
Joining Instructions

Contact Indian Air Force:

📞 011-23010231 (Extn 7610)
📞 Toll-Free: 1800-11-2448

Important Link

Apply Online for AFCAT 02/2026

Employment News Notification PDF: Click here
Official Website: Click here