AFCAT 02/2026 Notification: Apply by 19 June 2026 for Flying and Ground Duty Posts

The Indian Air Force AFCAT 02 2026 Flying Officer salary and vacancies notification has been officially released, inviting Indian men and women to join as Commissioned Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Online registration opens on 20 May 2026 at 11:00 AM and closes on 19 June 2026 at 11:30 PM through the official portal afcat.cdac.in. The courses will commence in the first week of July 2027 at Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad). A detail competitors miss entirely: three separate entry routes are open simultaneously – AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch), and GATE Score Entry (Ground Duty Technical) – and candidates eligible for multiple routes must register separately for each.

Based on official AFCAT 02/2026 notification by Indian Air Force. Verified: May 2026.

Quick Eligibility Check

For Ground Duty Non-Technical branch, two seats are reserved for Law-qualified candidates – a specific provision most candidates overlook when scanning the vacancy table.

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Important Dates

Candidates must maintain their unique registered Email ID and active mobile number throughout the selection process – all AFSB interview allotments, merit list updates, and joining instructions are communicated through these registered contacts only.

Vacancy and Branch Analysis

AFCAT 02/2026 covers vacancies across three entry routes and multiple branches. The Flying Branch SSC vacancies are fixed at 30 for men and 5 for women. Ground Duty (Non-Technical) vacancies are broken down further by sub-department. Ground Duty (Technical) and GATE Score Entry vacancies are published in a separate induction cycle notification (02/2026). NCC Special Entry provides 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC in the Flying Branch.

Ground Duty Non-Technical has the highest total published SSC vacancies in this notification, with the Aeronautical Engineer (Administration) branch alone offering 50 seats for men and 12 for women. Weather branch (Met) and Education branch have comparatively smaller allocations but are sought after for their specialised career tracks. Two seats within Ground Duty Non-Technical are reserved specifically for Law-qualified candidates – these are among the most overlooked opportunities in defence recruitment.

Salary and In-Hand Calculation

On commissioning, a Flying Officer receives a starting basic pay of ₹56,100 per month at Level 10 of the Defence Pay Matrix under the 7th Pay Commission. This is in addition to the Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500 per month. Flight Cadets receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month during the one-year training period at AFA.

Beyond monthly salary, IAF Officers receive furnished accommodation, comprehensive medical cover for self and dependents, canteen access, Officers’ Mess facilities, loans at subsidised rates, LTC, and 80 days of annual leave. The mandatory insurance cover through Air Force Group Insurance Society (AFGIS) provides approximately ₹1.25 Crore coverage while in service. PC officers retiring after 20 or more years are covered with Air Veterans Insurance Cover (AVIC) of ₹24 Lacs initially for 15 years, reducing to ₹12 Lacs from age 75.

Application Fee

AFCAT Entry candidates must pay the examination fee online at the time of registration. The fee is non-refundable under all circumstances. Candidates applying for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry are not required to pay any examination fee.

Age Limit

All age calculations are as on 01 July 2027 (course commencement date). A candidate holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by DGCA India gets an age relaxation of up to 26 years for the Flying Branch – an advantage that standard AFCAT applicants do not receive. There is no category-based age relaxation mentioned in this notification.

Type of Commission

IAF offers two types of commission through AFCAT 02/2026. Permanent Commission (PC) officers serve until superannuation in their respective branches as per rank. Short Service Commission (SSC) for Flying Branch officers has an engagement period of 14 years from the date of commissioning. SSC officers in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches serve for an initial period of 10 years, with an extension of up to 4 years possible subject to service requirements, vacancy availability, suitability, and merit. Grant of PC to SSC officers may be considered at a later date subject to similar conditions. SSC officers are not entitled to pension.

Selection Process

Stage 1 – AFCAT Online Examination

The written AFCAT examination is conducted online at designated centres across India. It tests candidates on General Awareness, Verbal Ability in English, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Only AFCAT Entry candidates pay the examination fee of ₹550 + GST. The exam is the first filter before candidates proceed to AFSB.

Stage 2 – Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview

Shortlisted candidates from the written exam are called to one of the Air Force Selection Boards. AFSB is a multi-day assessment covering Psychological Tests, Group Tests, and Personal Interview. It is qualifying in nature – candidates must clear AFSB to be considered for the final merit list. To and fro travel by AC-III Tier or AC Chair Car is reimbursed for first-time AFSB appearances only.

Stage 3 – Medical Examination

Candidates recommended by AFSB undergo a comprehensive medical examination as per IAF physical and medical standards. Detailed physical and medical requirements are available in the notification on the official website.

Your first 7 days after applying for AFCAT 02/2026:

1. Save your registered Email ID and mobile number – all AFSB allotments and merit updates are sent here only.
2. Begin physical conditioning immediately – the benchmark is running 1 mile (1.6 km) in 10 minutes, 10 push-ups, and 03 chin-ups before reporting for SSB.
3. Download the detailed notification from afcat.cdac.in and review the complete physical and medical standards section for your chosen branch.
4. Prepare for the AFCAT written exam covering General Awareness, English Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning/Military Aptitude.
5. Arrange your PAN Card and a Savings Bank Account in SBI or a Nationalised Bank – both are mandatory at the time of joining AFA.

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How to Apply for AFCAT 02/2026

1. Visit the official AFCAT portal at afcat.cdac.in from 20 May 2026 onwards.
2. Select the appropriate entry tab – AFCAT Entry and NCC Special Entry are available through separate registration tabs; candidates eligible for both must register separately in each.
3. Complete the online application form with personal, educational, and contact details – information filled will be treated as final and no amendments will be allowed subsequently.
4. Upload scanned photograph and signature as per specifications mentioned in the notification.
5. For AFCAT Entry: pay the examination fee of ₹550 + GST through the online payment gateway.
6. Submit the application and note your unique Registration Number for future reference.

Tattoo Policy

IAF has a specific and strict tattoo policy for AFCAT 02/2026. Permanent body tattoos are not permitted on any visible or non-visible body part except the inner face of both forearms (from the inside of the elbow to the wrist) and the reverse of the palm or back (dorsal) side of both hands. Candidates with tattoos in these permitted areas must sign a Self-Declaration Certificate. Small, innocuous tattoos that are not prejudicial to military discipline – such as religious symbols or names of family members – are allowed. Tribes with traditional tattoo marks on the face or body as per existing customs are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the starting salary of a Flying Officer after AFCAT 2026?

A Flying Officer receives a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month at Level 10 of the Defence Pay Matrix plus a Military Service Pay (MSP) of ₹15,500 per month on commissioning. Additional allowances including Flying Allowance, Transport Allowance, HRA (if government accommodation is not availed), and Risk and Hardship Allowance apply based on posting and nature of duty. Gross approximate take-home is typically ₹80,000 to ₹1,10,000 per month – this is an estimate and candidates should verify current allowance rates from official IAF sources.

What is the last date to apply for AFCAT 02/2026?

The last date to register and submit the online application for AFCAT 02/2026 is 19 June 2026 at 11:30 PM. Applications must be submitted through the official portal afcat.cdac.in. Registration opens on 20 May 2026 at 11:00 AM.

What is the AFCAT 02/2026 examination fee?

Candidates registering for AFCAT Entry must pay ₹550 plus GST as a non-refundable examination fee. Candidates applying through NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry are not required to pay any examination fee.

What is the age limit for Flying Branch in AFCAT 02/2026?

For the Flying Branch through AFCAT Entry, candidates must be between 20 and 24 years as on 01 July 2027, meaning born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007. Candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA India get a relaxation up to 26 years of age, meaning born between 02 July 2001 and 01 July 2007.

What is the difference between PC and SSC in AFCAT 02/2026?

Permanent Commission (PC) officers serve until superannuation in their branch as per their rank. Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in the Flying Branch serve for 14 years from commissioning, while SSC officers in Ground Duty branches serve for 10 years with a possible 4-year extension. SSC officers are not entitled to pension; however, PC may be considered at a later date subject to vacancies, suitability, and merit.

Is B.Ed mandatory or D.El.Ed accepted for Education Branch in AFCAT 2026?

Educational qualification requirements for the Education branch in Ground Duty Non-Technical are available in detail in the notification on the official AFCAT website. The newspaper advertisement directs candidates to the website for complete physical, medical, and educational qualification details. Candidates should verify their specific qualification from afcat.cdac.in before applying.

Can women apply for AFCAT 02/2026 Flying Branch?

Yes. The Indian Air Force invites both men and women for AFCAT 02/2026. For the Flying Branch SSC, 5 vacancies are reserved for women. Women are also eligible for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches with vacancies across multiple sub-departments including Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, and Meteorology.