AFCAT 1 2027 Notification Out: 284 Vacancies, Exam on 31 January 2027

The Indian Air Force has released the AFCAT 1 2027 notification (AFCAT 01/2027) for the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, along with NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. Online applications open on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and close on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM on the official AFCAT website. The online exam is on Sunday, 31 January 2027, and training for selected candidates begins in the first week of January 2028.

This guide explains everything in the official notification: vacancies, eligibility, exam pattern, selection process, fee, pay and application procedure.

AFCAT 1 2027 Notification at a Glance

AFCAT 1 2027 Important Dates

Note the 9:00 AM gate time on exam day. The notification says no one is let in after pre-exam verification starts, whatever the reason.

AFCAT 1 2027 Vacancies

The notification lists vacancies separately for Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC), and for men and women. The table below adds them up by branch.

NCC Special Entry (Flying) gets 10% of the AFCAT SSC Flying seats and 10% of the CDSE vacancies for PC (men). Two Ground Duty (Non-Technical) seats are reserved for candidates with an LLB degree. The IAF calls all figures tentative, so final intake can change.

PC or SSC: What Each Commission Means

• Permanent Commission (PC): You serve until the retirement age for your rank and branch. Through AFCAT Entry, PC seats are offered only in the Ground Duty branches.
• SSC, Flying Branch: A fixed engagement of 14 years from commissioning.
• SSC, Ground Duty: An initial 10 years, which can be extended by 4 years based on service needs, merit and your willingness.
• Pension: SSC officers are not entitled to a pension. A move to PC later is possible but depends on vacancies and policy at that time.

If a long career with a pension matters most to you, look closely at the few PC seats in the technical and non-technical branches. If you want to fly through AFCAT Entry, SSC is the only option in this cycle.

AFCAT 1 2027 Eligibility

Age limit (as on 1 January 2028)

Your date of birth must match your Class 10 certificate. No later change is accepted.

Educational qualification

• Flying Branch: Physics and Maths in Class 12, plus a three-year degree in any discipline, a four-year BE/BTech, or Sections A and B of AMIE or the Aeronautical Society of India.
• AE (Electronics): Physics and Maths in Class 12, plus a four-year engineering or technology degree in one of the listed electronics, electrical, computer science, IT, AI or instrumentation disciplines. MSc Electronics with BSc Physics also qualifies.
• AE (Mechanical): Physics and Maths in Class 12, plus a four-year engineering degree in one of the listed mechanical, aeronautical, production, automobile, mechatronics or materials disciplines.
• GATE Score Entry: A BE/BTech in an eligible AE discipline, and a GATE score in an eligible paper with the result declared between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2027.
• Weapon Systems: Physics and Maths in Class 12, plus a degree in any discipline or a BE/BTech.
• Administration and Logistics: A degree in any discipline.
• Accounts: BCom, a BBA, BMS or BBS with a finance specialisation, BSc in finance, or a qualified CA, CMA, CS or CFA.
• Education: A postgraduate degree in any discipline, along with graduation.
• Meteorology: BSc with Physics and Maths, or a four-year engineering degree in one of the listed streams.

The engineering lists are long and specific, so search for your exact degree name in the notification PDF before you apply.

Other conditions to check

• You must be unmarried when the course starts, and you cannot marry during training.
• Final-year students can apply if they have no current backlog, but must submit proof of their final exams by 30 November 2027.
• A diploma in place of Class 12 is not accepted.
• Anyone who failed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) earlier cannot apply for the Flying Branch.

AFCAT 1 2027 Exam Pattern and Syllabus

• Each correct answer gets 3 marks. Each wrong answer loses 1 mark. Unanswered questions score zero.
• The test is online and in English only.
• If the exam runs in more than one shift, scores are normalised before results.

The notification describes a single paper for all branches and does not mention a separate Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) for technical candidates.

Numerical Ability is set at Class 10 level, and the other sections at graduation level. With negative marking, careful accuracy beats guessing. For reading material, see our list of best books for AFCAT preparation, and try the free practice test on the AFCAT website.

AFCAT 1 2027 Selection Process

1. Online AFCAT: The IAF sets the qualifying marks. NCC Special Entry candidates skip this test, and shortlisted GATE Score Entry candidates also go straight to the AFSB.
2. Air Force Selection Board (AFSB): Qualified candidates pick a date and centre online. The centres are Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi and Guwahati.
   • Stage I (Day 1): Officer Intelligence Rating test and Picture Perception and Discussion test. This is a screening round, and documents are checked for those who clear it.
   • Stage II: Psychological tests on Day 1 evening, then group tests and the interview over the next five days.
   • CPSS: For recommended Flying Branch candidates. You get only one attempt in your lifetime.
3. Medical examination for recommended candidates.
4. Final merit list: Based on your combined marks in the written test and the AFSB. Branch allotment depends on your merit, vacancies, medical fitness and the branch choices you gave in the form.

The AFSB tests you over several days, so start practising for it alongside the written exam. Our guide on how to prepare for the AFCAT AFSB interview walks through each stage.

How to Apply for AFCAT 1 2027

1. Go to afcat.edcil.co.in and sign up with your name, mobile number and email. Verify both with OTP.
2. Log in with the Application Sequence Number and password sent to you.
3. Fill in your personal, contact and qualification details and your course preferences.
4. Upload your photo, signature and thumb impression.
5. Preview carefully, submit and pay the fee online.
6. Save and print the submitted form.

Keep these ready before you start:

• Aadhaar (mandatory for registration)
• Recent colour passport photo with a light background, 100 to 200 KB, JPG
• Signature in black ink on white paper, 80 to 150 KB, JPG
• Thumb impression (left thumb for men, right thumb for women), 50 to 100 KB

The fee is ₹550 plus 18% GST and is not refundable. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates do not pay it. You cannot edit the form after submission, so check every field first.

AFCAT Salary and Training

Officers also get allowances based on branch and posting, such as flying, technical and risk allowances. Training includes running, swimming and rope climbing. The IAF suggests you build up to:

• Running 4 km in 15 minutes
• At least 20 push-ups and 20 sit-ups
• 8 chin-ups
• Climbing a 3 to 4 metre rope
• Swimming 25 metres

Flying cadets also need a minimum body weight of 48 kg before flying training starts.

How to Use the Weeks Before the Exam

From the last date to apply to the exam is about seven weeks. A simple split works for most candidates:

• Weeks 1 to 3: Cover the full syllabus once. Spend extra time on your weakest section, often Numerical Ability for non-maths graduates or English for many engineers.
• Weeks 4 to 6: Take timed mock tests. After each one, list the questions you got wrong and why, then revise those topics.
• Week 7: Revise current affairs from the past six months, plus defence news, and take the official practice test.

Start the fitness routine now as well, because the AFSB and training both test it.

Which AFCAT Entry Suits You?

• You want to fly and are 20 to 24: Apply for the Flying Branch. Remember that CPSS is a one-time test, so prepare for it seriously.
• You are an engineer with a good GATE score: Apply through GATE Score Entry for AE (Electronics) or AE (Mechanical). You skip the written exam and go straight to the AFSB.
• You are an engineer without GATE: Apply for the technical branches through AFCAT Entry. AE (Electronics) has the most seats in this cycle.
• You are a graduate in any discipline: Administration and Logistics are open to you, and Weapon Systems too if you had Physics and Maths in Class 12.
• You have a commerce, finance or postgraduate degree: Look at Accounts or Education, but note that these branches have only a few seats.
• You hold an NCC Air Wing ‘C’ certificate: NCC Special Entry lets you skip the written test for the Flying Branch.