About Airforce Common Admission Test (AFCAT)

• The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is conducted by the Indian Air Force. The exam is held twice a year in February and September, respectively, to select Class-I Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duties (Technical and Non-Technical).
• AFCAT is a gateway for both male and female candidates who wish to join the Indian Air Force for both Short Service Commission in Flying Branch and Permanent Commission/Short Service Commission in Ground Duties for both Technical and Non-Technical roles.
• Candidates are selected based on their performance in the online exam and Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview. Candidates opting for Ground Duty (Technical) branches are required to appear in both AFCAT and Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT).

AFCAT Exam Important Details

AFCAT Exam Paper Pattern 2024-2025

The AFCAT Examination will be conducted in two phases:

AFCAT Syllabus for 2024

General English

• Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Completion/ Filling in of correct word, Synonyms, Antonyms, and Testing of Vocabulary, Idioms, and Phrases. 

General Awareness

• History, Geography, Civics, Politics, Current Affairs, Environment, Basic Science, Defence, Art, Culture, Sports, etc. 

Numerical Ability

• Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion and Simple Interest, Time & Distance (Trains/Boats & Streams). 

Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test

• Verbal Skills 
• Spatial Ability. 

Type of Commission :

(a) Permanent Commission (PC) for Men: Candidates joining as PC officers would

continue to serve till the age of superannuation in their respective branches as per their rank.

(b) Short Service Commission (SSC) for Men & Women : 

(i) The engagement period for Flying Branch (Men and Women) SSC Officers is fourteen years from the date of Commissioning (Non extendable).

(ii) The initial tenure for Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) SSC Officers would be for a period of ten years. An extension of four years may be granted subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit.

(iii) Grant of Permanent Commission (PC) would be considered during the last one year of service subject to service requirements, availability of vacancies, willingness, suitability and merit.

Eligibility Conditions :

(a) Nationality. Candidate must be a citizen of India as per Indian citizenship act, 1955.

(b) Age.

(i) Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry: 20 to 24 years . Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 years

(ii) Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch: 20 to 26 years .

(iii) Marital Status: Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried at the time of commencement of course. Widows/ Widowers and divorcees (with or without encumbrances) below 25 years of age are also not eligible. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application though successful at SSB or medical will not be eligible for training. A candidate who marries during the period of training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him by the Government. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live out with family.

(iv) The date of birth accepted by the IAF is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University, the extract must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate. No other document related to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, service records and likewise will be accepted.

(v) Incase the Matriculation/ Higher Secondary Examination Certificate does not show the date of birth, or only shows the age by completed years or completed years and months. In such cases a candidate must possess a self-attested/ certified copy of a certificate from the Headmaster/ Principal of the Institution from where he/ she passed the Matriculation/ Higher Secondary Examination showing the date of his/ her birth or exact age as recorded in the Admission Register of the Institution.

(vi) Candidates should note that only the Date of Birth as recorded in the Matriculation/ Higher Secondary Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of application will be accepted by the IAF and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.

(vii) The candidates should exercise due care while entering their Date of Birth. If on verification at any subsequent stage, variation is found in their date of birth from the one entered in their Matriculation or equivalent examination certificate, will render them disqualified.

Educational Qualifications :

(i) Flying Branch :

Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level and

(a) Graduation with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

OR

(b) BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

OR

(c) Candidates who have cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

2. Ground Duty (Technical) Branch :

i) Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) {AE (L)}.

Candidates with a minimum of 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from recognized University OR cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines:-

• Communication Engineering.
• Computer Engineering/Technology.
• Computer Engineering & Application.
• Computer Science and Engineering/Technology.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
• Electrical Engineering.
• Electronics Engineering/ Technology.
• Electronics Science and Engineering.
• Electronics.
• Electronics and Communication Engineering.
• Electronics and Computer Science.
• Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering.
• Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave).
• Electronics and Computer Engineering.
• Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering.
• Electronics Instrument & Control.
• Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering.
• Instrumentation & Control Engineering.
• Instrument & Control Engineering.
• Information Technology.
• Spacecraft Technology.
• Engineering Physics.
• Electric Power and Machinery Engineering.
• Infotech Engineering.
• Cyber Security.

ii) Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)}:

Candidates with a minimum of 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/Technology from recognised University OR cleared Sections A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines:-

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Aeronautical Engineering.
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering and Automation.
• Mechanical Engineering (Production).
• Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance).
• Mechatronics.
• Industrial Engineering.
• Manufacturing Engineering.
• Production and Industrial Engineering.
• Materials Science and Engineering.
• Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
• Aerospace and Applied Mechanics.
• Automotive Engineering.
• Robotics
• Nanotechnology
• Rubber Technology and Rubber Engineering.

3. Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches.

i) Administration& Logistics :

Passed 10+2 and Graduate Degree (Minimum three years degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

ii) Accounts Branch: 

Passed 10+2 and done graduation in any of the following streams with 60 % marks or equivalent from a recognized university:-

• B. Com Degree (Min three years course).
• Bachelor of Business Administration (with specialization in Finance)/ Bachelor of Management Studies (with specialization in Finance)/ Bachelor of Business Studies (with specialization in Finance)
• Qualified CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA.
• B.Sc. with specialization in Finance.

Note.

•  Only those candidates who have given 12th standard in 10+2 pattern of examination are eligible to apply for these courses.
• Two seats are reserved for Law qualified candidates in Ground duty (Non-Tech) branches and these candidates may be employed on legal duties of the IAF (after commissioning).
• In case the candidates are awarded grades/ CGPA instead of marks, the conversion of grades/ CGPA to percentage of marks would be based on the procedure certified by the University from where they have obtained the degree. In case the University does not have any scheme for converting CGPA to percentage conversion certificate, CGPA will be converted into 10 points scale and multiplied by 10 to get equivalent percentage.
• Candidates who are studying in the final year/ semester Degree course and are yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided candidate should not have any present backlog and should have secured a minimum of 60% marks up to the last semester/ year for which results have been declared up to the time of submission of application. They are required to submit proof of passing the Degree Examination by 30 Nov 2021 and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of basic qualifying University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground whatsoever.
•  Candidates who have failed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) in an earlier attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at Air Force Academy will not be eligible to apply in Flying Branch.

(d) Candidates who were admitted to an earlier course at the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai and Officer’s Training Academy Gaya but were removed on grounds of indiscipline are ineligible to apply.

(e) Candidates who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible for AFCAT and if admitted, their candidature will be cancelled.

(f) Candidates who have been convicted on criminal charges and those who are still stuck in a criminal case are not eligible to apply.

AFCAT Cut-off Marks

Cut-off Marks: Cut off marks for AFCAT-I is 157+ out of 300 for AFCAT Paper-II 60 of 150 for EKT. Only those candidates who have cleared both AFCAT and EKT will be considered for Technical Branch. All candidates may login to their account to view their individual AFCAT/ EKT Marks.

Useful Links for AFCAT Exam Preparation

To Practice AFCAT Exam Important Questions

• AFCAT Exam Quiz-Daily

To download AFCAT previous year question click link below

• AFCAT Previous year question papers

To purchase AFCAT Books click the link below

• AFCAT Exam Books

To Attend AFCAT Online Test Series click the link below 

• AFCAT Online Test Series 

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