Air Force Common Admission Test or more popularly known as the AFCAT, is a reputed entrance examination conducted by Indian Air Force to recruit candidates for many Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) positions.
The candidates are selected on the basis of their performance in the online written exam and a face-to-face interview with the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB). Indian Air Force organizes the AFCAT twice a year and candidates should be aware of the tentative dates provided by AFSB. The notification generally comes in the months of December and January. The candidates are advised to regularly check the AFSB website to have the precise dates for the AFCAT exam.
The candidates who chose to select the position of Ground Duty Officers (Technical) need to take AFCAT and Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) as well.
In this article, we will apprise you of various AFCAT eligibility norms set up by AFSB for the recruitment of Flying Officers and Ground Duty Officers.
Criteria 1: Age Limit
AFSB has set up age limits that vary with the position for which the candidate is applying. The Air Force Board has made it clear, there is no age relaxation for any category of candidates. Different branches have different age limits and candidates should start early in their lifetime to get selected.
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical and Technical) Branch: The candidates should be minimum of 20 years and must not exceed 26 years if they belong to the unreserved category.
- Flying Branch: The candidates should be in the age group of 20 to 24 years for applying. The candidates having Commercial Pilot License are relaxed up to the age limit of 26 years.
The candidates should calculate their age basis the date provided by AFSB in official notification.
Criteria 2: Educational Qualifications
The candidates should go through the educational qualification criteria set by AFSB for various posts. This is important as educational qualification for each post is different. Check the details as per the posts:
Post 1: AFCAT Flying Branch
The candidates should possess any one of the following qualifications;
- The candidates should have scored a minimum of 60 percent marks in Maths & Physics in Class 12th and completed Graduation with a minimum three-year course from a recognized university with a minimum of 60 percent marks or equivalent.
- BE/B Tech degree from a recognized university with 60 percent marks or equivalent.
- The candidate should have cleared the A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University with a minimum of 60 percent marks.
Post 2: AFCAT Ground Duty Officers
The Ground Duty Posts are categorized into Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical).
Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics)
The candidates should possess any one of the following qualifications;
- The candidates should have scored minimum 60 percent marks in Maths & Physics in Class 12th and completed Graduation with a minimum three-year course from a recognized university with a minimum of 60 percent marks or equivalent.
- The candidate should have cleared the A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate Membership Exam of Institution of Electronics and Telecommunications Engineers by actual studies with a minimum of 60 percent marks or equivalent in following disciplines:
| Communication Engineering | Computer Engineering/Technology | Computer Engineering and 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 Communication Engineering | Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering | Electronics and Computer Engineering |
| Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering | Electronics Instrument & Control | Electronics Instrument and Control Engineering |
| Instrumentation & Control Engineering | Instrument and Control Engineering | Information Technology |
Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical)
The candidates should possess any one of the following qualifications;
- The candidates should have scored a minimum of 60 percent marks in Maths & Physics in Class 12th and completed Graduation with a minimum three-year course from a recognized university with a minimum of 60 percent marks or equivalent.
- The candidate should have cleared the A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University with a minimum of 60 percent marks.
| Aerospace Engineering | Aeronautical Engineering | Aircraft Maintenance Engineering |
| Mechanical Engineering | Mechanical Engineering and Automation | Mechanical Engineering (Production) |
| Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance) | Mechatronics | Industrial Engineering |
Post 3: AFCAT Non-Technical Ground Duty
- AFCAT Administration & Logistics Officer
- Graduate Degree (min three years degree course) in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 60 percent marks or cleared A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University with a minimum of 60 percent marks.
- AFCAT Accounts Officer
- The candidates should have a B.Com Degree (Minimum three-year course) from a recognized university with a minimum of 60 percent or equivalent.
- AFCAT Meteorology Officer
- The candidate should have a post-graduation degree in any Science stream/Mathematics/Statistics/Geography/Computer Applications/Environmental Science/Applied Physics/ Oceanography/Meteorology/Agricultural Meteorology/Ecology & Environment/Geophysics/Environmental Biology with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate. Math and Physics should have been studied at Graduation Level with a minimum of 55% marks in each.