Indian Air Force releases AFCAT 01/2027 short notice, registrations open from November 12
The Indian Air Force has issued the short notice for AFCAT 01/2027, opening the recruitment process for Short Service Commission in the Flying Branch and Permanent Commission as well as Short Service Commission in the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The same notice also covers NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. The courses are scheduled to begin in the first week of January 2028 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
According to the notice published around 2 November 2026 in Employment News, the online application window will open on 12 November 2026 at 11:00 AM and close on 11 December 2026 at 11:30 PM. Candidates will have to apply through the official portal, https://afcat.edcil.co.in. The date of the AFCAT examination, admit card release and other stage-wise schedules will be announced later in the detailed notification.
Important dates and application window
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Short Notice Release | 2 November 2026 |
| Online Application Starts | 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM) |
| Last Date to Apply | 11 December 2026 (11:30 PM) |
| Course Commencement | First week of January 2028 |
| AFCAT Exam Date | To be notified in the detailed notification |
The Air Force has advised applicants not to wait until the final days of the registration period. The short notice makes clear that the detailed notification will carry the examination schedule, admit card timeline and further instructions for candidates.
Vacancies, entries and course structure
The short notice does not provide a final branch-wise vacancy breakup. Instead, it states that vacancies will be “as published in the Notification for induction cycle 01/2027.” Some reports have referred to roughly 379 posts, but aspirants have been advised to verify the official figures once the detailed notification is released.
The indicative course details listed in the short notice include the following: AFCAT Entry for the Flying Branch under Course 223/28F/SSC/M&W, which is for Short Service Commission for men and women; AFCAT Entry for Ground Duty (Technical) under Courses 222/28T/PC/112AEC/M&W and 222/28T/SSC/112AEC/M&W; and AFCAT Entry for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) covering Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education and Meteorology under Course 222/28G/SSC/M&W. The notice also includes Weapon Systems courses under PC and SSC, NCC Special Entry for the Flying Branch, and GATE Score Entry for Ground Duty (Technical) branches.
For NCC Special Entry, the Flying Branch is open to men for Permanent Commission and to men and women for Short Service Commission. The notice notes that this route is typically 10 per cent of the relevant CDSE/AFCAT vacancies. In the case of Ground Duty (Non-Technical), two seats are reserved for law-qualified candidates. The actual intake will depend on organisational requirements and training capacity.
For readers seeking the official short notice, the PDF is available through the portal-linked notice:
Eligibility criteria
Only Indian citizens, as defined under the Citizenship Act, 1955, are eligible to apply. Both men and women can apply, subject to the branch-specific rules laid out in the notification.
Candidates must be unmarried at the time the course begins. The notice also states that marriage is not permitted during training, and any breach of this rule will lead to discharge and recovery of training expenses.
The age criteria, calculated as on 1 January 2028, are as follows: for the Flying Branch, candidates must be between 20 and 24 years of age, with date of birth between 2 January 2004 and 1 January 2008, both dates inclusive. For Flying Branch candidates holding a valid and current DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence, the upper age limit is relaxed to 26 years, with date of birth between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2008. For Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches, including GATE Score Entry, the age limit is 20 to 26 years, with date of birth between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2008.
The short notice says that detailed branch-wise educational qualifications will be provided in the full notification on the official website. These criteria include percentage requirements, engineering disciplines for Technical branches and subject combinations for Non-Technical branches. Since the educational requirements have changed in some recent recruitment cycles, candidates have been advised to check the latest official criteria carefully.
Other conditions mentioned in the notice include mandatory Aadhaar for registration, while PAN and an account with SBI or another nationalised bank are required at the time of joining the Academy. Candidates must also satisfy the physical and medical standards prescribed by the Indian Air Force.
Fee structure and selection process
The application fee for AFCAT Entry is ₹550 plus applicable GST, and the amount is non-refundable. There is no application fee for NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. Payment is to be made online through the application portal.
The selection process will begin with the AFCAT written examination, which is computer-based. For Ground Duty (Technical) candidates, the Engineering Knowledge Test will also be conducted. Those who clear the written stage will move to the Air Force Selection Board process, which includes psychological testing, group tasks and interview. Flying Branch candidates will also have to undergo the Computerised Pilot Selection System test. Medical examination will follow in accordance with IAF standards, after which the final merit list will be drawn up on the basis of overall performance.
Training, pay and service conditions
Selected candidates will train at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad. The training duration is about 74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) branches, and around 50 weeks for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches.
During training, cadets will receive a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 per month. On commissioning, they will join as Flying Officer in Pay Level 10, with pay in the range of ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500, along with Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month. Additional allowances such as Flying, Technical, Transport, Risk and Hardship allowances may also be applicable depending on branch, posting and duty requirements.
The tenure structure differs by commission type. Short Service Commission officers in the Flying Branch will serve for 14 years from the date of commissioning, with no pension entitlement for pure SSC. For Ground Duty SSC officers, the initial tenure is 10 years, with the possibility of a four-year extension depending on service requirements. The notice also says Permanent Commission may be considered later as per policy.
Officers are entitled to a package of service benefits that includes medical coverage, accommodation, canteen facilities, Leave Travel Concession and insurance cover through AFGIS.
How to apply
Applicants must register at https://afcat.edcil.co.in, complete the form carefully and upload the required documents and photographs. The notice warns that details such as date of birth cannot be changed later, so candidates should enter information with care. If a fee is applicable, it must be paid online before final submission. The unique email ID and mobile number used during registration should remain active throughout the selection process.
Candidates have been strongly advised to read the detailed notification thoroughly before applying, since the information entered in the form will be treated as final. The AFCAT 01/2027 short notice reiterates that aspirants should rely on the official website for the latest vacancy figures, educational standards, exam pattern and schedule.
AFCAT remains one of the main entry routes for commissioning into the Indian Air Force, and the detailed notification due later will provide the full branch-wise breakdown and exam-related instructions for the recruitment cycle.
