The Indian Air Force has put out the short notice for AFCAT 01/2027, opening the next recruitment cycle for officer entries through AFCAT, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry. The intake covers 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 courses are scheduled to begin in the first week of January 2028 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad.
As per the notice, published around 2 November 2026 in Employment News, the online application window will start 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 examination date, admit card release and other stage-wise details will be announced later in the detailed notification.
Important dates and schedule
The short notice confirms the following timeline for AFCAT 01/2027:
| 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 |
Candidates are advised not to wait until the last days of registration. The detailed notification is expected to carry the exam schedule, admit card timeline and further instructions.
Vacancies, branches and course details
The notice does not give a final branch-wise vacancy breakup. It states that vacancies will be “as published in the Notification for induction cycle 01/2027.” Some reports have mentioned around 379 posts, but applicants should treat that figure as unconfirmed until the official detailed notification is released.
The short notice lists these indicative course details: AFCAT Entry for the Flying Branch under Course 223/28F/SSC/M&W; 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 says this route is typically 10% of the relevant CDSE/AFCAT vacancies. It also states that two seats in Ground Duty (Non-Technical) are reserved for law-qualified candidates. Final intake will depend on organisational requirements and training capacity.
For reference, the official short notice PDF is linked through the portal-linked notice:
AFCAT 1 2027 Short Notice PDFEligibility 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 conditions mentioned in the notice.
Applicants must be unmarried when the course begins. The notice also says marriage is not permitted during training, and any violation will lead to discharge and recovery of training expenses.
The age limits, counted as on 1 January 2028, are given below:
- Flying Branch: 20–24 years, with date of birth between 2 January 2004 and 1 January 2008, both dates inclusive.
- Flying Branch (valid and current DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders): upper age limit relaxed to 26 years, with date of birth between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2008.
- Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical), including GATE Score Entry: 20–26 years, with date of birth between 2 January 2002 and 1 January 2008.
Detailed branch-wise educational qualifications, including percentage requirements, engineering disciplines for Technical branches and subject combinations for Non-Technical branches, will be available in the full notification on the official website. Since these criteria have varied in recent cycles, candidates are advised to verify the latest official rules carefully.
Other requirements mentioned in the notice include mandatory Aadhaar for registration, PAN and an account in SBI or a nationalised bank at the time of joining the Academy, and 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 it is non-refundable. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry do not require any application fee. Payment will be made online through the application portal.
The selection process begins with the AFCAT written examination, which is computer-based. Ground Duty (Technical) candidates will also appear for the Engineering Knowledge Test. Those who clear the written stage will move to Air Force Selection Board testing, which includes psychological tests, group tasks and interview. Flying Branch candidates will additionally undergo the Computerised Pilot Selection System. Medical examination will follow as per IAF standards, and the final merit list will be prepared on the basis of overall performance.
Training, pay and service terms
Selected candidates will train at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, Hyderabad. The training duration is approximately 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 ranging from ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500, plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 per month. Additional allowances such as Flying, Technical, Transport, Risk and Hardship may also apply depending on branch, posting and duty.
Service tenure differs by commission type. Flying Branch SSC officers will serve for 14 years from the date of commissioning, with no pension entitlement for pure SSC. Ground Duty SSC officers will have an initial tenure of 10 years, with the possibility of a 4-year extension based on requirements. The notice also says Permanent Commission may be considered later as per policy.
Officers receive service benefits that include medical cover, accommodation, canteen facilities, Leave Travel Concession and insurance cover through AFGIS.
How to apply
Applicants must visit https://afcat.edcil.co.in, register, and complete the online form carefully. The notice says details such as date of birth cannot be changed later, so entries must be made with care. Candidates must upload the required documents and photographs, pay the fee if applicable, and submit the form online. The unique email ID and mobile number used during registration should remain active throughout the selection process.
Candidates are strongly advised to read the detailed notification in full before applying, since all information entered in the form will be treated as final. The AFCAT 01/2027 short notice also makes it clear that aspirants should rely on the official website for the final vacancy numbers, educational standards, exam pattern and schedule.
AFCAT remains one of the key entry routes for commissioning into the Indian Air Force, and the next notification will provide the complete branch-wise breakup and recruitment instructions for this cycle.
AFCAT 1 2027 Short Notice PDF
