The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is a national-level competitive examination conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) twice a year to recruit candidates as commissioned officers in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty Branches (Technical and Non-Technical) for both Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC). The AFCAT serves as a gateway for graduates and postgraduates aspiring to serve in the IAF, one of India’s premier defence organizations. The AFCAT 2025 exams (AFCAT 1 expected in February 2025 and AFCAT 2 in August 2025) attract approximately 2–3 lakh candidates annually for around 200–300 vacancies. The selection process includes a written exam, an Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) interview, and a medical examination. This proforma provides a comprehensive overview of the AFCAT 2025 exam, including posts, eligibility criteria, exam pattern, and syllabus, to guide candidates in their preparation.

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Posts

  • Flying Branch (PC and SSC for Men and Women):
    • Role: Pilots for fighter, transport, and helicopter aircraft
    • Pay Scale: Level-10 (₹56,100–1,77,500 as per 7th CPC) + Flying Allowance (₹11,250/month)
    • Vacancies (indicative): ~50–70 per cycle
  • Ground Duty (Technical) Branch (PC and SSC for Men and Women):
    • Roles: Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical)
    • Responsibilities: Maintenance of aircraft systems, avionics, and technical equipment
    • Pay Scale: Level-10 (₹56,100–1,77,500) + Technical Allowance
    • Vacancies (indicative): ~80–100 per cycle
  • Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch (PC and SSC for Men and Women):
    • Roles: Administration, Accounts, Logistics, Education, Meteorology
    • Responsibilities: ATC, financial management, supply chain, training, weather forecasting
    • Pay Scale: Level-10 (₹56,100–1,77,500)
    • Vacancies (indicative): ~70–100 per cycle

The exact number of vacancies for AFCAT 1 and 2 2025 will be announced in the official notifications (Dec 2024 & June 2025) at afcat.cdac.in. Salaries include DA, HRA, and other allowances.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Nationality: Must be a citizen of India.
  • Educational Qualification:
    • Flying Branch: Bachelor’s with 60% + Physics/Maths at 10+2 (60% each) OR B.E./B.Tech with 60%.
    • Ground Duty (Technical): B.E./B.Tech with 60% + Physics/Maths at 10+2 (60% each). Specific subjects for AE (Electronics/Mechanical).
    • Ground Duty (Non-Technical):
      • Administration & Logistics: Bachelor’s with 60%
      • Accounts: B.Com with 60%
      • Education: Postgraduate with 50%
      • Meteorology: PG in Science/Maths/Stats/Geography/CS/etc. with 50% + Physics & Maths at 10+2 (60% each)
    Final-year students can apply (no backlog; proof required).
  • Age Limit:
    • Flying Branch: 20–24 years (extendable to 26 with valid CPL)
    • Ground Duty (Tech & Non-Tech): 20–26 years
    • Note: No relaxation for reserved categories
  • Marital Status: Unmarried below 25; conditions apply for married above 25.
  • Physical Standards: Height, weight, vision, and medical fitness as per IAF standards.
  • Application Fee: ₹550 + GST (except NCC Special Entry & Meteorology).

Exam Pattern

Written Examination (AFCAT)

  • Mode: Online, Objective MCQs
  • Sections: General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude
  • Total: 100 questions, 300 marks
  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Marking: +3 correct, -1 incorrect, 0 unattempted
  • Language: English
SectionQuestionsMarks
General Awareness~25~75
Verbal Ability~30~90
Numerical Ability~15~45
Reasoning & Military Aptitude~30~90
Total100300

Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)

  • Mode: Online MCQs (after AFCAT)
  • Sections: Mechanical, Computer Science, Electrical & Electronics
  • Total: 50 questions, 150 marks
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Marking: +3 / -1

AFSB Interview

  • Total Marks: 300 (Flying & Non-Tech), 450 (Tech incl. EKT)
  • Duration: 5–6 days
  • Stages: OIR + PPDT → Psych Tests → Group Testing → PI → CPSS (Flying)

Medical Examination

Conducted post-AFSB for recommended candidates. Includes vision, hearing, physical standards, and medical tests.

Syllabus

Detailed syllabus for AFCAT: General Awareness, English, Maths, Reasoning. EKT: Engineering subjects. AFSB Interview: Psych, GD, Tasks, PI, CPSS.

Refer to official AFCAT notification for complete syllabus.

Preparation Tips

  • Review: Syllabus & exam pattern carefully
  • Practice: Attempt mock tests & solve previous year papers
  • Fitness: Maintain physical fitness for AFSB
  • Books: Follow recommended books (Lucent GK, Norman Lewis, RS Aggarwal, etc.)
  • Current Affairs: Stay updated with defence news & events

Important Dates (Tentative)

  • AFCAT 1 2025: Notification – Dec 1, 2024 | Exam – Feb 7–9, 2025 | AFSB – Apr–Jun 2025
  • AFCAT 2 2025: Notification – Jun 1, 2025 | Exam – Aug 8–10, 2025 | AFSB – Oct–Dec 2025
  • Admit Card: 10–15 days before exam
  • Result: 1–2 months post-exam

Check official notifications at afcat.cdac.in for updates.

Question Bank

click here to Download Question bank of AFCAT