AFCAT | Exam Details | AFCAT 2024 Exam: Dates, Syllabus, Registration and Exam Pattern

The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is an entrance examination conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to select officers for its various branches, including the Flying Branch, Technical Branch, and Ground Duty Branches (both Technical and Non-Technical). The exam is held twice a year and is open to both men and women who meet the eligibility criteria.

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AIR FORCE COMMON ADMISSION TEST (AFCAT- 02/2024) FOR FLYING BRANCH AND GROUND DUTY (TECHNICAL AND NON-TECHNICAL) BRANCHES/ NCC SPECIAL ENTRY FOR COURSES COMMENCING IN JULY 2025

The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is an entrance examination conducted by the Indian Air Force for selecting candidates for its various branches such as Flying Branch, Technical Branch, and Ground Duty Branches (both Technical and Non-Technical). 

AIR FORCE COMMON ADMISSION TEST (AFCAT- 02/2024) 

Online applications are invited for the courses commencing in July 2025 for grant of Short Service Commission (SSC) in Flying Branch and Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches. Online applications are also invited for grant of PC/ SSC for NCC Special Entry Scheme (For flying branch).

Indian Air Force invites Indian citizens (Men and Women) to be part of this elite force as Group A Gazetted Officers in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches.   

Date of AFCAT online Examination: 09 Aug 24, 10 Aug 24 and 11 Aug 24.

Start date for AFCAT Online Application: 30 MAY 2024

Last date for AFCAT Online Application: 28 JUN 2024

AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test. This test is conducted by the Indian Air Force for selection of officers in all branches of the IAF (except medical and dental) viz. Flying Branch (Short Service Commission only), Technical Branch (Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission) and Ground Duty Branch (Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission). AFCAT is conducted twice a year (in the month of February and August). The AFCAT advertisement for the same is published in the months of December and June respectively.

Indian Air Force AFCAT Vacancy Details  : 

AFCAT EligibilityCriteria :

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

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.  

AFCAT Age & Educational Qualifications:

1) Flying Branch (through AFCAT & NCC Special Entry)
Age: 20 to 24 years as on 01 July 2025 i.e. born between 02 July 2001 to 01 July 2005 (both dates inclusive).

Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (Indian) is relax able up to 26 years i.e. born  between 02 July 1999 to 01 July 2005 (both dates inclusive).
Afcat Educational Qualifications : 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)
Age : 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2025 i.e. born between 02 July 1999 to 01 July 2005 (both dates inclusive).
IAF AFCAT Educational Qualifications: 

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). (aap) Electronics and Computer Engineering.
Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering. (aar) 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

Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)} : Candidates with a minimum of 60% 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 (No Technical Branch)
Age : 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2025 i.e. born between 02 July 1999 to 01 July 2005 (both dates inclusive).

Educational Qualifications :
Administration : 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.
Education: Passed 10+2 and Post-Graduation with 50% marks in any discipline including integrated courses offering PG (Single degree without permission to exit and lateral entry) and with 60% marks in Graduation in any disciple.  

NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch): NCC Air Wing Senior Division certificate acquired is mandatory. Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 60% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2. Graduates with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent OR 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.

Physical and Medical Standards : Please refer to below link for Guidelines with regard to physical and medical standards for candidates

It is mandatory for the candidates opting for Ground Duty Technical branch to appear in AFCAT.

AFCAT Admit card (for AFCAT Candidates Only): The eligible candidates shall be issued with an AFCAT e-Admit Card 24th July 2024 by Click "DOWNLOAD ADMIT CARD" to download your Admit Card from the website https://afcat.cdac.in and you will also receive admit card on your registered email ID. If the candidate does not receive his/her admit card in their registered email id or is not able to download the same from the mentioned website, he/she is required to enquire from AFCAT Query Cell at C-DAC, Pune. (Phone Nos 020-25503105 or 020-25503106). E-Mail queries may be addressed to [email protected].    

How to apply Indian Air Force AFCAT Application Form:
Aspirants for IAF are required to apply online by using the link https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in, or https://afcat.cdac.in.

Aadhaar Card is mandatory for online registration.

Candidates applying for the AFCAT examination should ensure that they fulfil all the eligibility conditions for admission to the examination. Their admission at all the stages of examination viz. Written examination and SSB test will be purely provisional, subject to their satisfying the prescribed eligibility conditions. If on verification at any time before or after the written examination or AFSB Testing, it is found that they do not fulfil any of the eligibility conditions, their candidature will be cancelled by the IAF.
Examination fee for AFCAT Entry: 

After filling in the online application form, the examination fee of Rs. 550/- (non-refundable) for AFCAT entry (not applicable for NCC special entry) paid online through the Make Payment step on the main menu of the online application.

No cash or cheque or demand draft (DD) will be accepted towards payment of examination fee. The examination fee can be paid using credit/debit cards/ net banking through the payment gateway. Applicants are advised to follow the instructions/ steps given on the payment gateway, and also print/keep the transaction details for their records. After confirmation from bank that the payment is received, the Payment Status will display Registration Number which the candidate may note down for future correspondence. Simultaneously, the candidate will receive a confirmatory sms/ email. This will be followed by Admit Card (with the Hall Ticket Number) which a candidate will receive on his/her registered email ID.

Candidates are to apply only online on Indian Air Force (IAF) career website www.careerairforce.nic.in

 from 30 MAY 2024 to 28 JUN 2024

https://afcat.cdac.in/afcatreg/  

For more Indian Air Force AFCAT details visit : 

https://afcat.cdac.in/AFCAT/ 

AFCAT Practice Test:  An online Practice Test (for AFCAT) is available on the  IAF website https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in.

Air Force Selection Board (AFSB): Candidates who have qualified in the AFCAT written exam are required to choose AFSB date  and venue by themselves on the website https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in in order to generate call-up letter for AFSB interview. 

Training: Candidates recommended by the AFSBs and found medically fit by appropriate medical establishment are detailed for training strictly on the basis of merit and availability of vacancies in various branches/ sub branches

Date and Duration of Training: Training is scheduled to commence in the first week of January 2025 for all courses. The approximate duration of training for Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) Branches is 74 weeks and that of Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches is 52 weeks at Air Force Training Establishments.

FAQs Related to AFCAT Exam :

Q1: What is AFCAT?
A1: AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test. It is conducted by the Indian Air Force for the recruitment of officers in various branches such as Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical).

Q2: How often is the AFCAT exam conducted?
A2: The AFCAT exam is conducted twice a year, typically in February and August.

Q3: Who is eligible to apply for the AFCAT exam?
A3: Candidates must be Indian citizens. The eligibility criteria vary for different branches:

• Flying Branch: Age between 20 to 24 years. Graduation with 60% marks and Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level.
• Ground Duty (Technical): Age between 20 to 26 years. B.E/B.Tech degree with 60% marks.
• Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Age between 20 to 26 years. Graduation/Post Graduation in relevant fields with 60% marks.

Q4: How can I apply for the AFCAT exam?
A4: Candidates can apply online through the official Indian Air Force recruitment website when the notification is released.

Q5: What is the pattern of the AFCAT exam?
A5: The AFCAT exam consists of 100 questions, each carrying 3 marks, making a total of 300 marks. The duration of the exam is 2 hours. The subjects covered are:

• General Awareness
• Verbal Ability in English
• Numerical Ability and Reasoning
• Military Aptitude Test

Q6: Is there any negative marking in the AFCAT exam?
A6: Yes, there is a negative marking of 1 mark for every incorrect answer.

Q7: What is the syllabus for the AFCAT exam?
A7: The syllabus includes:

• General Awareness: History, Geography, Civics, Politics, Current Affairs, Environment, Basic Science, Defence, Art, Culture, Sports, etc.
• Verbal Ability in English: Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Completion, Synonyms, Antonyms, Testing of Vocabulary, etc.
• Numerical Ability: Decimal Fraction, Simplification, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion, Simple Interest, Time & Work, Time & Distance.
• Reasoning and Military Aptitude: Verbal Skills and Spatial Ability.

Q8: What is the selection process after the AFCAT exam?
A8: The selection process includes:

1. Written Exam (AFCAT).
2. AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) Testing: Candidates who clear the written exam are called for AFSB testing which includes Stage I (Officer Intelligence Rating Test and Picture Perception and Discussion Test) and Stage II (Psychological Test, Group Tests, and Interview).
3. Medical Examination: Candidates recommended by AFSB will undergo a medical examination.

Q9: What is EKT?
A9: EKT stands for Engineering Knowledge Test. It is conducted for candidates applying for the Technical Branch. It consists of 50 questions, each carrying 3 marks, with a duration of 45 minutes.

Q10: How should I prepare for the AFCAT exam?
A10: To prepare for the AFCAT exam:

• Understand the exam pattern and syllabus thoroughly.
• Study from standard books and resources.
• Practice previous years' question papers and mock tests.
• Focus on time management and accuracy.
• Stay updated with current affairs and general knowledge.

Q11: Can females apply for the AFCAT exam?
A11: Yes, both male and female candidates can apply for the AFCAT exam.

Q12: What are the physical standards required for the AFCAT exam?
A12: Physical standards vary for different branches and are detailed in the official notification. Generally, candidates must meet specific height, weight, and vision standards.

Q13: Is there any application fee for the AFCAT exam?
A13: Yes, there is an application fee which is usually mentioned in the official notification.

Q14: Where can I find the official notification and updates about the AFCAT exam?
A14: Official notifications and updates are available on the Indian Air Force's official website and employment news.

Important Links for AFCAT

1. AFCAT 2024 Exam: Dates, Syllabus, Registration and Exam Pattern
   
2. AFCAT 2024 Detailed Syllabus: Subject and Topics wise and Exam Coverage
   
3. AFCAT Exam Pattern 2024: Marking Scheme, Sections, and Time Duration
   

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