IAF AFCAT Bharti 2027 - AFCAT 01/2027 Flying & Ground Duty Officer Notification

IAF AFCAT Bharti 2027 is the Indian Air Force's AFCAT 01/2027 recruitment for commissioned officers in the Flying Branch and the Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches. Men and women who are graduates or engineers in the relevant streams can apply online until 11 December 2026. The branch-wise vacancy count will be published in the detailed notification.

Three entries are open in this cycle: the AFCAT Entry (Flying, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non-Technical), the NCC Special Entry for the Flying Branch, and the GATE Score Entry for Ground Duty (Technical). Ground Duty (Non-Technical) covers Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, Meteorology and Weapon Systems.

Courses for this cycle begin in January 2028 at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad). This is an all-India defence recruitment, so eligible candidates from Gujarat and every other state can apply for both Permanent Commission and Short Service Commission.

Nationality: Indian citizens as per the Citizenship Act 1955. Both men and women can apply.

Educational qualification: The short notice says qualifications are as per the detailed notification. As per the previous cycle (AFCAT 02/2026), they were as below – confirm in the AFCAT 01/2027 detailed notification before applying.

• Flying Branch: 10+2 with Physics and Maths, plus any 3-year graduation or BE/B.Tech with at least 60% (or AMIE Sections A & B with 60%)
• Ground Duty (Technical): 10+2 with Physics and Maths, plus BE/B.Tech with at least 60% in listed engineering disciplines (Aeronautical Engineer Electronics or Mechanical)
• Weapon Systems, Administration, Logistics: 10+2 and any 3-year graduation with at least 60%, or BE/B.Tech
• Accounts: 10+2 and B.Com or BBA (Finance) with at least 60%, or CA / CMA / CS / CFA
• Education: 10+2 and post-graduation with at least 50%, and 60% at graduation
• Meteorology: 10+2 and B.Sc with Physics and Maths (or an engineering degree) with at least 60%
• GATE Score Entry: BE/B.Tech in listed disciplines plus a valid GATE score
• Final-year students: Could apply provisionally in the previous cycle, subject to producing certificates before training

Age limit (cut-off date in detailed notification):

• Flying Branch (AFCAT and NCC Special Entry): 20 to 24 years
• Flying Branch with a valid DGCA (India) Commercial Pilot Licence: up to 26 years
• All Ground Duty branches (AFCAT): 20 to 26 years
• GATE Score Entry, Ground Duty (Technical): 20 to 26 years

Age relaxation: The notice does not list any category-wise age relaxation.

Marital status: Candidates must be unmarried at the start of the course.

Physical and medical standards: As per the detailed notification and IAF medical standards.

Tattoo rules: Permanent tattoos are allowed only on the inner forearm (elbow to wrist) and the back of both hands. Small tattoos such as religious symbols or names of loved ones are allowed; tribal tattoo marks are judged case by case.

1. From 12 November 2026 (11:00 AM), open the official AFCAT website: afcat.cdac.in
2. Read the detailed AFCAT 01/2027 notification for vacancies, qualification and exam details
3. Select the correct tab for your entry: AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry
4. Register using your Aadhaar and your own unique e-mail ID and mobile number
   • Keep the same e-mail and mobile active through the whole selection process
5. Fill in the application form carefully
   • Double-check your date of birth – no changes are allowed after submission
   • Choose your branch and course as per your eligibility
6. AFCAT Entry candidates pay the examination fee online; NCC and GATE entry candidates skip this step
7. Review the form and submit before 11 December 2026, 11:30 PM
8. If eligible for more than one entry, repeat the registration separately for each entry

For Online Registration

• Aadhaar Card (mandatory)
• Valid personal e-mail ID and mobile number

For AFSB Travel Allowance

• Details of an active savings bank account in your own name (accounts like Sukanya Samridhi are not accepted)

At Joining the Academy

• PAN Card (mandatory)
• Account in SBI or a nationalised bank (mandatory)
• Self-declaration certificate for permitted tattoos, if any
• Educational certificates, as listed in the detailed notification