The Indian Air Force released the AFCAT (2) 2026 notification for courses commencing in July 2027, opening applications for the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Here is what aspirants need to know.

Application Timeline

Online applications for AFCAT 2 2026 opened on 20th May 2026, with the deadline extended from 19th June to 21st June 2026. The AFCAT written examination is scheduled for 8th August 2026, conducted in online (computer-based) mode at designated centres.

Vacancies

The Indian Air Force has announced 379 vacancies for AFCAT 2 2026 across the Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical and Ground Duty Non-Technical branches, including two seats reserved from Ground Duty Non-Technical for law-qualified candidates. Candidates may also apply through NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry for eligible branches.

Eligibility Criteria

For the Flying Branch, candidates need to be graduates aged 20 to 24 years (up to 26 years with a valid Commercial Pilot Licence) with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level. For Ground Duty branches, the age bracket extends up to 26 years, with relevant graduation qualifications depending on the branch chosen.

Exam Pattern

AFCAT consists of 100 questions covering Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, Reasoning and Military Aptitude, and General Awareness. Each correct answer earns 3 marks, and 1 mark is deducted for every wrong answer. Technical branch aspirants additionally attempt the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT).

Preparation Tips

General Awareness in AFCAT draws heavily from current affairs, defence news, and basic science, so daily newspaper reading is essential. Numerical Ability and Reasoning require consistent practice with previous years' papers, while Military Aptitude tests should be practised using standard test series to build speed under time pressure.

Frequently Asked Questions