AFCAT 2023 will be conducted to shortlist the candidates for Flying Branch, Ground Duties (Technical and Non-Technical) and NCC Special Entry courses. Interested candidates who have completed their graduation (or will complete before commencement of course) can apply for the exam in online mode. Candidates after clearing the online AFCAT are required to appear for interview clearing which makes them eligible for final selection. An Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) will also be held for the candidates who have chosen Ground Duty (Technical) branch.
AFCAT 2023
- LLB qualified and integrated/ dual degree candidates may get an opportunity to be employed on legal duties of the IAF.
- Admit cards will be issued three weeks before the exam and can be downloaded using the candidates’ username and password.
- Requests for postponing interview may be considered under genuine circumstances and that too if it is administratively convenient.
- Candidates who were admitted to an earlier course at the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy or Officers’ Training Academy but were removed on grounds of indiscipline are ineligible.
- Those who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible.
- The candidates who have been convicted on criminal charges and those who are still stuck in a criminal case are not eligible to apply.
AFCAT 2023 Important Dates
In the table below, the official dates related to AFCAT 2023 are given:
| Events | Dates | |
| AFCAT I | AFCAT II | |
| Release of online application form | December 2022 | To be announced |
| Last date to submit the application form | To be announced | To be announced |
| Issue of admit card | To be announced | To be announced |
| Exam date | To be announced | To be announced |
| Announcement of result | To be announced | To be announced |
| AFSB interview date | To be announced | To be announced |
AFCAT 2023 Eligibility Criteria
The following eligibility criteria must be fulfilled by the candidates appearing for AFCAT 2023:
Nationality:
- Candidates should be of Indian nationality.
Age limit (as on 1st January/ July 2023):
- Flying Branch & NCC Special Entry: Candidates of age between 20 & 24 years (26 years for candidates with valid Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA are eligible.
- Ground Duty: The lower and upper age limit will be 20 to 26 years respectively.
Marital status:
- Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried. Widows/ widowers and divorcees below 25 years of age are not eligible.
Academic qualification:
Flying Branch:
- The applicants should hold a 3 or 4-year graduation degree in any field or should have cleared Section A & B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with at least 60% marks in aggregate.
- In addition to this, the applicants should have passed class 12th exam with at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Physics individually.
Ground Duty (Technical):
- Those who have done 4-year graduation or integrated post-graduation in Engineering/ Technology or cleared Sections A & B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with at least 60% marks can apply.
- In addition to this, the applicants should have passed class 12th exam with at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Physics individually.
- For Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics), candidates who clear Graduate membership exam of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers are also eligible.
Ground Duty (Non-Technical):
- Administration & Logistics: The applicants should hold a 3 or 4-year graduation degree in any field or should have cleared Section A & B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with at least 60% marks in aggregate. A pass in class 12th exam with at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Physics individually is also mandatory.
- Accounts: Com degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 60% marks is required.
NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch):
- The applicants should hold a 3 or 4-year graduation degree in any field or should have cleared Section A & B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with at least 60% marks in aggregate.
- Candidates should also have passed class 12th exam with at least 60% marks in Mathematics and Physics individually.
- In addition to this, NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate is also mandatory.
Physical and Medical Standards:
- Candidates must be physically fit according to the prescribed physical standards.
- Medical exam will be conducted at AFCME, New Delhi or IAM, Bangalore based on candidates recommended by the AFSB.
AFCAT 2023 Application Form
Candidates are required to apply online by visiting the websites careerindianairforce.cdac.in or afcat.cdac.in. Aadhaar card is mandatory for online registration. The candidates must ensure their eligibility before applying for the admission test.
- The applicants will first have to register themselves using their email id to generate a password.
- The email id along with the password should be used to obtain the application form.
- In the application form, the candidates will have to provide their basic personal, academic, contact and other details.
- Scanned copies of candidates’ photograph and signature should also be uploaded into the application form.
- Candidates should also provide the choice for exam city while filling the application form.
- After providing all the required information in the form, the candidates can submit it with the application fee.
- Applicants should take a printout of the application form and keep it safe for future correspondence.
Application fee
- The application fee for the admission test will be Rs. 250/-.
- Payment of the application fee can be done online using credit card/ debit card/ net banking.
AFCAT 2023 Exam Pattern
Check below the overview of the AFCAT 2023 exam pattern:
| Pattern | For AFCAT | For EKT |
| Mode of exam | Online | Online |
| Question paper language | English | English |
| Exam duration | 2 hours | 45 minutes |
| Number of questions | 100 | 50 |
| Type of questions | Objective type | Objective type |
| Total marks | 300 | 150 |
| Marking scheme | 3 marks will be awarded for every correct answer | 3 marks will be awarded for every correct answer |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer | 1 mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer |
| Important topics | Verbal & Numerical Ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test and General Awareness | ——— |
AFCAT 2023 Syllabus
The syllabus for the AFCAT 2023 is provided here:
- Verbal Ability: Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Completion/ Fill in the correct word, Synonyms, Antonyms, Testing of Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases
- Numerical Ability: Decimal Fraction, Time and Work, Average, Profit & Loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion and Simple Interest, Time & Distance, etc
- Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test: Verbal Skills and Spatial Ability
- General Awareness: History, Geography, Civics, Politics, Current Affairs, Environment, Basic Science, Defence, Art, Culture, Sports, etc
AFCAT 2023 Admit Card
- Candidates who successfully complete the registration process within the prescribed time limit can download their admit card.
- Admit card to appear in the AFCAT 2023 will be released on the official website and will also be sent on the registered email id.
- If the candidate does not receive the admit card on the registered email id or is not able to download it from the website, he/she should contact AFCAT Query Cell at C-DAC, Pune.
- The applicants should carry a hardcopy of the admit card along with them or else they won’t be allowed to appear for the exam.
- A valid photo identity card and two passport size color photographs must also be carried to the exam center.
AFCAT 2023 Result & Interview
- Candidates who obtain the minimum qualifying marks in the online exam will be considered for interview.
- Merit list of such candidates will be prepared and published on the official website.
- Shortlisted candidates are required to choose AFSB date and venue from the website to generate call-up letter for AFSB interview.
- Candidates are required to bring the important documents while reporting for interview for verification.
- After successful completion of interview and verification of documents, final selection will be granted to the candidates.
- To be acceptable, candidates should secure the minimum qualifying marks separately in written exam and AFSB test as fixed by the IAF.