AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2024 | Age Limit, Height, Educational Qualifications and Much More
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
AFCAT or Air Force Common Admission Test is the admission test for different Air Force department roles that take place annually. From flying jobs to ground duty technical and non-technical jobs, AFCAT aspirants can work in all kinds of domains. As per AFCAT eligibility, thousands of students apply every year, but only very few can take the actual examination and progress to the next round because of the strict standards.
The Indian Air Force has set different educational criteria, marital statuses, and physical and visual criteria. Applicants must take care to note that there are separate lists for both genders. First, applicants must be within the age limits of 20 to 24 years. There are also different criteria for married and employed individuals who work in Government jobs.
From height and weight to eyesight, all criteria must be met along with the educational requirements. AFCAT also has criteria based on which candidates could be disqualified from completing the training.
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AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2024: Key Points
| Particulars | Details |
| Examination | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) |
| Organizing Authority | Indian Air Force |
| Nationality Requirement | Indian |
| Gender | Male and Female |
| Age Requirement | 20 to 24 years |
| Marital Requirement | Unmarried |
| Educational Requirement | 60% in both Maths and Physics in Class 12th Undergraduate degree |
| Official website | Click here |
AFCAT Eligibility for Female
The Air Force Common Admission Test also allows female students to fill up different officer positions. The AFCAT eligibility for female and male candidates differs in some aspects. Female Applicants must meet the criteria for age, marital status, educational qualification, and other things.
- The minimum age for female students for AFCAT is 20 years, while the maximum age is 24 years. These age limits are for Class I gazetted officers for flying and ground (technical and non-technical) duties.
- Female candidates applying to the flying branch, born between 2nd July 1998 to 1st July 2002, must be between 20 to 26 years of age.
- Candidates born between 2nd July 1996 to 1st July 2002 are also eligible for officer positions on ground duty at technical and non-technical posts.
- Education-wise, female candidates must have 60% in class 12th in Maths and Physics for the flying branch. The same is also necessary with a B.Tech/ BE degree. Additionally, they must have 60% in the section A&B exam of AMIE or ASI.
- For ground duty, there are two criteria categories to meet. Applicants should be either Aeronautical Engineers, Electronics Engineers or Mechanical Engineers. Under both categories, the applicant must have a 60% score in Maths and Physics in Class 12th and 60% in B.Tech or BE exams.
- The AFCAT eligibility for the non-technical ground duty category is a 3-year graduate degree with a 60% score. For the Accounts branch, the undergraduate degree should be B.Com, or they could have postgraduate degrees such as MBA, MCA, MA or M.Sc.
- Female candidates also have height and weight limits depending on age. The starting weight and height are 43 kg and 148 cm, respectively. The upper limits for weight and height are 67 kg and 178 cm.
AFCAT Age Limit 2024
To understand the AFACT age limit criteria, one must learn the different categories under which the age limits are defined. They are entry-level flying, technical, non-technical ground duty, and flying NCC special entry.
- For candidates applying to flying posts, authorities have set the minimum age at 20 years, and the maximum age is 24 years. As of 1st January 2023, these applicants should also be born between 2nd January 1999 and 1st January 2003.
- The second category is for ground posts and technical. This has two more sub-categories Aeronautical Engineer Electronics and Aeronautical Engineer Mechanical. In the AFCAT age eligibility, the minimum and maximum ages are 20 to 26 years, respectively. All applicants should be born between 1st January 1997 and 1st January 2003.
- The non-technical ground duty job applicants must also meet certain age limits of 20 to 26 years. Additionally, authorities require applicants of this group to be born between 1st January 1997 to 1st January 2003.
- Finally, there is the NCC special entry group for flying posts. This category of applicants should be between 20 to 24 years of age. The birth year limits are between 2nd January 1999 and 2nd January 2003 as of 1st January 2023.
- There are no AFCAT eligibility criteria for age based on the socio-economic background of applicants.
- In particular, AFCAT authorities consider the date of birth, as per the class 10th examination records or the class 12th exams.
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: Marital Status
AFCAT eligibility also has criteria regarding the marital status of candidates. As a rule of thumb, all applicants for AFCAT should not be married. However, there are some concessions for married applicants.
- At the start of the course, all applicants below the age of 25 years must not be married.
- Widows, widowers and candidates who have divorced and are below the age of 25 years are not eligible to apply.
- Applicants who have completed their applications at SSC or medical and have gotten married cannot undergo training after that. Additionally, applicants who marry during the training period will be let go from the course and must repay all expenses.
- Additionally, another AFCAT eligibility for marital status is regarding married candidates. These candidates must be, in particular, above 25 years of age. They will be eligible to undergo training. However, they cannot afford accommodation or live with their families.
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: Educational Qualification
Educational qualifications for AFCAT differ according to the post one is applying to. The AFCAT eligibility standards include minimum aggregate score, undergraduate degree, and more. Applicants should also note the branch they are applying to, flying, ground duty technical, or ground duty non-technical as well as subject-wise AFCAT exam pattern.
Flying Branch
- Applicants in the flying branch need to meet the minimum score requirement. Not only must one have 60% in class 10th and 60% in both Physics and Maths at class 12th examinations.
- All applicants should have a 4-year long graduate degree at the minimum. This degree must be either a Bachelor of Engineering or a Bachelor of Technology with a 60% minimum score from a recognized university.
- The applicant must also have passed the A&B examination of the Association Membership of the Institution of Engineers. Alternatively, the same stands true for the Aeronautical Society of India. In these examinations, the minimum aggregate score to have is 60%.
Ground Duty Technical
- Aeronautical Engineer Electronics candidates should have at least 60% in Physics and Mathematics at class 12th examinations. After that, they must have a 4-year long undergraduate or integrated postgraduate degree in Engineering or Technology. The candidates must also clear sections A & B exams of Association Membership of the Institution of Engineers. Other societies accepted are the Aeronautical Society of India and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers. They must have cleared said exams with at least 60% in disciplines, as dictated by AFACT.
- Aeronautical Engineer Mechanical is the other category of ground duty post. The AFACT eligibility for this category is 60% in Physics and Maths at class 12th and at the bachelor’s level. Like the previous category, the applicant should also have cleared the Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers exams. The candidate can also be a part of the Aeronautical Society of India after clearing exams with a minimum of 60 marks. AFCAT also lists certain disciplines that candidates from this category must be from.
Ground Duty Non-Technical
- AFCAT non-technical eligibility is also quite similar to the criteria already stated. There is separate AFCAT eligibility for different departments like Accounts, Administration, Education etc. However, the candidate should have a 60% minimum aggregate score for all departments at the bachelor’s level. Applicants for the Accounts department must have a B.Com, MBA, MCA, MA, or MSc degree for the Education department. On the other hand, the Meteorology department requires a PG degree in related disciplines like Geography, Oceanography, Physics, etc.
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: NCC Special Entry
NCC special entry is a mode of application for specific posts at AFCAT. This mode of entry is specifically for flying posts. The same AFCAT criteria for NCC Special Entry are applicable to both men and women candidates.
- Candidates with NCC’s Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificates can apply to the flying posts. There is a permanent commission on offer for both men and women who apply through this mode.
- The age limits for both genders are 20 years minimum and 24 years maximum. These limits are applicable at the time of starting the course. Candidates with a DGCA-issued Commercial Pilot License also have an age relaxation of up to 26 years.
- Both male and female applicants should be compulsorily single or not married.
- Regarding education criteria, a minimum of 60% is mandatory in Maths and Physics in class 12th exams. There must also be a 3-year graduate degree with a 60% score.
- Final year students can also apply, provided there are no backlogs in the previous years.
- Acceptable undergraduate degrees are either a B.Tech or a B.E. degree.
- All applicants who have successfully cleared sections A&B of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers. Additionally, another accepted society is the Aeronautical Society of India. This must also be from a recognised university with at least a 60% aggregate score.
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: Physical Standards
Applicants from all genders need to meet not only education criteria but also need to be physically fit. This is important as job is not only demanding but also extremely tiring. There is separate eligibility criteria for both male and female applicants.
Male
- For the flying posts, the minimum height accepted is 162.5 cm. The leg length must be 99 cm, while the sitting height should be 81.5 cm.
- Ground duty applicants must be at least 157.5 cm in height.
- For candidates between the age of 15 to 17 years, the weight must be between 46 kg to 68 kg. After that, for 18 to 22 years, it is 47 kg to 73 kg, and for 23 to 27 years, it is 50 kg to 79 kg. For 28 to 32 years, candidates must be between 54 to 82 kg. Finally, for 33 to 27 years, the weight limit is 54 to 83 kg. For these weight limits, the height limits are 152 to 163 cm.
- There are also concessions in physical standards for candidates who are Gorkhas from north-eastern states, Garhwal region and Kumaon region.
Female
- Female candidates must have a minimum of 162.5 cm height for the flying branch. On the other hand, for all other branches, the minimum height requirement is 152 cm for female applicants.
- Applicants from the Northeast region and hilly areas of Uttrakhand must meet the minimum height requirement of 147 cm. However, for Lakshwadeep, the same is 150 cm.
- Ground duty branch applicants must be at least 152 cm in height.
- Between the heights of 148 cm to178 cm, AFACT eligibility has weight criteria for female candidates. The acceptable weight range from 20 to 25 years is 43 kg to 63 kg. Similarly, for 26 to 30 years, it is 46 kg to 67 kg.
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: Visual Standards
Candidates applying must have a near-perfect vision. Especially for the flying branch posts, candidates should be able to meet the AFCAT eligibility standards for eyesight. The visual criteria are the same for both genders and do not differ according to different branches.
| Branch | The maximum limit for refractive error | Visual Acuity error | Colour Vision |
| Hypermetropia: + 2.0D SphManifest Myopia: NilRetinoscopic myopia: – 0.5 in any meridian permittedAstigmatism: + 0.75D Cyl (within + 2.0D Max) | 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6 only for Hypermetropia | CP-I | |
| Aircrew other than F(P) | Hypermetropia: +3.5D SphMyopia: -2.0D SphAstigmatism: + 0.75D Cyl | 6/24 in one eye and 6/36 in the other, correctable to 6/6 and 6/9 | CP-I |
| Adm/ Adm (ATC)/Adm (FC) | Hypermetropia: + 3.5D SphMyopia: -3.5D SphAstigmatism: + 2.5D Cyl in any meridian | Corrected visual acuity must be 6/9 in each eye. | CP-II |
| AE(M) AE(L) | Hypermetropia: + 3.5 D SphMyopia: -3.50 D SphAstigmatism: + 2.5D Cyl in any meridian | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/9 in each eye.Wearing glasses is compulsory | CP-II |
| Met | Hypermetropia: + 3.5 D SphMyopia: -3.50 D SphAstigmatism: + 2.50 D Cyl | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye.Wearing g glasses is compulsory | CP-II |
| Accts/ Lgs/Edn | Hypermetropia: + 3.5 D SphMyopia: -3.50 D SphAstigmatism: + 2.50 D Cyl | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye.Wearing glasses will be compulsory | CP-III |
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: Employed Applicants
Employed individuals working in Government or Government-owned corporations can apply to take the AFCAT. However, there is a separate set of AFCAT eligibility standards to follow for employed people. Specifically, these people must present NOC from their employer. These are also details for the No Objection certificate to have for the certificate to be valid.
- The first AFCAT exam eligibility for working individuals is for during the time of the actual test. Regardless of the nature of employment, contractual, permanent or temporary, all applicants in this category must have a NOC. Authorities will ask for the NOC from the individuals at any time during the test.
- If the employer does not issue a NOC to the candidate, the applicant could be disqualified from taking the test. Additionally, if the employer gives a withheld grant on behalf of the candidate, the candidate cannot take the test.
- Another set of AFCAT eligibility is for candidates whose employers cannot issue the NOC for any reason. However, the authorities will consider the application if the reason for the same is given in writing to the AFCAT authorities.
AFCAT Exam Eligibility: Disqualification Criteria
As there are AFCAT eligibility standards for all candidates to meet to take the test, there are also disability criteria. Candidates who meet any of these criteria will have their applications disqualified. After that, they cannot take the test and training.
- The first AFCAT eligibility rule for disability is that applicants should pass and qualify for the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) or Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT). The said qualification also should be in the first attempt itself.
- The second rule is for flight cadets who have undergone suspension from the Air Force Academy training. If these individuals then enroll in certain specified courses, they cannot apply to take the AFCAT. These courses could be from the Indian Naval Academy, National Defence Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Military Academy, Officer’s Training Academy, or Officers Training Academy Gaya.
- If the Defence Ministry has banned any candidate due to holding any commission, said candidate cannot take the exam.
- If a candidate has been convicted of any crime, they do not meet the AFCAT eligibility and will not be allowed to take the test.
Conclusion
AFCAT is a highly competitive examination, and applicants from both genders apply to it every year. The test has an extensive eligibility criteria list for both male and female candidates. Moreover, after the written test, there is also a physical and visual standard to clear. With some research and time to prepare, anyone can clear the applications for AFCAT.
Candidates can also read AFCAT Exam Pattern 2024.
To know the latest news on this exam, read AFCAT Exam 2024
Frequently Asked Questions ( FAQs )
No, all AFCAT applicants should have an undergraduate degree. At a minimum, all applicants should have a 3-year bachelor’s degree. However, students in their final year of studies with no backlogs also meet the AFCAT eligibility standards to apply. Also, the applicant’s class 10th and class 12th scores are considered for AFCAT eligibility standards.
The accepted bachelor’s degree for AFCAT will depend on the branch to which one applies. However, for all branches except for ground duty non-technical posts, applicants must have a B.Tech or B.E. degree. Certain disciplines said degrees should be earned. Moreover, for ground duty and non-technical posts, a relevant bachelor’s degree is necessary. For instance, a B.Com degree is necessary for the Accounts department, and MBA or M.Sc or MA is necessary for the Education department. Along with this, a minimum of 60% is also necessary as an aggregate score.
Yes, final-year students can apply to take the AFCAT. If one were to meet the AFCAT eligibility standards, there are certain things to keep in mind. There must be no backlogs in all the previous years. The candidates must also meet the minimum aggregate score requirement of 60% up to the latest semester. Additionally, once the results for the final year are declared, the candidate must furnish the graduation certificate to the authorities by the given date. The candidate must also meet other age and marital status eligibility standards.
Yes, female candidates are welcome to apply to AFCAT. However, they have a different set of AFCAT eligibility criteria that must be followed. Education requirements are more or less the same, a 60% in Maths and Physics each at class 12th. After that, 60% is also necessary at class 12th and bachelor’s level. The female candidate should have either B.Tech or B.E. degree in given disciplines. The physical and also visual standards will differ from the male candidates.
There are several edibility criteria for female candidates. These criteria differ from the male applicants. For starters, the age limit for female students is 20 to 24 years. For the flying branch, the maximum age is 26 years. A minimum of 60% is necessary for Maths and Physics each at class 12th level. The bachelor’s degree should be in a 4-year long course like B.Tech or B.E. with 60%. For non-technical posts, a 3-year degree with 60% is necessary. The lower limits for weight and height are 43 kg and 148 cm, respectively. On the higher end, it is 67 kg and 178 cm.