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Do you dream of soaring high with the Indian Air Force? If becoming an officer in the IAF is your goal, the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is your first step toward success. Conducted twice a year, AFCAT is the gateway for candidates aspiring to join the Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches of the Indian Air Force.
With thousands of aspirants appearing for the exam, the competition is tougher than ever, making strategic preparation crucial. To help you navigate this journey, this blog covers everything you need to know about AFCAT 2025, including eligibility, syllabus, exam pattern, preparation tips, and more. Let’s get started on your path to an exciting career in the Indian Air Force! 🚀
The AFCAT exam is used to give the following two types of commissions:
| Organization- Name of Conducting Body | The Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Post name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 1/2025) |
| Vacancy | 336 |
| Exam date | February 2025 |
| Application mode | Online |
| Exam mode | Online |
| Recruitment process | Written Examination Result Declaration AFSB Testing Medical Examination Merit List and Final Selection Training |
| Educational Qualification | According to the post |
| Age limit | Flying branch: 20 to 24 Ground Duty (Technical & Non-technical): 20 to 26 |
| Salary | Basic pay of around INR 56,100 per month. |
| Official website | www.afcat.cdac.in |
The important dates for the AFCAT 2 2025 exam are as follows:
| Events | Dates |
| AFCAT 2 notification 2025 | May 30th, 2025 |
| AFCAT 2 registration form 2025 | May 30th, 2025 |
| Last date to apply online | June 28th, 2025 |
| Admit card release date | After July 24th, 2025 |
| AFCAT 2 exam date 2025 | August 9th, 10th & 11th, 2025 |
| AFCAT 1 2025 Result date | March 17, 2025 |
| Official website | Home – Indian Air Force: Touch The Sky With Glory |
All candidates are advised to establish their eligibility for the AFCAT 2025 before applying for the posts. For both technical and non-technical professions, the Indian Air Force has developed many certifications. Candidates must verify they meet all eligibility conditions before applying since failing to do so might result in disqualification at any time throughout the exam, including age, marital status, nationality, etc. For further information about AFCAT Eligibility, see the section below:
| Eligibility Criteria | Information |
| Age | Flying branch- 20 to 24 years Ground Duty (technical & non-technical)- 20 to 26 years |
| Nationality | Applicants must be an Indian citizen as per the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955. |
| Marital Status | Candidates under 25 must be single at the start of the course. Also ineligible are divorcees (with or without encumbrances), widows/widows, and widowers under 25. |
The following table lists the prerequisite coursework for each branch for the AFCAT 2025.
| Branch | Educational Qualification |
| Flying Branch | Administration A degree in any field with a minimum grade point average of 60% Or Pass the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India section A&B examination from a recognized institution with 60% of the total possible points. Education Completed an MBA, MCA, MA, or MSc with a graduation rate of between 50% and 60% in English, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics, International Relations, International Studies, Defense Studies, Psychology, Computer Science, IT, Management, Mass Communication, Journalism, or Public Relations. Branch for Weapon Systems (WS) Candidates must have completed either a BE/B Tech degree (four-year course) from an approved institution with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent, or a minimum 3-year degree program in any field from an accredited college or university. At the 10+2 level, Math and Physics must have each been passed with 50%. Administration & Logistics Passed the 10+2 exams and obtained a graduate degree (minimum three-year degree program) in any field from a recognized university with at least 60% of the required marks, or the equivalent, or passed the section A and B examination for associate membership in the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized university with at least 60% of the required marks, or the equivalent Accounts Branch Passed the 10+2 grade and obtained a degree in one of the following fields from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 60%: B. Com. (a minimum three-year program) Three degrees are available: a Bachelor of Business Administration with a finance concentration, a Bachelor of Management Studies with a finance concentration, or a Bachelor of Business Studies with a finance concentration qualified CA, CMA, CS, or CFA with a B Sc in Finance Meteorology Meteorology Passed 10+2 & B Sc with mathematics and physics with at least 60% or an equivalent grade or completed a four-year degree program in engineering or technology with at least 60%. |
| Ground duty flying branch | Administration A degree in any field with a minimum grade point average of 60% Or Pass the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India section A&B examination from a recognized institution with 60% of the total possible points. Education Completed an MBA, MCA, MA, or MSc with a graduation rate of between 50% and 60% in English, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics, International Relations, International Studies, Defense Studies, Psychology, Computer Science, IT, Management, Mass Communication, Journalism, or Public Relations. Branch for Weapon Systems (WS) Candidates must have completed either a BE/B Tech degree (four-year course) from an approved institution with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or a minimum 3-year degree program in any field from an accredited college or university. At the 10+2 level, Math and Physics must have each been passed with 50%. Administration & Logistics Passed the 10+2 exams and obtained a graduate degree (minimum three-year degree program) in any field from a recognized university with at least 60% of the required marks, or the equivalent, or passed the section A and B examination for associate membership in the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized university with at least 60% of the required marks, or the equivalent Accounts Branch Passed the 10+2 grade and obtained a degree in one of the following fields from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 60%: B. Com. (a minimum three-year program) Three degrees are available: a Bachelor of Business Administration with a finance concentration, a Bachelor of Management Studies with a finance concentration, or a Bachelor of Business Studies with a finance concentration qualified CA, CMA, CS, or CFA with a B Sc in Finance Meteorology Meteorology Passed 10+2 & B Sc with mathematics and physics with at least 60% or an equivalent grade or completed a four-year degree program in engineering or technology with at least 60%. |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches | Administration A degree in any field with a minimum grade point average of 60% Or, Pass the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India section A&B examination from a recognized institution with 60% of the total possible points. Education She completed an MBA, MCA, MA, or MSc with a graduation rate of between 50% and 60% in English, Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Statistics, International Relations, International Studies, Defense Studies, Psychology, Computer Science, IT, Management, Mass Communication, Journalism, or Public Relations. Branch for Weapon Systems (WS) Candidates must have completed either a BE/B Tech degree (four-year course) from an approved institution with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent, or a minimum 3-year degree program in any field from an accredited college or university. At the 10+2 level, Math and Physics must have each been passed with 50%. Administration & Logistics Passed the 10+2 exams and obtained a graduate degree (minimum three-year degree program) in any field from a recognized university with at least 60% of the required marks, or the equivalent, or passed the section A and B examination for associate membership in the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized university with at least 60% of the required marks, or the equivalent Accounts Branch Passed the 10+2 grade and obtained a degree in one of the following fields from an accredited institution with a minimum grade point average of 60%: B. Com. (a minimum three-year program) Three degrees are available: a Bachelor of Business Administration with a finance concentration, a Bachelor of Management Studies with a finance concentration, or a Bachelor of Business Studies with a finance concentration qualified CA, CMA, CS, or CFA with a B Sc in Finance Meteorology Meteorology Passed 10+2 & B Sc with mathematics and physics with at least 60% or an equivalent grade or completed a four-year degree program in engineering or technology with at least 60%. |
You can also read our blog on AFCAT Books.
| Height | Male: Around 162.5 cm (5’4″) Female: Around 152 cm (5’0″) |
| Weight | Proportionate to height and BMI |
| Vision | Minimum acceptable visual acuity No color blindness Good binocular vision |
| Physical Fitness | Specific fitness requirements Activities such as running, push-ups, etc. |
| Entry | Branch | Vacancy (Men SSC) | Vacancy (Women SSC) |
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 21 | 9 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Technical) AE (L) | 95 | 27 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Non-Technical) Weapon Systems (WS) Branch | 14 | 3 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Technical) AE (M) | 53 | 14 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Non-Technical) Admin | 42 | 11 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Non-Technical) Accts | 11 | 3 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Non-Technical) LGS | 13 | 3 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Non-Technical) Edn | 7 | 2 |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground-Duty (Non-Technical) Met | 7 | 2 |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC |
A 550 INR application fee plus GST may be paid online for all categories for AFCAT 1 2025. After the registration procedure, the application form revision opportunity becomes available. Candidates may update information such as their name, father’s and mother’s names, picture, signature, and the image of their thumb imprint using the correction window. The application form’s information may be changed without paying an additional fee.
The application fees are given in the context of the current web page under the section “Application Fee for AFCAT.” It says that for all categories, the application fee is 550 INR, and it must be paid online using credit/debit cards, net banking, etc.
| Category | Application Fee (Approximate) |
| General/OBC | Rs. 250 to Rs. 350 |
| SC/ST | Waived or Reduced |
The AFCAT 2 2025 application form must be completed in the following ways:
To prevent having their candidature canceled, candidates must complete the online application form for AFCAT 2 2025 and ensure that they meet all of the eligibility requirements. The details needed to complete the AFCAT 2 Application Form 2025 are provided below:
Before submitting the online application form, candidates must have the following scanned papers in the required format. To properly submit the AFCAT 2 Application Form 2025, they must attach their most recent photo, signature, and thumb impression. Here is a list of documents needed to complete the AFCAT application process.
| Type of Document | Image Dimension | Type of File |
| Recent passport-size color photograph | 10 kb and 50 kb | JPG/JPEG |
| Signature | 10 kb and 50 kb | JPG/JPEG |
| Thumb impression (left thumb for male applicants and right thumb for female applicants) | 10 kb and 50 kb | JPG/JPEG |
The AFCAT 2 Application Form 2025 link will be activated by officials shortly after completing the application process. The AFCAT application form 2024 includes two editable sections: ‘Fill Application Form’ and ‘Upload Document’. The candidate’s name, father’s name, signature, passport-size photo, and thumb impression are all editable fields on the AFCAT 2 application form 2025.
No other sections may be altered. No additional expenses are required for the AFCAT application form correction window. The rectification facility is only available to registered candidates who have paid the application cost.
A few days before the test, the AFCAT 1 Admit Card 2025 will be available online. Candidates must provide their user ID, password, and captcha code to get their AFCAT admission card. The call letter for the AFSB interview is available for download for candidates who passed the online exam.to download the Admit Card follow the steps given below:
Go to the organization responsible for conducting the AFCAT exam. This is typically the Indian Air Force’s official website or the designated examination authority’s website.
The admit card contains the following details:
Candidates must have one of the following photo-identity proofs with them in addition to their admission card. They must carry both the Xerox copy and the original photo-identity evidence.
| Agartala | Agra |
| Ajmer | Ahmedabad |
| Aizawl | Alwar |
| Allahabad/ Prayagraj | Ambala |
| Aurangabad | Bareilly |
| Behrampur (Odisha) | Bathinda |
| Bengaluru | Belagavi |
| Bhagalpur | Bhilai |
| Bhopal | Bhubaneswar |
| Bhuj | Bikaner |
| Chandigarh | Chennai |
| Chapra | Coimbatore |
| Delhi and NCR | Dhanbad |
| Diu | Dibrugarh |
| Durgapur | Faridabad |
| Ganganagar | Gaya |
| Ghaziabad | Gorakhpur |
| Guntur | Gurugram |
| Guwahati | Gwalior |
| Haldwani | Hissar |
| Hyderabad | Imphal |
| Indore | Itanagar |
| Jabalpur | Jaipur |
| Jalandhar | Jalpaigudi |
| Jammu | Jamshedpur |
| Jhansi | Jodhpur |
| Jorhat | Kakinada |
| Kannur | Kanpur |
| Kochi | Kohima |
| Kolhapur | Kolkata |
| Kota | Kurukshetra |
| Leh | Lucknow |
| Ludhiana | Mangalore |
| Meerut | Mumbai |
| Muzzafarpur | Nagpur |
| Nasik | Nizamabad |
| Noida | Panaji |
| Patiala | Patna |
| Port Blair | Puducherry |
| Pune | Rajkot |
| Ranchi | Rourkee |
| Rourkela | Sambalpur |
| Shillong | Shimla |
| Silchar | Srinagar |
| Solapur | Sonipat |
| Thane | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Thrissur | Tirunelveli |
| Tirupati | Udaipur |
| Vadodara | Varanasi |
| Vellore | Vijayawada |
| Visakhapatnam | Warangal |
| Aspect | Information |
| Exam Name | AFCAT |
| Language | English |
| Examination Type | Online |
| Interview Type | AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Sections Included in the AFCAT Exam | Verbal Ability in English, Military Reasoning, General Awareness, Numerical Ability, & Aptitude |
| Total Points Awarded | 300 |
| Points for Correct Responses | 3 |
| Points Deducted for Incorrect Answers | 1 |
| AFSB Interview Phases | Stage 1: Officer Intelligence Rating Test, Picture Perception Test, Discussion Test Stage 2: Interview, Psychological Exam, Group Testing |
| Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) Requirement | Mandatory for candidates aspiring to join the flying branch |
| Year | 2025 |
| Exam Topic | Exam Subjects |
| General Awareness | History, Sports, Geography, Environment, Civics, Basic Science, Defence, Art, Culture, Current Affairs, Politics |
| Verbal Ability in English | Comprehension, Error Detection, Sentence Completion, Synonyms, Antonyms & Testing of Vocabulary |
| Numerical Ability | Decimal Fraction, Simplification, Average, Profit & loss, Percentage, Ratio & Proportion & Simple interest |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | Verbal Skills and Spatial Ability |
The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) selection process for 2025 typically involves the following stages:
The exam day guidelines that candidates must follow when appearing for the exam are listed below.
Items allowed within the exam center:
Items not allowed within the exam center:
The official website, https://indianairforce.nic.in/, will provide online results. Candidates must provide the relevant login information to view the results. Those who pass the online test will be contacted for an AFSB interview. Based on the results of the online exam and the AFSB interview, the AFCAT merit list will be created.
The AFCAT exam is administered on several days and shifts. Normalization of marks is used to modify the difficulty level of the question paper. This procedure aids in keeping scores transparent when calculating. The normalization technique is implemented using the formula to objectively rationalize the marks achieved by candidates appearing in different shifts using a statistical method.
The IAF will also reveal the exam cut-off and announce the results. Candidates with greater or comparable marks will be eligible for the AFCAT 1 test.
You may find information about the cut-off scores for 2023 here. The AFCAT cut-off for 2023 was in the middle, neither too high nor too low. Candidates may study the specifics of the cut-off in the table below:
Here’s the updated table with the AFCAT cut-offs for 2024-25:
| Exam | AFCAT Cut-Off 2025 | AFCAT Cut Off 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| AFCAT 1 | 137 | 137 |
| AFCAT 2 | 139 | 139 |
There are various advantages to passing the AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) test for people:
The main advantage of passing the AFCAT test is the chance to join the Indian Air Force. It enables people to serve their nation as commissioned officers and opens the door to a prominent career in the military industry.
Successful applicants may select between the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches of the Indian Air Force. This offers a variety of employment alternatives depending on personal preferences and credentials.
After passing the AFCAT test, a career of ongoing professional development begins. Individuals who join the Indian Air Force as officers are exposed to cutting-edge technology and aviation procedures, get thorough training and develop specific abilities.
Officers in the Indian Air Force get competitive pay and benefits, such as housing allowances, access to healthcare, and other perks. With promotions and more years of service, the compensation and perks rise.
The Indian Air Force offers many fascinating travel and adventure options. Officers may be able to pilot various aircraft, participate in operations, and visit several areas inside India and overseas.
With regular pay and retirement benefits, the Indian Air Force offers employment stability. After accumulating the necessary years of service, officers are qualified for a pension, assuring continued financial security after retirement.
The Indian Air Force strongly emphasises the development of its officers by providing chances for professional development, leadership training, and skill augmentation. This aids in developing beneficial traits, including self-control, cooperation, judgement, and problem-solving skills.
In conclusion, Passing the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT 2025) opens the door to a lucrative career in the Indian Air Force. It provides an opportunity to serve the country as commissioned officers and achieve dreams. Joining the illustrious Indian Air Force via AFCAT 2025 gives you access to various career choices in the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical). Officers undertake extensive training that prepares them with leadership, technology, and aviation abilities. The Indian Air Force provides lucrative perks, including greater pay, allowances, healthcare alternatives, and thrilling adventures. Personal and professional development is encouraged throughout an officer’s tenure, creating discipline, teamwork, and a gratifying feeling of safeguarding the nation’s airspace.
Here are some preparation tips and tricks for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) 2025:
A career in the Indian Air Force offers full of opportunities. The rank system for Commissioned Officers is as follows:
Junior Level
Executive Level
Director Level
Reading the correct AFCAT books is critical for understanding the ideas covered in the syllabus. With so many books on the market, it is difficult to select the finest books depending on the curriculum. The best books for AFCAT in Numerical Ability, Reasoning, English, General Awareness, and Military Aptitude will help candidates study well for the exam. The list of AFCAT books is provided below.
| Sections | Books |
| General Awareness | Lucent’s General Knowledge Manorama Yearbook |
| English Verbal Ability | Objective General English by Dr. RS. Aggarwal Verbal Reasoning by Bhupendra Kumar Singh |
| Numerical Ability | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Examinations by RS Aggarwal Objective Arithmetic by S Chand |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | Quantitative Aptitude for Competitive Exams by McGraw Hill Education Quantitative Aptitude by S Chand |
The latest AFCAT salary details are provided here:
| AF Branch | IAF Salary |
| Flying Branch | Rs 85,372 |
| Ground Duty Technical Branch | Rs 74,872 |
| Ground Duty Non- Technical Branch | Rs 71,872 |
The perks and privileges offered to Air Force officers are listed below.
Check out other Defence Exams –
In summary, the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) represents a vital opportunity for those seeking to enlist in the Indian Air Force. It encompasses a range of positions within the Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) sectors. The examination is recognized for its stringent selection criteria, which consist of a written assessment, an interview, and a medical evaluation. Candidates who succeed can anticipate a fulfilling career accompanied by substantial benefits and avenues for advancement. Regardless of whether one aspires to a technical or non-technical role, AFCAT offers a pathway to serve the nation with dignity and respect.
Ans. Overall, the difficulty level was moderate, with 65 to 75 questions considered a reasonable number of trials. The table below contains information about the difficulty level of the AFCAT I test and the minimum number of attempts for shift 1 for applicants taking the exam.
Ans. Yes, girls can also apply for the AFCAT exam. The IAF’s AFCAT eligibility criteria include educational requirements, age limits, physical standards, and so on. It should be noted that AFCAT eligibility differs for men and women. Unmarried candidates between the ages of 20 and 24 are eligible to apply.
Ans. The AFCAT exam allows for an unlimited number of attempts. Candidates who meet the prescribed age limit are eligible to take the exam. According to previous year’s trends, a score of 150-180 is sufficient to be considered for an interview. The test is conducted twice a year in February and August.
Ans. The examination is held twice a year, in February and August. AFCAT application notices are published in June and December. Candidates must apply by the advertisement. A candidate can apply for the Indian Air Force through one of two commissions: the Permanent Commission or the Short Service Commission (SSC).
Ans. AFCAT Admit Card 2025: The Indian Air Force issued the admit card for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT-01/2025) on February 7, 2025. Candidates who have registered for the exam can download their admit cards from the official website, afcat.cdac.in.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
