India Air Force (IAF) conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) selection process twice every year. This selection procedure is held for filling the vacancies of Group A Gazetted Officers in Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches along with NCC Special Entry across India. To get selected in various posts of the Indian Air Force, candidates have to go through four distinct selection stages.
Based on the performance of the written AFCAT test and interview, candidates are selected for a medical test. Finally, a merit list is prepared to highlight the shortlisted candidates for appointment.
Talking about the written test stage, candidates will have to sit for the AFCAT and EKT exam. EKT or Engineering Knowledge Test aims to test the basic knowledge of an engineering graduate applying for technical entry through AFCAT. In case a candidate passes in AFCAT but fails in EKT, he/she will not be considered eligible for the technical branch in the AFSB interview.
In this article, candidates can find all the necessary details regarding the AFCAT selection process including important dates and selection stages.
AFCAT Selection – Important Dates
A majority of important AFCAT dates have been released, and IAF will announce the rest in due time. Candidates will find the important events associated with the AFCAT selection process and their respected dates in the table below:
AFCAT Selection and Exam Schedule 2022 (AFCAT 1)
| Exam Events | Important Dates |
| Release of short notification | 1st December 2021 |
| Commencement of Application Form | 1st December 2021 (From 10 AM) |
| Dates for submission of online AFCAT applications | 30th December 2021 |
| AFCAT 2022 Admit Card Release | January/February 2022* |
| AFCAT 2022 Exam | 12th, 13th, 14th February 2022 |
| AFCAT Result Release | 9th March 2022 |
| Course Commencement | January 2022* |
*Exact dates yet to be released
AFCAT Selection and Exam Schedule 2022 (AFCAT 2)
| Exam Events (2022) | Important Dates |
| Release of notification | June 2022* |
| Dates for submission of online applications | June to July 2022* |
| AFCAT (2) 2022 Admit Card Release | August 2022* |
| AFCAT (2) 2022 Exam | August 2022* |
| AFCAT Result Release | September 2022* |
*Exact dates yet to be released
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AFCAT Selection – Eligibility Criteria
Candidates who wish to apply for AFCAT have to fulfil the predetermined eligibility criteria to register and sit for the exam.
AFCAT eligibility criteria include 5 factors:
- Nationality
- Age
- Marital Status
- Physical Standards
- Medical standards
NATIONALITY
As per AFCAT eligibility criteria, a candidate should be an Indian citizen (according to the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955).
AGE
- The age limit for the aspiring candidates in Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry should be between 20 and 24 years as of 1st January 2023. This means that the candidate should be born between 2nd January 1999 and 1st January 2003 (both dates inclusive).
- There is a relaxation of 2 years (upper age limit) for candidates (Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry) holding a valid and current Pilot License issued by DGCA (India). Candidates should be born between 2nd January 1997 to 1st January 2003 (both dates inclusive).
- The age limit for the aspiring candidates in Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) branch should be between 20 and 26 years as of 1st January 2023. This means that the candidate should be born between 2nd January 1997 and 1st January 2003 (both dates inclusive).
Age Criteria as per Marital Status
The marital eligibility criteria for aspiring AFCAT candidates are highlighted below:
| Marital Status | Age Criteria |
| Unmarried Candidates | 20 -25 Years |
| Married Candidates | Above 25 Years |
| Widows/Widowers/divorcees | Above 25 Years |
Educational Qualification
Candidates applying for the AFCAT exam 2022 must have the minimum educational qualification from a recognized university board as indicated in the table below:
AFCAT Educational Qualifications for Different Posts
| AFCAT Post | Educational Qualification | |
| Flying Branch | Minimum 60% aggregate each in Physics & Mathematics in 10+2
OR Minimum 60% aggregate in Section A & B examination of Aeronautical Society of India OR Minimum 60% aggregate in B.Tech/B.E degree or equivalent OR Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or equivalent. |
|
| Ground Duty (Technical) Branch | Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)} | Minimum of 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level besides a minimum of 4 years graduation/integrated post-graduation
degree in Engineering/Technology from recognized University OR Minimum 60% aggregate in Section A & B examination of Aeronautical Society of India or Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) in the following disciplines:-
|
| Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (L)} | Minimum 50% aggregate each in Physics & Mathematics in 10+2 (minimum of 4 years graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from recognized University)
OR Minimum 60% aggregate in Section A & B examination of Aeronautical Society of India or Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) OR Graduate membership Examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies or equivalent in the electronics related disciplines such as:
|
|
| NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch) | Minimum 60% aggregate each in Physics & Mathematics in 10+2
OR Minimum 60% aggregate in 3 years graduation degree in any equivalent NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate acquired on or after 1st January 2017 (mandatory) OR Minimum 60% aggregate in Section A & B examination of Aeronautical Society of India or Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers OR Minimum 60% aggregate in B.Tech/ B.E or any other equivalent OR Minimum 60% aggregate in Section A & B examination of Aeronautical Society of India |
|
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches | Accounts | Minimum 60% aggregate in 3 years B.Com degree or equivalent |
| Administration and Logistics | Minimum 60% aggregate in Section A & B examination of Aeronautical Society of India
OR Minimum 60% aggregate in 3 years graduation degree in any equivalent |
|
Physical Standards
- All applicants must be mentally and physically fit.
- An exam will be conducted to examine the mental and physical health of the aspiring candidates
HEIGHT AND WEIGHT PARAMETERS
Candidates have to carefully check the minimum and maximum height (acceptable) from the table below.
Physical Requirement for Technical and Ground Duty Branch
| Post | Minimum Height | |
| Ground Duty (Technical/ Non-technical) Branch | Women | Men |
| 157.5 cms. | 152 cms. | |
Note – Men and women from Lakshadweep will get a concession of 2 cms. in the minimum acceptable height. Gorkhas belonging to hills of North-Eastern region of India, Kumaon and Garhwal will also get a concession of 5 cms.
Physical Requirement for Flying Branch
| Post | Leg Length | Minimum Height | Sitting Height | Thigh Length |
| Flying Branch | Maximum – 120 cms. | 162.5 cms. | Maximum – 96 cms. | Maximum – 64 cms. |
| Minimum – 99 cms. | Minimum – 81.6 cms. |
Note – No concession is provided for age and region.
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VISUAL PARAMETERS
For Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch
| Sub Branch | Maximum Limits of Refractive Error | Colour Vision | Visual Acuity Errors |
| Logistics | Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Spherical | CP-III | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye.
Wearing of Glasses will be compulsory. |
| Myopia: -3.50 D Spherical | |||
| Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cylindrical | |||
| Administration | Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Spherical | CP-II | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in each eye |
| Myopia: -3.5 Spherical | |||
| Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cylindrical in any meridian | |||
| Meteorology | Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cylindrical in any meridian | CP-II | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye.
Wearing of Glasses will be compulsory. |
| Myopia: -3.5 D Spherical | |||
| Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Spherical | |||
| Accounts and Education | Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Spherical | CP-III | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye.
Wearing of Glasses will be compulsory. |
| Myopia: -3.50 D Spherical | |||
| Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cylindrical |
For Ground Duty (Technical) Branch
| Maximum Limits of Refractive Error | Colour Vision | Visual Acuity Errors |
| Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Spherical | CP-II | Corrected visual acuity should be 6/9 in each eye.
Candidates will have to wear glasses when advised. |
| Myopia: -3.50 D Spherical | ||
| Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cylindrical |
For Flying Branch
| Minimum distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in other correctable to 6/6 only for Hypermetropia | Colour vision CP-1 | |
| Hypermetropia : +2.0 D Spherical | ||
| Manifest Myopia: Nil | ||
| Retinoscopic Myopia: – 0.5 in any meridian permitted | ||
| Astigmatism : +0.75 D Cylindrical (with + 2.0 D Maximum) | ||
| Handheld Stereoscope | All of BSV Grades | |
| Cover test for distant and near | Latent divergence/convergence recovery – rapid and complete. | |
| Maddox Rod Test | At 33 cms | Eso – 6 prism D |
| Hyper -1 prism D | ||
| 1 Hypo -1 prism D | ||
| Exo -16 prism D | ||
| At 6 meters | Exo -6 prism D | |
| Eso- 6 prism D | ||
| Hyper -1 prism D | ||
| Hypo -1 prism D | ||
| Convergence | up to 10 cm | |
| Binocular Vision | Applicants must have a good binocular vision (fusion and stereopsis with good amplitude and depth). | |
Note – Candidates wearing spectacles regularly are not eligible for flying branch.
Medical Standards for Flying Branch
The aspiring candidates should not have gone through any operation or injury from the past few years and he must not have any disease. The medical scenarios that can lead to rejection are:
- Non-articular rheum Unilateral /bilateralism ( e.g., lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago, etc.).
- Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of the cervical spine.
- Rheumatoid arthritis and allied disorders
- Osteoarthrosis, Spondylosis and Degenerative joint disease
- Granulomatous Disease of the spine
- Compression fracture of vertebra
- Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) disorders including SLE, Polymyositis, and Vasculitis.
- Arthritis / Spondylosis
- Ankylosing Spondylitis
- Scheuermann’s Disease (Adolescent Kyphosis)
- Unilateral/bilateral cervical ribs with a demonstrable neurological or circulatory deficit
- Spondylolisthesis / Spondylolysis
- Any other abnormality as so considered by the specialist
AFCAT Selection Stages 2022
IAF conducts the Specialist Officer recruitment process in 4 important stages:
- Online Written Examination (AFCAT and EKT)
- AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) Testing
- Medical Examinations
- Preparing All India Merit List and Final Allotment
- Online Examination
AFCAT recruitment is based on both merit and qualification of the candidates. The online exam is the first step of the AFCAT exam selection procedure.
- There are two phases under this online AFCAT selection stage – AFCAT and EKT
- AFCAT examination consists of Objective Type Questions (MCQ)
- In case of EKT, the questions asked are also in MCQ format.
- 300 questions are asked in the AFCAT exam. The total time assigned to complete the AFCAT exam is 120 minutes. Regarding EKT, 150 questions are asked in the EKT exam, which candidates have to complete in 45 minutes. Candidates qualifying for this exam will be shortlisted to appear for the AFSB interview.
- Every correct answer will be awarded 3 marks whereas 1 mark will be deducted for negative marking.
- Cut off marks for all the categories of candidates will be different.
| Stages | Sections covered | Questions Asked | Maximum Marks | Time limit |
| AFCAT | General Awareness
Verbal Ability in English Numerical Ability Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
100 questions | 300 marks | 120 minutes |
| EKT | Mechanical
Computer Science Electrical & Electronics |
50 Questions | 150 marks | 45 minutes |
- AFSB Interview
The Air Force Selection Board is located at Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar, and Mysuru. AFSB interview round is divided into three stages:
Stage 1 – In this stage, candidates have to go through 2 tests:
- OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating)
- PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test)
Candidates qualifying for the Stage I screening test shall be subjected to eligibility check and document verification for the branches they have applied to.
Stage 2 – It comprises a Psychological test, Group Test, and Interview.
- Group Tests are interactive indoor and outdoor activities that are a combination of mental and physical work.
- Psychological Tests are written tests that are conducted by a Psychologist.
- The interview involves a personal conversation with an Interviewing Officer.
Stage 3 – This test is mainly for Flying Branch. The test is known as the CPSS or Computerised Pilot Selection System. This is once in a lifetime test. Those who fail in this test are not eligible for Flying Training at all.
Also Read: AFCAT Result 2022 Declared – Check Direct Link, Cut Off, AFSB
AFCAT Selection – FAQs
How many phases are there in AFCAT selection 2022?
There are 4 phases/stages in AFCAT selection process
- Online Written Examination
- AFSB Interview
- Medical examination
- Final Allotment
What are the educational eligibility criteria for various posts under AFCAT selection 2022?
The basic education criteria to register for the AFCAT selection is passing 10+2 with at least 60% marks. Candidates will find the eligibility criteria provided briefly in the article above.
Can final year students apply for the AFCAT exam 2020?
Yes. Final year UG students studying from a recognized university can apply for AFCAT (1) 2022.
