AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualification, Medical Standards

AFCAT eligibility criteria is one of the main aspects that candidates must carefully go through before submitting the AFCAT exam application form for the position of Flying Branch (Pilot), Ground Duty Technical (Electrical, Mechanical) or Ground Duty Non-Technical (Administration, Logistics). IAF has invited online applications from Indian citizens (Men and Women) for the courses starting in January 2022 for grant of Short Service Commission (SSC) in Flying Branch and Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The Indian Air Force has also invited applications for the grant of PC/SSC for NCC Special Entry Scheme (For Flying Branch). 

AFCAT eligibility criteria differ from one post to another. Candidates can avail the complete information about AFCAT eligibility criteria in this article.

Important Update

• AFCAT application is open till 11th January 2021.

AFCAT Exam Notification 2021

The official AFCAT notification 2020 was released on 28th November 2020. Later the detailed notification was released on 1st December 2020. AFCAT 2021 online application process began on 1st December 2020. Indian Air Force has announced the AFCAT 2021 exam will take place on 20th and 21st February 2021. Initially, the last date to submit the AFCAT applications was 30 December 2020. However, the deadline for online application submission was later extended till 11th January 2021. 

The table below contains all the important AFCAT exam dates:

AFCAT Exam Dates (AFCAT 1) 2021

Exam Events	Important Dates
Release of short notification	28th November 2020
Release of Notification (Detailed)	1st December 2020
Dates for submission of online applications	1st December 2020 to 11th January 2021
AFCAT (1) 2021 Admit Card Release	5th February 2021
AFCAT (1) 2021 Exam	20th and 21st February 2021
AFCAT Result Release	March 2021*
Course Commencement	January 2022*

*Exact dates yet to be released

AFCAT Exam Dates (AFCAT 2) 2021

Exam Events (2021)	Important Dates
Release of notification	June 2021*
Dates for submission of online applications	June to July 2021*
AFCAT (2) 2021 Admit Card Release	September or October 2021*
AFCAT (2) 2021 Exam	September or October 2021*
AFCAT Result Release	November 2021*

*Exact dates yet to be released

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Nationality

As per AFCAT eligibility criteria, a candidate should be an Indian citizen as per the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955. Applications from candidates who have migrated to India before 1955 are not welcomed.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Age

Before applying for the AFCAT exam, candidates should fulfil the important age limit eligibility norms as the age criteria vary from one post to another. IAF has set a post-wise upper and lower age limit for candidates who wish to appear for the AFCAT exam 2021.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry

1. The age of the aspiring candidates should be between 20 and 24 years as on 1st January 2022. This means that the candidate should be born between 2nd January 1998 and 1st January 2002 (both dates inclusive).
2. There is a relaxation of 2 years (upper age limit) for candidates holding a valid and current Pilot License issued by DGCA (India). The candidates should be born between 2nd January 1996 to 1st January 2002 (both dates inclusive).

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch

1. The age limit for the aspiring candidates should be between 20 and 26 years as on 1st January 2022. This means that the candidate should be born between 2nd January 1996 and 1st January 2002 (both dates inclusive).

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Marital Status

The age criteria as per the marital status of the aspiring candidates are highlighted below:

Marital Status	Age Limit
Unmarried Candidates	Between 20 – 25 Years
Married Candidates	Above 25 Years
Widows/Widowers/divorcees	Above 25 Years

Besides the above age factor in the AFCAT eligibility criteria, candidates have to follow some other marital- and age-related eligibility criteria too. These are – 

1. A candidate who marries following the date of his/her application, although successful at SSB (Services Selection Board ) or medical level, will not be counted eligible for training. 
2. Widows/ Widowers and divorcees (with or without restrains/liability) below 25 years of age will also not be considered eligible.
3. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply. However, during the training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live out with family.
4. A candidate who marries during the period of training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him/her by the Government.
5. Candidates need to be careful while entering their date of birth. During verification, if the entered date of birth does not match the Matriculation or equivalent examination certificate, the application will be deemed disqualified. 

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Educational Qualification

IAF has laid down several educational conditions under AFCAT 2021 eligibility criteria. Criteria are dependent on posts for which each of the candidates are applying.

They must have the minimum educational qualifications from a recognized university board as indicated in the table below.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – 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 recognised 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:- (aaa) Aerospace Engineering (aab) Aeronautical Engineering (aac) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (aad) Mechanical Engineering (aae) Mechanical Engineering and Automation (aaf) Mechanical Engineering (Production) (aag) Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance) (aah) Mechatronics (aaj) Industrial Engineering (aak) Manufacturing Engineering (aal) Production and Industrial Engineering (aam) Materials Science and Engineering (aan) Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (aao) Aerospace and Applied Mechanics (aap) Automotive Engineering (aaq) Robotics (aar) Nanotechnology (aas) Rubber Technology and Rubber Engineering
	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: (aaa) Communication Engineering (aab) Computer Engineering/Technology (aac) Computer Engineering & Application (aad) Computer Science and Engineering/Technology (aae) Electrical and Computer Engineering (aaf) Electrical and Electronics Engineering (aag) Electrical Engineering (aah) Electronics Engineering/ Technology (aaj) Electronics Science and Engineering (aak) Electronics (aal) Electronics and Communication Engineering (aam) Electronics and Computer Science (aan) Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (aao) Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave) (aap) Electronics and Computer Engineering (aaq) Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering (aar) Electronics Instrument & Control (aas) Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering (aat) Instrumentation & Control Engineering (aau) Instrument & Control Engineering (aav) Information Technology (aaw) Spacecraft Technology (aax) Engineering Physics (aay) Electric Power and Machinery Engineering (aaz) Infotech Engineering (aba) Cyber Security
NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch)		Minimum 60% aggregate each in Physics & Mathematics in 10+2 Minimum  OR 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

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2021 – Medical and Physical Standards

There are certain guidelines related to the physical and medical standards that aspiring candidates must qualify to get shortlisted to sit for the exam. 

Physical Standards

1. All applicants must be mentally and physically fit.
2. An exam will be conducted to examine the mental and physical health of the aspiring candidates.  

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Height and Weight Standards

Candidates need to check the weight and height standards set by the Indian Air Force.

Female 

Height (cm)	Weight as per Age Range in Years
	20 to 25	26 to 30
148	43	46
149	44	47
150	45	48
151	45	48
152	46	49
153	47	50
154	47	50
155	48	51
156	49	52
157	49	53
158	50	53
159	51	54
160	51	55
161	52	55
162	52	56
163	53	57
164	54	57
165	54	58
166	55	59
167	56	60
168	56	60
169	57	61
170	58	62
171	58	62
172	59	63
173	59	64
174	60	64
175	61	65
176	61	66
177	62	67
178	63	67
SD	5	5

Male

Height (cm)	Weight as per Age Range in Years
	15 to 17	18 to 22	23 to 27	28 to 32	33 to 37
152	46	47	50	54	54
153	47	47	51	55	55
154	47	48	51	56	56
155	48	49	52	56	56
156	48	49	53	57	57
157	49	50	54	58	58
158	49	50	54	58	58
159	50	51	55	59	59
160	51	52	56	59	60
161	51	52	56	60	60
162	52	53	57	61	61
163	52	54	58	61	62
164	53	54	59	62	63
165	53	55	59	63	63
166	54	56	60	63	64
167	54	56	61	64	65
168	55	57	61	65	65
169	55	57	62	65	66
170	56	58	63	66	67
171	56	59	64	66	68
172	57	59	64	67	68
173	58	60	65	68	69
174	58	61	66	68	70
175	59	61	66	69	71
176	59	62	67	70	71
177	60	62	68	70	72
178	60	63	69	71	73
179	61	64	69	72	73
180	61	64	70	72	74
181	62	65	71	73	75
182	62	66	72	74	76
183	63	66	72	74	76
184	64	67	73	75	77
185	64	68	74	75	78
186	65	68	74	76	78
187	65	69	75	77	79
188	66	69	76	77	80
189	66	70	77	78	81
190	67	71	77	79	81
191	67	71	78	79	82
192	68	72	79	80	82
193	68	73	79	81	83
SD	6.0	6.3	7.1	6.6	6.9

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Height and Weight Parameters

The candidates have to carefully check the minimum and maximum height (acceptable) from the table below.

AFCAT 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 get a concession of 5 cms.

AFCAT 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.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Visual Standards

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Visual Standards 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

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Visual Standards 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

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Visual Standards 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.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – Medical Standards for the Flying Branch

Aspiring candidates should not have gone through any operation or injury in the past few years and he/she must not have any disease. The medical scenarios that can lead to rejection are:

1. Non-articular rheum Unilateral /bilateralism ( e.g., lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago etc).
2. Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of the cervical spine.
3. Rheumatoid arthritis and allied disorders
4. Osteoarthrosis, Spondylosis and Degenerative joint disease
5. Granulomatous Disease of the spine
6. Compression fracture of vertebra
7. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) disorders including SLE, Polymyositis and Vasculitis.
8. Arthritis / Spondylosis
9. Ankylosing Spondylitis
10. Scheuermann’s Disease (Adolescent Kyphosis)
11. Unilateral/bilateral cervical ribs with demonstrable neurological or circulatory deficit.
12. Spondylolisthesis / Spondylolysis
13. Any other abnormality as so considered by the specialist

Inguinal Hernia

Candidates who have gone through the Hernia operation will be considered eligible for the exam if they satisfy the below conditions:

1. If there is a gap of 12 months after the operation and application submission
2. If the scars have healed well

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – LASIK Surgery for all Branches

Candidates who go through the PRK (Photo Refractive Keratotomy) or LASIK (Laser in Situ Keratomileusis) are considered eligible for all the branches in the Air Force. However, they have to meet the below-mentioned criteria:

1. The post LASIK corneal thickness as measured by a corneal pachymeter should be at least 450 microns
2. At least 12 months should have lapsed post uncomplicate stable LASIK. No history or evidence of any complication should continue till the present

To know the other Physical criteria, read the AFCAT Notification (Page 22)

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AFCAT Eligibility Criteria – FAQs

Who sets the AFCAT eligibility criteria?

The Indian Air Force (IAF) being the exam conducting body determines the eligibility conditions for AFCAT examination.

What is the age limit for the AFCAT exam?

The minimum and maximum age limit for the flying branch is 20 and 24 years, whereas the candidates applying for Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch must be between 20 and 26 years of age.

What is the minimum qualifying marks to apply for the AFCAT exam?

As per the AFCAT eligibility criteria, candidates should obtain a minimum of 60% in Graduation. However, for the Ground Duty (Technical) branch, the minimum qualifying marks is 50%. 

What is the AFCAT application fee?

The AFCAT application fee is Rs 250 across all categories.

How many phases are there in AFCAT 2021?

There are 2 phases of AFCAT 2021 exam -

1. Online written exam
2. Interview Round

Are women candidates eligible to apply for the AFCAT examination?

Yes. Both female and male candidates are eligible to apply for AFCAT.