AFCAT eligibility depends on the branch. In the Air Force’s AFCAT 02/2026 notification, flying branch candidates must be 20 to 24 years old on 1 July 2027, with Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 and a degree; ground duty candidates must be 20 to 26. Candidates must be unmarried when the course starts. The 02/2026 notification states no minimum percentage. The earlier 01/2026 notification asked for 50% in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 and 60% in graduation, which is the origin of the 50% versus 60% confusion on rival pages.
Last verified: 12 October 2026, against the AFCAT 02/2026 and 01/2026 notifications and the Indian Air Force’s AFCAT portal. The IAF can change any condition, so read the notification for your cycle.
What is AFCAT eligibility for each branch?
| Branch | Age on 1 July 2027 (02/2026) | Class 12 | Degree (02/2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flying | 20 to 24 years, born 2 July 2003 to 1 July 2007. Up to 26 for a valid DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holder, born 2 July 2001 to 1 July 2007 | Mathematics and Physics, both mandatory | Three-year degree in any discipline, or four-year BE/B Tech, or Sections A and B of the Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India |
| Ground Duty (Technical): Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) or (Mechanical) | 20 to 26 years, born 2 July 2001 to 1 July 2007 | Physics and Mathematics | Four-year engineering or technology degree in the disciplines the notification lists, or the Associate Membership route. GATE score entry is open to BE/B Tech holders with a qualifying GATE subject |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Weapon Systems | 20 to 26 years | Mathematics and Physics, mandatory | Three-year degree in any discipline or a BE/B Tech |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Administration and Logistics | 20 to 26 years | 10+2 pass | Three-year degree in any discipline |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Accounts | 20 to 26 years | 10+2 pass | B.Com, BBA/BMS/BBS with finance specialisation, CA, CMA, CS, CFA or B.Sc. with finance |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Education | 20 to 26 years | 10+2 pass | Postgraduation in any discipline, with a graduation in any discipline |
| Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Meteorology | 20 to 26 years | 10+2 pass | B.Sc. with Physics and Mathematics, or a four-year engineering degree in listed streams |
Two seats in the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches are reserved for law graduates. The notification also says that only candidates who took the 12th standard in the 10+2 pattern are eligible for these courses.
Is it 50% or 60%? Why guides disagree
Both figures are real, but they come from different notifications. The 01/2026 notification (issued in November 2025) asked for a minimum of 50% marks each in Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 and a minimum of 60% in the degree. The 02/2026 notification (issued in May 2026) lists the same qualifications without any minimum marks, and the IAF’s portal career pages use the words ‘minimum passing marks’. A guide that quotes 60% may be quoting a notification that has since been replaced.
| Point | AFCAT 01/2026 notification | AFCAT 02/2026 notification |
|---|---|---|
| Class 12 Physics and Mathematics | Minimum 50% marks in each | Passed. No minimum marks stated |
| Degree | Minimum 60% marks or equivalent | Degree requirement stated without a minimum percentage |
| Age counted on | 1 January 2027 | 1 July 2027 |
| Course starts | January 2027 | July 2027 |
Our advice is simple. Do not rely on a figure from a coaching website, ours included. Read the eligibility paragraph of the notification for the exact cycle you are applying under, and keep a copy. The IAF’s portal also notes that the CDS route to the flying branch has no percentage bar.
Sources for AFCAT eligibility
What are the eligibility and physical conditions for the flying branch?
The flying branch carries the strictest conditions. Beyond age and subjects, the 02/2026 notification says the following.
- CPSS. The Computerised Pilot Selection System is given once in a lifetime. A candidate who failed CPSS in an earlier attempt, or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy, cannot apply to the flying branch.
- Glasses. Habitual wearers of glasses must meet the medical criteria in the notification’s Appendix A to be eligible for flying.
- Height. Pilots, Flight Test Engineers and Weapon Systems Operators of the Su-30 MKI need at least 162 cm, for men and women alike. Other aircrew duties ask for 157 cm. Ground duty branches ask for 157 cm for men and 152 cm for women, reduced by 2 cm for candidates of Lakshadweep ethnicity and by 5 cm for Gorkhas and candidates from North-Eastern regions and the hilly regions of Uttarakhand, who must carry a domicile certificate.
- Eyesight. For pilot entries the standard in the notification’s visual table is nil manifest myopia, at most +1.5 D hypermetropia and at most +0.75 D astigmatism.
- Chest. The minimum chest circumference for men is 77 cm with an expansion of at least 5 cm.
These come from the IAF’s own Appendix A, and the medical board decides. Our NDA physical and medical standards guide shows how the services’ standards compare.
Can girls apply for AFCAT?
Yes. The IAF invites Indian citizens, men and women, to apply through AFCAT for the flying and ground duty branches, and the notification lists separate vacancies for women. The age and qualification conditions are the same for men and women. The height minimum for women in ground duty is 152 cm, as in the table above.
What about NCC special entry and GATE score entry?
NCC special entry is open to holders of the Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate, and 10% of the vacancies are reserved. NCC candidates and GATE score candidates do not pay the AFCAT examination fee. GATE score entry is for the Ground Duty (Technical) branch: candidates who hold a qualifying BE/B Tech and a GATE score from the last three years in one of the listed GATE subjects are called directly to an AFSB without sitting the AFCAT paper. Candidates eligible for the technical branch may apply through AFCAT, through GATE or both.
What are the AFCAT exam pattern and syllabus?
| Item | AFCAT 02/2026 notification |
|---|---|
| Paper | One online paper, English only |
| Duration | 2 hours |
| Questions and marks | 100 questions, 300 marks |
| Marking | +3 for each correct answer, -1 for each wrong answer, nothing for a blank |
| Subjects | General Awareness; Verbal Ability in English; Numerical Ability; Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test |
| Standard | Numerical Ability at matriculation level; other subjects at graduation level |
- English. Comprehension, error detection, sentence completion, synonyms and antonyms, cloze test, idioms and phrases, analogy, sentence rearranging, one-word substitution, transformation of sentences and homonyms.
- General Awareness. History, geography, sports, national and international organisations, art and culture, personalities, environment and ecology, Indian polity, economy, basic science, science and technology, current affairs and defence.
- Numerical Ability. Decimals and fractions, time and work, averages and percentages, profit and loss, ratio, simple and compound interest, time and distance, area and perimeter, probability, number series, mixtures, roots, HCF and LCM, mensuration, heights and distances, statistics and exponents.
- Reasoning and Military Aptitude. Verbal and non-verbal reasoning.
The notification does not split the 100 questions among the four areas, so any ‘AFCAT syllabus weightage’ table you see on another site is not an IAF figure. It also describes one paper and does not mention a separate Engineering Knowledge Test, so technical candidates should confirm the pattern for their cycle on the portal. Our AFCAT notification and exam dates guide gives the application steps.
What do CPSS and the AFSB stages involve?
On the first day of the AFSB, candidates take the Officer Intelligence Rating test and the Picture Perception and Discussion Test. Those who do not qualify are sent back that day. The psychological test is held that evening, and group tests and the interview follow. Flying candidates who are recommended take the CPSS. If you want to see how this works, read our SSB interview process guide. Free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757.
AFCAT eligibility: common questions
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Ask on WhatsAppWhat is AFCAT eligibility for the flying branch?
In the 02/2026 notification: age 20 to 24 on 1 July 2027 (up to 26 for a DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holder), Mathematics and Physics at 10+2 and a degree or BE/B Tech. Candidates must be unmarried at the start of the course and must not have failed CPSS earlier.
What is the AFCAT eligibility for 12th percentage?
The 01/2026 notification asked for 50% in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2. The 02/2026 notification states no minimum marks. Check the notification for your cycle.
Can girls apply for AFCAT?
Yes. Men and women can apply for the flying and ground duty branches, and the notification lists vacancies for women.
What is the AFCAT age limit?
20 to 24 years for the flying branch and 20 to 26 years for ground duty, counted on the date the course starts (1 July 2027 in the 02/2026 notification).
Can final-year students apply?
Yes, if they have no backlog at the time of application. In the 02/2026 notification they had to submit proof of completing their final exams by 30 May 2027.
What is the AFCAT syllabus?
English, General Awareness, Numerical Ability and Reasoning with Military Aptitude, in a 2-hour, 100-question paper worth 300 marks.
To prepare for the paper and the board together, see our classroom AFCAT coaching in Dehradun page, or call or message us on WhatsApp at +91 70170 31757.
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