As of 12 October 2026 the Indian Air Force has not announced AFCAT 01/2027. The AFCAT portal at afcat.edcil.co.in lists AFCAT 02/2026 as its latest cycle, with the written test held on 8 August 2026 and AFSB seat selection held in September. The previous first-half cycle, AFCAT 01/2026, opened registration on 17 November 2025, so a notification around mid-November is what the pattern suggests. That is an inference from last year, not an official date, and this page will be updated when the IAF publishes the notice.
Last verified: 12 October 2026.
How does the IAF name an AFCAT cycle?
Many pages muddle the cycle name, the year of the test and the year the course starts. The IAF notifications make the pattern clear. The number before the slash is the half of the year, and the year after it is the year of the written test. The course starts later, and the age limits are counted on the course start date.
| Cycle | Notification window | Written test | Course starts | Age counted on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT 01/2026 | 17 Nov 2025 to 14 Dec 2025 in the notification; the portal later extended registration to 19 Dec 2025 | 31 January 2026 (Saturday) | January 2027 | 1 January 2027 |
| AFCAT 02/2026 | 20 May 2026 to 19 Jun 2026 in the notification; the portal later extended the last date to 21 Jun 2026 | 8 August 2026 (Saturday) | July 2027 | 1 July 2027 |
If that pattern holds, AFCAT 01/2027 would have its written test in early 2027 and its course would start in January 2028. Treat that as a planning assumption only. The IAF states in each notification that vacancies, dates and conditions can change.
Sources for AFCAT cycles
What did the 02/2026 cycle look like, step by step?
The most recent cycle shows how long each stage takes. All dates below are from the AFCAT portal and the 02/2026 notification.
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application opens | 20 May 2026, 11:00 |
| Last date for applications | 21 June 2026, 23:59 (extended from 19 June) |
| Window to edit personal details | 29 June 2026, 11:00 to 30 June 2026, 23:30 |
| AFCAT online paper | 8 August 2026, reporting 08:00, paper 10:00 to 12:00 |
| Question paper and answer key shown for objections | 9 August 2026, 17:00 to 11 August 2026, 17:00 |
| Result and GATE score entry cut-off declared | Declared on the portal |
| AFSB seat selection | 10 September 2026, 17:00 to 14 September 2026, 23:59 |
| Training begins | First week of July 2027 |
Notice how short the AFSB seat window was: five days. Candidates who qualify must log in and choose a date and a board from the seats that remain, so check your email and the portal every day after the result.
The portal’s general selection page says that AFCAT is held in February and August and that advertisements come out in June and December. The notifications of 2025 and 2026 show different months, so use the notification for the cycle you are targeting and not the general page.
How do you apply for AFCAT when the notification is out?
These steps are from the AFCAT 02/2026 notification. Read the new notification before you begin.
- Register on the AFCAT website at afcat.edcil.co.in. An Aadhaar card is mandatory for online registration, and you need a valid email address and mobile number that will stay active until the process ends.
- Fill in personal, communication and qualification details, choose your course preferences and upload a recent passport-size colour photograph (100 to 200 KB), your signature (80 to 150 KB) and a thumb impression (50 to 100 KB). Male candidates upload the left thumb and female candidates the right thumb.
- Preview the form, correct any error and submit. After you submit you are taken to the payment gateway. The fee is ₹550 plus 18% GST for AFCAT entry, and it is not charged for NCC special entry or GATE score entry.
- Print the submitted form and keep it. The notification says a form cannot be edited after submission, and that only the latest application against an Aadhaar number is used for the admit card.
- Download the e-Admit Card, which the IAF issues nine days before the examination.
The notification also says the application cannot be withdrawn and the fee is never refunded, so check your eligibility before you pay. Our AFCAT eligibility guide sets out the branch conditions.
A checklist for the 30 days after the notification
- Match your degree, your Class 12 subjects and your date of birth to the branch table in the notification.
- Decide your branches and their order of preference, because the notification says the courses you are admitted to depend on your eligibility and the preferences you give.
- Prepare photo, signature and thumb impression files at the right sizes before you open the form.
- Keep your Matriculation certificate for date of birth and your Class 12 and degree documents ready. The AFSB checks originals.
- Start timed online practice. The portal offers a free online practice test.
- Begin fitness work. The IAF suggests aiming for a one-mile run in 10 minutes, with 10 push-ups and 3 chin-ups, before the board.
If you want a person to look at your plan, free counselling is available by phone or WhatsApp on +91 70170 31757. Our SSB interview process guide explains what follows the written paper, and for the all-exams view see the defence exam calendar.
What happens after the written result?
Passing the paper is only the first step. The IAF prepares a list of candidates who obtain its minimum qualifying marks, and those candidates are called to an Air Force Selection Board. They choose an AFSB date and venue on the AFCAT portal, then download a call-up letter and the mandatory forms. The board is a multi-day process: screening on the first day, then the psychological test, group tests and interview. Flying candidates who are recommended also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System, which is given once in a lifetime. Recommended candidates are sent for a medical examination at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment in New Delhi or the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Bengaluru, as the portal describes it.
An all-India merit list is then compiled from written and AFSB performance, subject to medical fitness, and joining instructions follow according to vacancies. Candidates are advised to carry original documents to the board, and the IAF reimburses first-time candidates’ travel at AC-III or AC Chair Car fare. The detail is in our SSB centres guide.
AFCAT notification and dates: common questions
FAQs
Questions parents ask us.
Can't find yours? Ask on WhatsApp; a counsellor usually replies within working hours.
Ask on WhatsAppWhen will the AFCAT 1 2027 notification be released?
No date has been published. As of 12 October 2026 the AFCAT portal lists 02/2026 as its latest cycle. The 01/2026 registration opened on 17 November 2025, which is the only guide to timing, and it is not official.
What was the AFCAT 1 2026 exam date?
31 January 2026, a Saturday, according to the AFCAT 01/2026 notification.
What was the AFCAT 2 2026 exam date?
8 August 2026, a Saturday, according to the AFCAT 02/2026 notification.
What is the AFCAT application fee?
₹550 plus 18% GST for AFCAT entry in the 02/2026 notification. NCC special entry and GATE score entry candidates do not pay it.
Where do I apply for AFCAT?
Only on the AFCAT website, afcat.edcil.co.in, using a valid email address, a mobile number and your Aadhaar details.
How many vacancies will there be in AFCAT 2027?
Not announced. Each notification lists tentative vacancies by branch and says they can change.
If you are preparing for the test and the board, see how our classroom programme works on the AFCAT coaching in Dehradun page, or call or message us on WhatsApp at +91 70170 31757.
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