AFCATE 2026 : AGE LIMIT, EXAM PATTERN & ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

> What is AFCAT 
AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is a national-level exam conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to recruit officers into various branches:
1.Flying Branch
2.Ground Duty (Technical)
3.Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
It’s held twice a year (AFCAT 1 & AFCAT 2)

 always check the official notification at afcat.cdac.in.

 1. Eligibility Criteria
🇮🇳 Nationality
 Must be a citizen of India as per the Indian Citizenship Act, 1955.
Age Limit
In Flying branch
Minimum Age : 20 years
Maximum Age : 24 years 
In Ground Duty (Technical / Non-Technical)
Minimum Age : 20 years
Maximum Age : 26 years
> Upper age relaxation up to 26 years for candidates with a valid Commercial Pilot License (CPL) issued by DGCA (for Flying). 
> The exact age is calculated with respect to a date specified in the official notification (usually 1 Jan of the next year). 
shielddefenceacademy.in
> Marital Status: Candidates below 25 years must be unmarried at the time of commencement of training and that marriage during training is not permitted.

2. Educational Qualifications
> Flying Branch
 Graduation (minimum 3-year degree) with at least 60% marks from a recognized university.
 Candidates must have secured 50% mark each in Mathematics and Physics at the 10+12 level  
> Ground Duty (Technical)
 Engineering degree (B.E./B.Tech) in relevant disciplines with minimum 60% marks. 

 Candidate applying for the Technical branch must also appear for the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)
> Ground Duty (Non-Technical)
 Graduation degree (any discipline) with minimum 60% marks. 
 Final-year students can also apply if they can produce the final certificate/marksheet before training starts. 

3. Exam Mode & Pattern
 Mode of Examination
* AFCAT is conducted in Online Computer Based Test (CBT) mode. 
 Exam Pattern
* Duration: 2 hours
* Total Questions: 100 objective-type
* Total Marks: 300
* Marking Scheme: +3 for correct, −1 for wrong answers 
Typical sections include:
 General Awareness
 English Verbal Ability
 Numerical Ability
 Reasoning & Military Aptitude 

4. Detailed Syllabus Highlights
 i.General Awareness
 Current Affairs
 History, Geography
 Science & Technology
 Environment, Defense Knowledge 
ii. English Verbal Ability
 Comprehension
 Grammar
 Error Detection
 Vocabulary 
iii. Numerical Ability
 Number System
 Ratio & Proportion
 Time & Work
 Percentage, Profit & Loss etc.
iv. Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test
 Verbal & Non-Verbal reasoning
 Spatial Ability
 Situational questions relevant to military environment 

5. Selection Process
The AFCAT selection has multiple stages:
 Written Online Exam (AFCAT) – qualifying phase. 
 AFSB Interview – Air Force Selection Board tests: psychological, personality, group tasks, and personal interview. 
 Medical Examination – thorough medical fitness test by IAF doctors. 
Candidates who pass all stages are placed based on merit and training slots. 

6. Important Dates (Example AFCAT 1 2026)
 Notification Released: November 9, 2025
 Application Start: November 17, 2025
 Last Date: December 14, 2025
 City Slip (Pre-admit info): January 9, 2026
 Exam Date: January 31, 2026 (10 AM–12 PM)