AFCAT is one of the most prominent entrance exams that the Indian Air Force conducts. This exam is conducted for the positions of commissioned officers. AFCAT is conducted twice a year. For the year 2026, the exact dates of the exam are not yet announced. GK and current affairs are an important section for the AFCAT exam and need a more holistic preparation approach rather than just going through the books. If you are someone who is also an aspirant for the AFCAT exam and wants to score exceptionally well then you have landed on the apt page. This blog will help you understand the AFCAT exam in detail and how you can prepare for GK and Current affairs. So, let's get started!
How to Apply for the AFCAT Exam?
The application process for the AFCAT exam takes place via online mode. All the applications are submitted through the official IAF career website. To apply for the AFCAT exam, you must satisfy the eligibility criteria for the same. But the basic eligibility that you need to adhere to is that you must be an Indian citizen. Also, there are different age and educational qualification requirements based on the branch you are applying for.
AFCAT 2026 Exam Dates
The official notification for the AFCAT exam has not yet been announced but the tentative dates are as discussed below:
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For AFCAT 1, the notification will be released in December 2025, and the application process will start in December 2025-January 2026. The exam is expected to be conducted in February/March 2026.
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For AFCAT 2, the notification will be released in May 2026, and the application process will start in May-June 2026. The exam is expected to be conducted in August 2026.
How to Prepare for GK & Current Affairs?
This section will help you focus on how you can effectively prepare for the GK and Current Affairs in an effective way to get an edge over the extensive competition. Let's have a look at it!
1. Design a meticulous set of questions
While preparing for GK and current affairs, you must understand the set of questions that have been previously asked in the examination. You can leverage the AFCAT previous year question paper book to understand the type of questions being asked in the examination. Also, there are various books available in the market for AFCAT preparation but you need to go for the best book for AFCAT preparation.
When you are aware of the important topics and questions from where a large proportion of questions are asked in the examination, you will also work on that track. The most important areas include Indian history, polity, defence, geography, and the latest national and international events.
While designing your question base, make sure that you have crisp notes in place. Also, make sure that you format the questions in such a way that you have crisp questions and answers. This will help you prepare in a well-structured manner for the AFCAT exam.
2. Follow a religious timetable
To accomplish the entire syllabus for the AFCAT exam, you must have a well-designed study plan in place. When you have a designated plan, your entire syllabus will be accomplished on time. Besides that, you will also have enough time to take breaks and recharge yourself.
A well-designed study plan will help you follow a strategic approach. Also, make sure that you have enough time for the mock tests and sample papers. These will help you understand whether you are on track with your preparation journey or not. Also, when you achieve certain milestones during the accomplishment, you will get a new level of confidence.
But, make sure that while designing the study plan, you set realistic goals. If you don't do so, you will not be able to follow the timetable religiously. This will put you in a situation where you will feel demotivated rather than being confident. So, always make sure that you don't set unrealistic expectations.
Read More: Is there negative marking in AFCAT?
3. Leverage active learning techniques
Only going through the AFCAT best book will not help you prepare holistically for the exam. To get an edge, you need to incorporate active recall and spaced repetition to understand whether you are through with your concepts or not. Various methods can help you retain the concepts for the day of the examination.
One of the best ways for active learning is the use of flashcards. While preparing for the AFCAT exam, you can create your own flashcards either manually or digitally to retain the concepts in the long run. You can write down question on one side and the answer on other side of the card. This will help you repeat and retain the concepts in a better fashion for the day of the examination.
While using the flashcards, make sure that you emphasise active recall. You can use the question side of flashcards to read the question and then recall the answers actively. This will help you make your preparation impeccable for the day of examination.
4. Use memory techniques
Retaining the concepts in memory plays a vital role in excelling in the examination. There are various ways that can be used to increase the retention of concepts in the memory. One of the best ways to use is mnemonics. In mnemonics, you can create a short phrase acronym to retain the concept for a longer duration in the memory.
In addition to that, you can also use techniques like mind maps. Mind maps will be very helpful in topics like history where you can have an entire theme and background designed in your head. This will help you tackle a large variety of questions on the day of the examination. A better visual representation will help you remember the things in the long run.
5. Have an acquaintance with current affairs daily
To get an edge with current affairs, it is important that you stay tuned with all the latest national and international events. You can read through the newspaper daily to stay tuned with all the latest events happening around the world. In addition to that, you can also use other official resources to stay tuned with the official updates.
Besides that, various apps can be utilised to stay tuned with the official updates in a concise and precise manner. You should develop a daily habit of maintaining a sync with current affairs. This will help you tackle all the types of questions that can be asked in the examination from current affairs.
FAQS
1. Which official body is responsible for conducting AFCAT?
AFCAT is conducted by the Indian Air Force twice a year primarily in February and August.
2. What is the age limit to be eligible for the flying branch?
The age limit is 20 to 24 years at the time of commencement of the course.
3. Are women eligible to apply for the AFCAT exam?
Yes, women are eligible to apply for both flying and ground duties for the AFCAT exam.
4. Is there any negative marking in the AFCAT exam?
Yes, there is a provision of negative marking in the AFCAT exam. For every incorrect answer, one mark is deducted.
Final Thoughts
The GK and current affairs sections can be conquered in the final examination if you are well-versed with the syllabus. Moreover, you should have a holistic approach with an ample amount of practice sessions to conquer the exam in the first go. So, make the best use of available time and make your opportunity count.
All the Best!
