AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Qualification, Age Limit & Air Force Officer Requirements
The AFCAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria are specified by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in the official AFCAT notification released on afcat.cdac.in. Candidates must meet all eligibility conditions — including nationality, age, educational qualification, and physical standards — before applying for AFCAT 2 2026, for which the notification was released on 20 May 2026.
AFCAT 2026 Eligibility – Quick Summary
|
Parameter |
Flying Branch |
Ground Duty (Technical) |
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
|
Nationality |
Indian Citizen |
Indian Citizen |
Indian Citizen |
|
Age (as of 1 July 2027) |
20–24 years |
20–26 years |
20–26 years |
|
Minimum Education |
Graduation (60%) + PCM in Class 12 |
B.E./B.Tech (60%) |
Graduation (60%) |
|
Marital Status |
Unmarried at time of course commencement |
— |
— |
|
Gender |
Male and Female |
Male and Female |
Male and Female |
Nationality Criteria
|
Condition |
Status |
|
Indian Citizen |
Eligible |
|
Subject of Nepal / Bhutan |
Eligible (with specific documentation) |
|
Tibetan Refugee (settled before 1 Jan 1962) |
Eligible |
|
Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) |
Eligible (specific conditions apply) |
|
Foreign National |
Not eligible |
AFCAT 2026 Age Limit
For AFCAT 2 2026, age is calculated as on 1 July 2027 (course commencement date):
|
Branch |
Minimum Age |
Maximum Age |
|
Flying Branch (AFCAT & NCC Special Entry) |
20 years |
24 years |
|
Flying Branch (valid Commercial Pilot Licence from DGCA) |
20 years |
26 years |
|
Ground Duty (Technical) |
20 years |
26 years |
|
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
20 years |
26 years |
Age relaxation is available for NCC Special Entry candidates as per IAF regulations.
AFCAT 2026 Educational Qualification
Flying Branch
|
Requirement |
Details |
|
Degree |
Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university |
|
Minimum Marks |
60% aggregate |
|
Class 12 Requirement |
Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level with minimum 50% |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible (no current backlog; min. 60% in completed semesters) |
|
Deadline for final year students |
Submit exam completion proof by 30 November 2026 |
Ground Duty (Technical) Branch
|
Requirement |
Details |
|
Degree |
B.E./B.Tech in a relevant engineering discipline |
|
Minimum Marks |
60% aggregate |
|
Accepted Disciplines |
Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, Aeronautical |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible (no current backlog; min. 60% in completed semesters) |
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch
|
Requirement |
Details |
|
Degree |
Graduation in any discipline from a recognised university |
|
Minimum Marks |
60% aggregate |
|
Class 12 |
No specific subject requirement |
|
Final Year Students |
Eligible (no current backlog; min. 60% in completed semesters) |
AFCAT 2026 Branch-Wise Eligibility Summary
|
Branch |
Education |
Minimum % |
Age Range |
|
Flying Branch |
Any Graduation + PCM in 12th |
60% (Grad), 50% (PCM) |
20–24 years |
|
Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) |
B.E./B.Tech in Electronics/Electrical |
60% |
20–26 years |
|
Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) |
B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical/Production |
60% |
20–26 years |
|
Administration |
Any Graduation |
60% |
20–26 years |
|
Logistics |
Any Graduation |
60% |
20–26 years |
|
Accounts |
B.Com / B.Sc in Maths or any Graduation |
60% |
20–26 years |
|
Education |
Postgraduate degree (min. 50%) |
50% PG |
20–26 years |
|
Meteorology |
Graduation in Science with Maths/Statistics/Geography |
60% |
20–26 years |
AFCAT 2026 Physical Standards
Physical fitness is strictly assessed during the AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) and medical examination:
Vision Standards
|
Category |
Flying Branch |
Ground Duty |
|
Distant Vision (uncorrected) |
6/6 and 6/9 in better/worse eye |
More relaxed |
|
Colour Vision |
CP-I (must be able to distinguish colours) |
CP-III |
|
Myopia / Hypermetropia |
Not permissible for Flying Branch |
Permissible within limits |
Height and Weight
|
Gender |
Minimum Height |
Weight |
|
Male |
162.5 cm |
Proportionate to height |
|
Female |
152 cm |
Proportionate to height |
General Medical Standards
|
Standard |
Requirement |
|
Blood Pressure |
Normal range |
|
Hearing |
Normal hearing in both ears |
|
Chest Expansion |
Minimum 5 cm |
|
No disability |
No physical deformity |
Marital Status
|
Branch |
Requirement |
|
Flying Branch |
Must be unmarried at the time of course commencement |
|
Ground Duty Branches |
Married candidates may apply (check specific notification) |
Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for AFCAT, provided the candidate continues to satisfy the age limit criteria.
AFCAT Application Fee 2026
|
Category |
Fee |
|
All Candidates |
₹550 + applicable GST |
|
Mode of Payment |
Online only (net banking, UPI, debit/credit card) |
Documents Required at AFCAT 2026 Application Stage
|
Document |
Purpose |
|
Class 10 Certificate |
Date of birth proof |
|
Class 12 Marksheet |
PCM percentage verification |
|
Graduation Marksheet/Degree |
Educational qualification proof |
|
NCC Certificate |
If applying under NCC Special Entry |
|
DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence |
If applying for age relaxation under CPL |
Always verify the complete eligibility criteria in the official AFCAT 2 2026 notification available at afcat.cdac.in before submitting the application.
