How many candidates apply for AFCAT every year?

How many candidates apply for AFCAT every year?

Edited By Vishnukumar V | Updated on Jul 16, 2024 09:19 AM IST | #AFCAT
Ongoing Event
AFCAT  Application Date : 02 Jun' 2025 - 01 Jul' 2025

Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is the national level examination conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF). About 1.5 to 2 lakhs candidates apply for the AFCAT exam every year. IAF conducts the AFCAT exam twice a year. The AFCAT 1 exam is conducted in the month of February while the AFCAT 2 exam is conducted in July every year. Approximately 350 to 450 vacancies are announced for each session of the AFCAT exam.

This Story also Contains
  1. AFCAT Exam 2024 - Overview
  2. AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2024
  3. AFCAT Application Form 2024
  4. AFCAT Vacancies 2024
  5. AFCAT 2 Vacancy Details 2024
  6. AFCAT Selection Process 2024
How many candidates apply for AFCAT every year?
How many candidates apply for AFCAT every year?

AFCAT Exam 2024 - Overview

Aspirants can check the AFCAT exam highlights from the below table.

Particulars

Details

Exam name

Air Force Common Admission Test

Commonly known as

AFCAT

Exam Conducting Authority

IAF (Indian Air Force)

Official Website

afcat.cdac.in

Exam Level

National

Educational Qualification

Graduation

Age limit

20 years - 24 years for Flying Branch

20 years - 26 years for Technical and Non-technical Branches

Application mode

Online mode

Stages of Exam

  • Online Test

  • AFSB Interview

  • Medical Test

Exam Mode

Online

Exam language

English

Exam Duration

AFCAT: 2 hours

EKT: 45 minutes

Total Vacancies

AFCAT 1 2024 -317
AFCAT 2 2024 - 304

AFCAT Posts

  • Flying Branch

  • Ground Duty (Tech) Branch,

  • Ground Duty (Non-tech) Branch

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2024

Students who wish to apply for the exam must fulfil the minimum AFCAT eligibility criteria. The AFCAT eligibility criteria 2024 comprises nationality, age factor, education qualification, etc. Some of the basic AFCAT 2024 eligibility criteria are as follows.

AFCAT Exam eligibility criteria 2024

Particulars

Details

Nationality

Indian citizen

AFCAT age limit

20 years - 24 years for Flying Branch

20 years to 26 years for Technical and Non-technical Branches

Educational Qualification

Graduation

Note: For AFCAT eligibility information please refer to the official AFCAT notification 2024.

AFCAT Application Form 2024

IAF activates the AFCAT 2024 application form in online mode at afcat.cdac.in. Aspirants will be able to complete the registration through the AFCAT candidate login window. The AFCAT registration link will be activated separately for AFCAT 1 and 2. As a part of AFCAT registration 2024, candidates needed to pay an application fee. The steps to fill and submit the AFCAT application form 2024 are as follows

  • AFCAT Registration

  • Entry selection

  • Details filling

  • Uploading of scanned photograph, signature and thumb impression

  • AFCAT exam centre selection

  • Declaration signing

  • Fee payment

AFCAT Application Form Fees 2024

Category

Application Fee

General, SC/ST, OBC

Rs 550 +GST

NCC candidates

Nil

AFCAT Vacancies 2024

IAF announces the AFCAT vacancy details every year through the official notification. The detailed AFCAT vacancy will be provided separately for each session. The exam authorities provide the AFCAT vacancies post wise. From the following table, candidates can check the AFCAT 1 and 2 vacancies.

AFCAT 1 Vacancy Details 2024

Entry Type

Post Code

Male

Female

Total

AFCAT

Flying

28

10

38

AFCAT Ground Duty Technical

AE (L)

104

11

115

AE (M)

45

05

50

AFCAT Ground Duty Non-Technical

Admin

44

06

50

LGS

11

02

13

Accounts

11

02

13

Ground Duty Non-Technical

Education

08

02

10

Ground Duty Non-Technical

Weapon Systems WS Branch

15

02

17

Meteorology Entry

Meteorology

09

02

11

NCC Special Entry

Flying

10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC.

AFCAT 2 Vacancy Details 2024

Entry Type

Post Code

Male

Female

Total

AFCAT

Flying

18

11

29

AFCAT Ground Duty Technical

AE (L)

88

23

111

AE (M)

36

9

45

AFCAT Ground Duty Non-Technical

Admin

43

11

54

LGS

13

4

17

Accounts

10

2

12

Ground Duty Non-Technical

Education

7

2

9

Ground Duty Non-Technical

Weapon Systems WS Branch

14

3

17

Meteorology Entry

Meteorology

8

2

10

NCC Special Entry

Flying

10% seats out of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% seats out of AFCAT vacancies for SSC.

AFCAT Selection Process 2024

Candidates who all are applying for the AFCAT exam have to appear for three stages to qualify. The three stages of AFCAT selection criteria are

  • AFCAT written test

  • AFSB Interview/Personality Test

  • Medical Test

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. In which mode will the AFCAT registration form be released?

IAF activates the AFCAT login window for registration in online mode only.

2. How many are applying for AFCAT every year?

Nearly 1.5 to 2 lakhs candidates apply for the AFCAT exam every year.

3. How many vacancies are announced for the AFCAT exam every year?

Approximately 350 to 450 vacancies are announced every year for each session of the AFCAT exam.

4. What is the official website to apply for the AFCAT exam?

Aspirants will be able to do registration on the AFCAT official website at afcat.cdac.in.

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Questions related to AFCAT

Have a question related to AFCAT ?

hi,

If AFCAT officials have clearly said they need a certificate and not just your marksheet , they’re most likely asking for your degree certificate — the official proof that you’ve completed your graduation. The marksheet alone only shows your scores, but not that you've actually passed the entire course.

If you haven’t received your original degree certificate yet, you can try submitting a provisional certificate . Most colleges or universities provide this after the final results are out. It’s usually accepted as a temporary replacement for the actual certificate.

If even the provisional certificate isn’t available, you can ask your college to issue a bonafide letter or a course completion letter saying that you’ve successfully completed your degree and the certificate is pending. Sometimes, that’s accepted too.

But the best and safest thing to do is contact the AFCAT helpdesk and clearly explain your situation. Ask if they will accept a provisional certificate or any temporary proof for now. They usually guide you well.

Hello there,

Yes, you can become eligible for the AFCAT Flying Branch by adding Mathematics to your 12th qualification.

Here’s what you can do:

  • You must have passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, each with at least 50% marks, to be eligible for the Flying Branch.

  • Since you studied PCB, you can take Mathematics as an additional subject through NIOS or any other recognized board.

  • NIOS offers the option to appear for a single subject. Although they provide only a marksheet and not a full certificate, the marksheet is valid and recognized.

  • To ensure eligibility, complete your graduation with at least 60% marks and submit both your original 12th marksheet (with Physics) and the NIOS Mathematics marksheet while applying.

  • Before applying for AFCAT, it is recommended to confirm with the official AFCAT or Indian Air Force recruitment office whether the NIOS marksheet for a single subject is accepted.

This path is commonly used by students in similar situations.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, feel free to share your questions with us, and we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Hello,

As of today (27 May 2025), you are 22 years old . For the AFCAT Flying Branch , the age limit is 20 to 24 years as of the course start date. However, candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) issued by DGCA (India) can apply up to 26 years .

AFCAT exams are conducted twice a year – AFCAT 1 (Feb) and AFCAT 2 (Aug).

For the Flying Branch , the age is calculated as on 1 July for AFCAT 2 and 1 January for AFCAT 1.

Your Date of Birth: 25 Oct 2002

  • For AFCAT 2 2025 (course starts July 2026) → You will be 23 years 8 months Eligible

  • For AFCAT 1 2026 (course starts Jan 2027) → You will be 24 years 2 months Still eligible

  • For AFCAT 2 2026 (course starts July 2027) → You will be 24 years 8 months Not eligible (crosses 24 years)

You are eligible for AFCAT 2 2025 and AFCAT 1 2026 for Flying Branch.

So, you have 2 attempts left including AFCAT 2 2025 .

Hope it helps !

Hello,

Yes, you are eligible for the AFCAT Flying Branch if you meet these conditions:

  • You must have passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics, securing at least 50% marks in each subject.

  • You must have completed graduation (minimum 3 years) from a recognised university with at least 60% marks.

Since you had PCB in 12th, you can take Mathematics as an additional subject through NIOS. NIOS is a recognised board, and its certificates are accepted. Just make sure you score at least 50% marks in Mathematics.

You don’t need to take a drop. You can study for the NIOS Mathematics exam along with your graduation. But you must complete and pass the Maths exam before applying for AFCAT.

Hope it helps !

So, you've cleared all the AFCAT stages? That's fantastic news and a huge step towards becoming a commissioned officer in the Indian Air Force! Now, what's next on this exciting journey? Let's break it down:

1. AFSB (Air Force Selection Board Testing): If you aced the AFCAT written exam, expect a call letter inviting you to the AFSB interview. You could be heading to Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, or Varanasi – exciting, right? This isn't just a quick chat; the AFSB evaluation is a pretty intense five-to-six-day process designed to really see if you've got what it takes for a career in the IAF. It's split into two stages:

Stage I: This is the initial screening. You'll face the Officer Intelligence Rating Test and the Picture Perception and Discussion Test (PPDT). How you perform here decides if you move on to Stage II, so bring your A-game!

Stage II: Made it through Stage I? Awesome! Now, over the next few days, get ready for:

Psychological Tests: These are written tests designed to evaluate the psychological attributes that are essential to military service.

Group Testing: Think indoor and outdoor activities designed to see how well you lead, work in a team, and handle the physical demands.

Personal Interview: A one-on-one with an interviewing officer. They'll be looking at your motivation, how aware you are, and if you're truly suited for a career in the IAF. Be prepared to talk about yourself and why you want this!

Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS): Aiming for the Flying Branch? This test is all about figuring out your pilot training aptitude.

2. Medical Examination: If the AFSB gives you the thumbs up, it's time for a thorough medical exam. This happens either at the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME) in New Delhi or the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Bengaluru. They need to make sure you meet the IAF's strict medical and fitness standards – no cutting corners here!

3. Merit List and Commissioning: Finally, an All India Merit List is compiled. This is based on your performance in the AFCAT written exam, the AFSB assessments, and those medical results. Where you land on this list, combined with how many vacancies there are in different branches, determines if you'll get joining instructions.

If you're selected, you'll report to a training academy, like the Air Force Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad, and begin your training. Successfully complete that, and you'll be commissioned as an officer in the IAF – ready to start that distinguished career serving our nation! J

ust remember, Charanidhi, the AFCAT selection process is super competitive. Meeting the basic requirements doesn't guarantee you a spot. So, prep hard for each stage, and keep an eye on the official IAF recruitment channels for any updates. Best of luck!

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