AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is conducted twice a year by the Indian Air Force for selection of officers into the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical) Branches as Short Service Commissioned (SSC) officers. While AFCAT is primarily a graduate-level entry, the Air Force NCC Special Entry route (for NCC Air Wing 'C' Certificate holders) is available immediately after a bachelor's degree - making AFCAT relevant for students pursuing engineering/science degrees aiming at IAF careers. Around 2.5-3 lakh candidates apply per AFCAT cycle for approximately 200-300 vacancies.
Exam Pattern
Mode:Online CBT
Duration:120 minutes (AFCAT) + 45 minutes (EKT, if applicable for technical branch)
Total Marks:300 (AFCAT) + 150 (EKT for technical branch only)
Marking Scheme:+3 for correct, -1 for wrong (no negative marking for unattempted)
Sections
General Awareness
25 Questions•75 Marks
Verbal Ability in English
25 Questions•75 Marks
Numerical Ability
25 Questions•75 Marks
Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test
25 Questions•75 Marks
Syllabus
General Awareness
Current affairs (national, international)
History, geography, polity, economy basics
Defence-related GK, sports, awards
Verbal Ability in English
Comprehension, grammar, vocabulary
Synonyms, antonyms, idioms
Sentence completion, error spotting
Numerical Ability
Class 10 level arithmetic - percentages, ratios, profit-loss, time-work-distance
Simple/compound interest, averages, basic algebra
Reasoning & Military Aptitude
Verbal reasoning - analogies, series, coding
Non-verbal reasoning - pattern completion, figure series
For Flying Branch, prepare for PABT - depth perception, hand-eye-leg coordination tests
❓ FAQs
Can a Class 12 student apply for AFCAT?
No. AFCAT requires graduation (for Flying/Ground Duty Non-Tech) or BE/B.Tech (for Ground Duty Technical). The only Class 12 direct entry to IAF is via NDA & NA.
What is the EKT?
EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) is an additional 45-minute online test for Ground Duty Technical candidates only. It covers core engineering subjects (Mechanical, Electronics, Computer Science). Flying and Non-Technical applicants do not take EKT.
Is AFCAT for permanent commission or short service?
AFCAT primarily offers SSC (Short Service Commission) - initial 10 years, extendable up to 14 years. Permanent Commission is available for Flying Branch only and for Ground Duty branches after extension.
What is the salary of an AFCAT-entry officer?
Flying Officer starting pay is Rs. 56,100/month + Flying Allowance (Rs. 25,000/month for pilots), Military Service Pay (Rs. 15,500), and other allowances. Total ~Rs. 1.2-1.5 lakh/month including allowances during initial years.