The AFCT 1 2026 WAT Is Scheduled From January 31, 2026. Get Exam Pattern Updates

The Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is conducted twice a year by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to recruit Class-I Gazetted Officers for its Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. The following is the official website for more details.

• AFCAT C-DAC Portal 

• IAF Career Portal 

• Alternative Application Portal 

Important Exam Dates 2026 

The Indian Air Force conducts the AFCAT examination twice a year, giving candidates multiple opportunities to apply and appear for the test.

• Exam Cycles: AFCAT 1 (February) and AFCAT 2 (August)

• AFCAT 1 2026 Written Exam: January 31, 2026

• Admit Card Release: From January 22, 2026, onwards

• City Information: Exam city details available through candidate login on the AFCAT portal

Eligibility Criteria  

Candidates must meet the specified nationality, age, marital status, and educational requirements to apply for the Indian Air Force recruitment. To apply, the candidate must be an Indian citizen and should be below 25 years old.

Age Limit (as of January 1, 2027):

• Flying Branch: 20–24 years (extendable up to 26 years for DGCA Commercial Pilot License holders)

• Ground Duty (Technical / Non-Technical): 20–26 years

Marital Status: Candidates below 25 years must be unmarried

Educational Qualification:

• Flying Branch: Minimum 50% in Physics and Maths at 10+2 and a graduation degree with at least 60% marks

• Ground Duty (Technical): Engineering degree in relevant disciplines with at least 60% marks

• Ground Duty (Non-Technical): Graduation in any discipline with at least 60% marks

Exam Pattern & Marking 

The examination is conducted as an online computer-based test to assess candidates’ aptitude, knowledge, and reasoning skills within a fixed time frame. The exam duration is 2 hours for 100 MCQs, and the total marks are 300.

• Marking Scheme:

• +3 marks for each correct answer

• −1 mark for each incorrect answer

• 0 marks for unattempted questions

• Sections:

• Verbal Ability in English

• Numerical Ability

• Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test

• General Awareness

AFCAT 2 2026 Tentative Schedule may be released in May 2026. Keep visiting the official website for the round 2 written test.