A prestigious opportunity with the Indian Air Force

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has released the notification for the AFCAT 2025 exam, opening the door for young candidates who dream of serving their country in the skies or on the ground. Applications begin online at the official portal afcat.cdac.in from 10 November 2025. This recruitment drive covers commissioning in the Flying Officer, Technical and Ground Duty branches. If you’ve always wanted to “reach the sky”, this is your moment.

 

Who can apply: eligibility criteria

Before filling the form, make sure you meet the eligibility requirements:

Age limit: You must be between 20 and 24 years of age. For the Flying branch, the upper age should not exceed that limit.

Educational qualification:

For the Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branch: you must hold a graduate degree in any subject and have secured at least 50% marks in graduation.

For the Technical branch: you must have an engineering degree (B.E. or B.Tech) with 60% marks or equivalent.

Application fee: A non‐refundable fee of ₹550 is applicable to all categories; there are no discounts or relaxation in fee.

Meeting these criteria is essential — incomplete or ineligible applications will be rejected.

 

Selection process: what to expect

The selection for AFCAT 2025 is multi‐stage and competitive. You’ll go through:

Online written exam – Mode: computer‐based test.

SSB interview – You’ll be assessed over 5 days through psychological tests, group tasks, and personal interview.

Document verification – Your academic marks, date of birth, identity and other proofs will be checked.

Medical examination – Conducted at designated medical establishments (for example, the Institute of Aviation Medicine in Bengaluru and the Air Force Central Medical Establishment in New Delhi) to ensure you meet the physical and medical standards.

Pass each stage to move to the next. Being well prepared for the SSB and medical stage is as important as the written test.

 

Exam pattern: plan your preparation

The written examination carries a total of 300 marks and consists of 100 objective questions to be completed in two hours. The subjects include:

General Awareness

English (Comprehension & Grammar)

Numerical Ability

Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test

Marking scheme: Each correct answer gives +3 marks, whereas each wrong answer incurs –1 mark (negative marking). So accuracy matters  attempt only those questions you’re confident about.

 

Pay scale and benefits: serving with perks

Once selected and commissioned as a Flying Officer, you’ll begin your career with a basic pay of ₹56,100 per month, in the pay level corresponding to your rank. As you advance, pay and benefits increase:

Squadron Leader: approximately ₹69,400-2,07,200

Wing Commander: approximately ₹1,21,200-2,12,400

Group Captain: approximately ₹1,30,600-2,15,900

Air Marshal (senior grade): up to approx ₹2.25 lakh per month

On top of pay, you’ll also receive various allowances for flying, DA, HRA, kit maintenance, as well as housing, vehicle, medical facilities, and pension benefits  part of serving in one of India’s elite forces.

 

How to fill the AFCAT 2025 form

Here’s a step-by-step guide to the application:

Visit afcat.cdac.in (official website of AFCAT) when applications open on 10 November 2025.

On the homepage look for the “AFCAT 2025” link and click it.

Fill in personal details: name, date of birth, branch applied for, email/phone, etc.

Upload scanned copies of your recent passport-size photo, signature, and mark-sheets/degree certificate.

Pay the ₹550 online fee using provided payment gateway.

After submission, download or print the application form for your records.

Start preparation now so that when the form opens, you’re ready with documents, photo, signature and payment.

 

Preparation tips: get ready to fly

Begin your preparation with these pointers:

For the online exam: Practice general awareness, English reading comprehension, numerical problems and reasoning regularly. Do mock tests under time pressure.

For the SSB interview: Work on group discussion, leadership examples, communication skills and physical fitness. Familiarise yourself with common interview questions and tasks in SSB.

For the medical exam: Ensure you meet height, weight, eyesight and fitness norms. Keep medical records ready if you have had past issues.

Time management is critical: Create a study schedule, cover each section thoroughly and review mistakes.

Stay updated on official notifications and ensure you meet every deadline and instruction precisely.

 

Concluding note

If you’ve got the ambition to serve in the Indian Air Force and meet the age and educational requirements, then the AFCAT 2025 notification is your gateway. With applications opening from 10 November 2025, now is the time to prepare, gather your documents and set your goal. Whether your aim is to fly high as a pilot or contribute through technical or ground duty branches, this recruitment offers a remarkable opportunity to be part of India’s prestigious air force. Be disciplined, stay focused and give it your best shot. Good luck!