AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins: Essential & Exciting Guide to Eligibility, Exam & Application

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

By Krishna Arya | NetworkBharat.com

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins : The Indian Air Force has officially started accepting applications for AFCAT 1 2026, offering opportunities for Indian youth to join the elite ranks of the Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical, and Ground Duty Non-Technical units.
This year’s AFCAT cycle brings updated eligibility clarifications, smoother registration steps, and improved selection guidelines.

This complete and easy-to-read guide covers everything you need to know before applying, ensuring you don’t miss any critical details.

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

🔥 What Is AFCAT? – A Gateway to Becoming an IAF Officer

AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is conducted twice every year to recruit officers for:

• ✈ Flying Branch (SSC)
• 🛠 Ground Duty Technical Branch (AE – Aeronautical Engineering)
• 🗂 Ground Duty Non-Technical Branch (Admin, Logistics, Education, Accounts, Meteorology)

AFCAT officers enjoy:

• High respect & honour
• Opportunity to serve the nation
• Adventure-filled life
• Great salary, perks & growth

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

📅 AFCAT 1 2026 Important Dates

📌 AFCAT 1 2026 Vacancy Details

IAF will release detailed vacancies, but typical ranges are:

• Flying Branch: 25–40 seats
• Ground Duty Technical: 100–150 seats
• Ground Duty Non-Technical: 50–80 seats

Vacancies may vary depending on:
✔ Training capacity
✔ Branch requirements
✔ Gender-specific seats

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

👩‍✈️ Branch-Wise Roles Explained

1. Flying Branch (SSC)

• Fighter aircraft flying
• Transport aircraft operations
• Helicopter missions
• Combat and rescue operations

2. Ground Duty (Technical) – AE (L) & AE (M)

• Aircraft engineering
• Maintenance of aircraft & systems
• Electronics, radar & weapon system management

3. Ground Duty (Non-Technical)

Administration: HR, discipline, legal and policy
Logistics: Supply chain, transport and warehousing
Accounts: Finance & budget management
Education: Training and academic instruction
Meteorology: Weather forecasting for operations

🎓 Eligibility Criteria (Complete Details)

Flying Branch

• 10+2 with Physics & Maths
• Graduation (minimum 60%)
• Age: 20–24 years

Ground Duty Technical

• B.Tech/BE with 60%
• Age: 20–26 years

Ground Duty Non-Technical

• Graduation/PG with 60%
• Age: 20–26 years

Height & Vision Requirements

• Flying Branch: 162.5 cm minimum height
• Technical/Non-Technical: 157.5 cm minimum
• Vision standards vary by branch (correctable eyesight allowed in most cases)

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

💰 Salary, Perks & Allowances

AFCAT-selected officers enjoy one of India’s finest pay structures.

During Training

• Stipend: ₹56,100 per month

After Commissioning

• ₹56,100 – ₹1,77,500 (Level 10)
• Flying Branch allowance: ₹11,250 – ₹17,500
• Technical Branch allowance: ₹3,000 – ₹4,500

Other Benefits

• Free medical facilities
• Furnished accommodation
• Subsidised canteen
• Uniform allowance
• Leave travel concession
• Adventure sports
• Excellent post-retirement benefits

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

📝 AFCAT 1 2026 Application Process (Step-by-Step Guide)

1️⃣ Register on the AFCAT Candidate Portal
2️⃣ Fill personal, academic & communication details
3️⃣ Select branch and preference order
4️⃣ Upload documents (photo, signature, thumb)
5️⃣ Pay fee: ₹550 + GST
6️⃣ Download confirmation page

Avoid these mistakes:
❌ Spelling errors
❌ Wrong exam centre
❌ Incorrect photo specifications
❌ Last-day submission

🗺 Exam Centres (Major Cities)

Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Jaipur, Pune, Guwahati, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Patna, Kochi, Bhopal, Ahmedabad — and 80+ more across India.

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

🧠 AFCAT 1 2026 Exam Pattern

EKT (Technical Only)

• 50 questions
• 150 marks
• 45 minutes

📚 Detailed Syllabus (Updated for 2026)

General Awareness

• Current Affairs 2024–2026
• Geography, History
• Defence updates
• Science & Tech
• Awards, sports, politics

Verbal Ability

• Error spotting
• Synonyms/antonyms
• Cloze test
• Reading comprehension

Numerical Ability

• Profit-loss
• Time & Work
• Averages
• Ratios
• Speed & distance

Reasoning

• Pattern recognition
• Spatial reasoning
• Coding-decoding
• Figure classification

📊 AFCAT Previous Year Cut-Off Trends

Expected cut-off for AFCAT 1 2026: 135–145

🎯 AFSB Interview Process (Complete Breakdown)

Stage 1

• OIR (Officer Intelligence Rating)
• PPDT (Picture Perception & Discussion Test)

Stage 2

• Psychology tests
• Group discussion
• GTO tasks
• Personal interview

Stage 3

• Medical examination at AFCME/IAM

Final Merit List

Based on:

• AFCAT score
• AFSB performance
• Medical fitness
• Available vacancies

🌟 Why AFCAT 1 2026 Is a Big Opportunity

• Gateway to becoming a Class-I Gazetted Officer
• Salary + perks among the best in India
• Adventure and purpose-driven lifestyle
• High respect and national pride
• Opportunities in flying, engineering, administration & more

AFCAT 1 2026 Registration Begins

📝 Final Thoughts

AFCAT 1 2026 is a golden chance for anyone dreaming of joining the Indian Air Force. With registrations now open and plenty of time to prepare, this is your moment to take the first step toward a uniformed career filled with pride, honour and limitless opportunities.

Stay updated with NetworkBharat.com for:
✔ AFCAT Admit Card 2026
✔ Exam Day Analysis
✔ Cut-off Predictions
✔ Result Updates

#AFCAT2026 #IAFRecruitment #IndianAirForce #FlyingBranch #GroundDutyTechnical #GroundDutyNonTechnical #AFCATApplication #ExamNotification #CareerInIAF #DefenceJobsIndia

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