The Indian Air Force (IAF) has officially released the AFCAT 2 Notification 2026 for recruitment into Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches. Eligible candidates can now apply online for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) through the official recruitment portal.
According to the notification, the AFCAT 2 2026 online application process started on 20 May 2026 and will continue till 19 June 2026. The recruitment drive is being conducted for courses commencing in July 2027.
The notification includes vacancies under AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry, and GATE Score Entry. Both male and female candidates are eligible to apply for multiple branches depending on educational qualifications and age criteria.
Table of Contents
AFCAT 2 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Notification Release | May 2026 |
| Online Application Start Date | 20 May 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | 19 June 2026 |
| AFCAT 2 2026 Exam Date | 08 August 2026 |
| Course Commencement | July 2027 |
AFCAT 2 2026 Vacancy Details
The Indian Air Force has announced vacancies for the Flying Branch, Ground Duty Technical, and Ground Duty Non-Technical branches.
Flying Branch
- Men SSC: 30
- Women SSC: 5
Ground Duty Technical Branch
Aeronautical Engineer Electronics [AE(L)]
- Men PC: 2
- Women PC: 2
- Men SSC: 107
- Women SSC: 25
Aeronautical Engineer Mechanical [AE(M)]
- Men PC: 8
- Women PC: 2
- Men SSC: 52
- Women SSC: 13
Ground Duty Non-Technical Branch
- Weapon Systems: 21 (Men), 5 (Women)
- Administration: 50 (Men), 12 (Women)
- Logistics: 4 (Men), 2 (Women)
- Accounts: 5 (Men), 2 (Women)
- Education: 1 (Men), 2 (Women)
- Meteorology: 1 (Men), 2 (Women)
The notification mentions that the vacancies are tentative and may change depending on organisational requirements and training availability.
AFCAT 2 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Age Limit
Candidates applying for the Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry should be between 20 to 24 years as on 01 July 2027. Applicants must be born between 02 July 2003 and 01 July 2007. Candidates holding a valid Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA can avail of age relaxation up to 26 years.
For Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical branches, candidates should be between 20 to 26 years as on 01 July 2027.
Educational Qualification
For Flying Branch, candidates must have passed Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level along with graduation or BE/BTech degree from a recognised university.
Technical branch candidates must possess engineering qualifications in disciplines such as Computer Science, Electronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering and related streams.
Candidates applying for Ground Duty Non-Technical branches should possess graduation or post-graduation qualifications according to the specific branch requirements mentioned in the notification.
AFCAT 2 2026 Application Fee
Candidates applying through the AFCAT Entry are required to pay an examination fee of Rs 550 plus GST through online mode. The fee is non-refundable. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates are exempted from paying the examination fee.
How to Apply for AFCAT 2 2026
Candidates can submit their applications online through the AFCAT recruitment portal. Aadhaar card is mandatory for registration.
- Visit the official AFCAT application portal.
- Complete the registration process using mobile number and email ID.
- Verify OTP sent to registered mobile number and email address.
- Generate login credentials and sign in to the application dashboard.
- Fill personal details, communication details, and educational qualifications carefully.
- Select preferred branches and examination city choices.
- Upload required documents including:
- Passport-size photograph
- Signature
- Thumb impression
- Pay the application fee through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.
- Preview the application form before final submission.
- Submit the form and download the confirmation page for future reference.
The notification clearly states that candidates will not be allowed to edit the application after final submission.
AFCAT 2 2026 Selection Process
The AFCAT 2 2026 selection process will include:
- Online AFCAT Examination
- Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Interview
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List
Candidates applying through NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry are exempted from the AFCAT written examination and will be directly shortlisted for AFSB testing.
