AFCAT 02/2021 notification out for recruitment of Officers in flying and ground duty (Technical and Non-Technical)

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Air Force Common Admission Online Test (AFCAT) / NCC Special Entry/ Meteorology Entry

AFCAT is one of the prominent exams for joining the Indian Air Force as an officer. You can join various branches such as:

  • Flying branch
  • Administrative branch
  • Logistics branch
  • Technical branch, and more. 

The exam has two components, which we shall discuss in the later part of the article. 

AFCAT 01/2020 Notification – Indian Air Force has released AFCAT [MM/YYYY] Notification for Recruitment in Flying Branch and Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branches. NCC Special Entry/ Meteorology Entry for courses commencing in January 2021.

Candidates who want to apply can read the details and see the official notification below. Candidates can apply online from 01 Dec 19.

Preparing for AFCAT Entrance Exam:The AFCAT Entrance Exam comprises four sections, including general awareness, English skills, numerical skills, logical reasoning and military aptitude.While the first and last components require comprehensive study, you can develop on your English, numerical skills and logical reasoning, by preparation strategies for common aptitude test (CAT). It is important to practice more, which you can easily do with our tests that have been designed in order to keep you prepared. And keep calm – with strong preparation and passion, you can easily clear this paper.As the saying goes – “The more you sweat in Peace, the less you bleed in war.”

AFCAT Vacancy Details

  • Advertisement No: AFCAT- 02/2021
    • AFCAT (Flying) 
    • AFCAT Entry (Ground Duty (Technical and Non-technical)) 
    • NCC Special Entry (Flying) 
  • Branch wise vacancies for AFCAT 2021:

 AFCAT 2021 Exam Dates

  • Start Date to Apply Online: 01 Jun 2021
  • Last Date to Apply Online: 30 Jun 2021
  • Courses Commencing in July 2022

Download the official notification for AFCAT 02/2021 here: Click here

Eligibility for AFCAT 2021

  • Nationality: Candidate must be a citizen of India .
  • Age
    • Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry: 20 to 24 years. Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable upto 26 years .  
    • Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch: 20 to 26.
    • Note: Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried at the time of commencement of course. Widows/Widowers and divorcees (with or without encumbrances) below 25 years of age are also not eligible.

AFCAT Application Process

  • Online applications will be accepted through the official recruitment websites of Indian Air force ‘https://careerindianairforce.cdac.in or https://afcat.cdac.in 
  • If you meet the eligibility criteria, please click on “CANDIDATE LOGIN” in the career website of IAF https://careerindiaairforce.cdac.in or careerairforce.nic.in and follow the instructions and https://afact.cdac.in 
  • Candidates are advised to read the notification for AFCAT 02/2021 and the detailed guidelines for filling up online application as given in the website careerairforce.nic.in prior to commencement of filling up online applications 
  • While filling online application, it is advisable to keep the relevant documents readily available, as details are to be filled as per matriculation and other educational certificates. Please save your recent colour passport size photograph (size 10 to 50 KB) in the computer for uploading it with your online application form 
  • Please note that utmost care needs to be taken while filling up the online application 
  • Details of AFCAT centres are appended and would be allocated as per availability of seats at AFCAT centre. The centres are allocated on first cum first basis and the candidate might get another centre beyond his/her choice on delayed submission of application. No change of centre will be entertained 
  • Please note that information filled up by the candidates in the online application form will be considered final and no amendments will be allowed subsequently 

Examination Fee for AFCAT Exam

  • Candidates registering for AFCAT entry will have to pay the examination fee of Rs.250/- (not applicable for NCC special entry and Meteorology) to be paid online through the ‘Make Payment’ step on the main menu of the online application 
  • No cash or cheque or demand draft (DD) will be accepted towards payment of examination fee. The examination fee can be paid using credit/ debit cards/ net banking through the payment gateway

Pay Scale after AFCAT

  • Level 10 Rs.56100 – 110700 
  • Military Service Pay Rs.15500 per month. 
  • Flying Allowance – Rs. 25000 per month.

During the training, a cadet shall be entitled for the allowance at the same rate as an entry level pay-matrix 10 officer. However, owing to certain deductions towards the PF, gratuity, insurance, etc., the cadet shall get approximately 50000/- in hand. This amount shall partially vary from one branch to the other. 

Also, the cadets shall be getting the benefits of DA, etc from the date of joining the academy upon getting commissioned. However, flying allowance is not paid to the cadets.

Type of Commission

Permanent Commission (PC) for Men:

  • Candidates joining as PC officers would continue to serve till the age of superannuation/retirement as per their branch and rank. 

 Permanent Commission (PC) for Women:

  • So far there has not been much clarity on this topic. 
  • However, a recent court judgement has paved the way for granting permanent commission to women officers as well. 
  • The force is expected to make changes regarding this very soon.  

SSC for Men & Women: 

  • The Engagement period for SSC Flying Branch is 14 years from the date of Commissioning. 
  • This is non-extendable, which means that the same can not be converted into permanent commission at a later stage. 
  • Initial tenure for SSC officers in Ground Duty (Tech) and Ground Duty (Non-Tech) Branches would be for a period of ten years. An extension of four years may be granted subject to willingness, suitability, service requirements and availability of vacancies.

Educational Qualifications for AFCAT exam
Flying Branch:

  • Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 60% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level and (a) Graduation with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or; 
  • BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or; 
  • Candidates who have cleared Section A & B Exam of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent 

Ground Duty (Technical) Branch

Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) {AE (L)}

  • Candidates with a minimum of 60% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from recognised University OR Cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines: (aa) Communication Engineering (ab) Computer Engineering/Technology (ac) Computer Engineering & Application (ad) Computer Science and Engineering/Technology (ae) Electrical and Computer Engineering (af) Electrical and Electronics Engineering (ag) Electrical Engineering (ah) Electronics Engineering/Technology (aj) Electronics Science and Engineering (ak) Electronics (al) Electronics and Communication Engineering (am) Electronics and Computer Science (an) Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (ao) Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave) (ap) Electronics and Computer Engineering (aq) Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering (ar) Electronics Instrument & Control (as) Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering (at) Instrumentation & Control Engineering (au) Instrument & Control Engineering (av) Information Technology 

Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)}

  • Candidates with a minimum of 60% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/Technology from a recognised University OR cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines: (aa) Aerospace Engineering (ab) Aeronautical Engineering (ac) Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (ad) Mechanical Engineering (ae) Mechanical Engineering and Automation (af) Mechanical Engineering (Production) (ag) Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance) (ah) Mechatronics (aj) Industrial Engineering 

Administration

  • Graduate Degree (Minimum three years degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent 

Logistics

  • Graduate Degree (Minimum three years degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B exam of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent 

Accounts

  • Com degree (Minimum three years degree course) from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent 

Education

  • MBA/MCA or MA/M.Sc. degree in English/Physics/Mathematics/Chemistry / Statistics /International relations/International Studies /Defence Studies/ Psychology / Computer Science/IT/Mgt. / Mass Communication /Journalism / Public Relation with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate of all papers put together in Post-Graduation (Minimum two years programme) and 60% marks in graduation (both recognised by UGC/Competent Accreditation Authority) 

NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch)

  • NCC Air Wing Senior Division ‘C’ certificate acquired on or after 01 Jan 17 is mandatory. Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 60% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2. Graduates with minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent OR 
  • Candidates who have cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. 

AFCAT 2020 Selection Procedure

  • All applicants whose applications are submitted by the due date will be called for AFCAT and Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) 
  • The AFCAT will be of two hours duration and will contain multiple-choice questions on verbal ability, numerical ability, reasoning, general awareness and military aptitude 
  • Sample question papers and syllabus of AFCAT/EKT is available on IAF career website careerairforce.nic.in 
  • EKT would be for 45 minutes and conducted immediately after AFCAT. It is mandatory for the candidates opting for ground duty (technical) branch to pass both AFCAT & EKT 
  • Candidates who are short-listed on the basis of AFCAT/EKT will be called for further testing at one of the Air Force Selection Boards (AFSBs) at Dehradun, Mysore, Gandhinagar, Varanasi or Kanchrapara. Candidates who opt for flying branch can opt for Dehradun, Mysore and Varanasi only. The testing would consist of three stages as given below: 

Stage-I

  • Officer Intelligence Rating Test along with Picture Perception and discussion test will be conducted on the first day. Stage-I test is a screening test and only those who qualify would undergo subsequent testing. All Stage-I qualified candidates would be subjected to document check to ascertain their eligibility for the branches applied for. Candidates who either do not qualify in 
  • Stage-I or do not meet the required eligibility criteria would be sent back on the first day itself 

Stage-II

  • Psychological test, Group Tests and Interview would commence after document check for the next five days.

For Flying Branch

  • Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) would be administered to recommended candidates only. This is a once in a lifetime test. Candidates who have failed the CPSS/PABT in an earlier attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at the Air Force Academy will not be eligible to apply 

After these tests, the recommendations will be made at the AFSB. Those who are recommended will proceed to IAM, Bengaluru, or AFCME, New Delhi for their medical examinations. Medical standards are laid down in the notification. 

There shall also be a Physical Fitness Test, which will be conducted within the first week of joining the academy. Results of the test will be used for grading the performance and thereby classifying all the cadets into various types for deciding the rigor of their training. 

Physical Fitness Test

  • Candidates will be required to complete 1.6km run in stipulated time frame of 9 Min, 100 Meter run in 16 sec, furthermore 20 Pushup and Sit-ups in 1 minute, should be able to do 3 chin-ups and should be able to swim 25 meters.

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