AFCAT Eligibility 2021- Education, Physical Standard & Age Limit For Air Force

AFCAT Eligibility 2021– AFCAT eligibility criteria is decided by the Indian Air Force. Aspirants of AFCAT are required to meet the prescribed Air Force eligibility criteria to apply for the exam. For further details on the AFCAT exam check the link provided.

The eligibility criteria of Air Force comprise four main aspects that are mandatory for applicants to fulfil. The four components of AFCAT eligibility are:

1. Air Force Age Limit, Marital Status & Gender
2. AFCAT Citizenship/Nationality
3. AFCAT Educational Qualification
4. AFCAT Physical/ Medical Qualification

This article aims to provide the AFCAT eligibility criteria in detail. Candidates who aspire to appear for the AFCAT should know the Air Force age limit, education and medical qualification required. 

IAF prescribes the AFCAT eligibility criteria in detail in the official notification. Candidates can check the AFCAT Notification to dive deep for relevant details. 

Aspirants of other Government exams can check the linked page for the latest information regarding upcoming exams. 

AFCAT Eligibility

The Indian Air Force, through official notice, invites candidates to apply for the AFCAT exam and gives a detailed description of Air Force eligibility conditions that candidates need to meet.

Aspirants must go through AFCAT eligibility conditions because:

1. Mere issue of Admission Certificate to the candidate will not imply that the candidature has been finally cleared by the IAF.
2. The Air Force conducts verification of eligibility criteria with reference to original documents.
3. Verification is done, once the candidate qualifies for the written exam and AFSB Test.
4. The conducting body has the right to reject the candidature of the applicant at any stage of recruitment in case he/she is found not fulfilling the required criteria and,
5. If the candidate is appointed, in such a case he/she is liable to be removed from service.

AIR Force Eligibility Criteria

Through AFCAT exam candidates are recruited in the Indian Air Force for the following branches- 

1. Flying Branch
2. Ground Duty Technical Branch
3. Ground Duty Non-Technical Branch

Air Force Eligibility – Flying Branch

Candidates who have completed their Graduation or Engineering have three modes to get entry in the Air Force Academy in the Flying Branch-

1. Through CDS exam, notification for which is released by UPSC in the months of November and August. Candidates can go through the CDS eligibility in detail here.
2. Through NCC Special Entry, recruitment notification for which is released by the Indian Air Force in the months of June and December, and 
3. Through AFCAT Entry. Notification for this is released by IAF along with the NCC special Entry in June and December.

The AFCAT eligibility for Flying Branch through NCC Special Entry & AFCAT Entry are discussed below – 

AFCAT Eligibility- Flying Officer

NCC Special Entry – As an Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ Certificate holder of the National Cadet Corps, candidates can apply to the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force.

1. Unmarried men and women can apply. Permanent Commission is offered for men and Short Service Commission for men and women.

AFCAT Eligibility- Flying Officer 

AFCAT Entry – Candidates can apply through AFCAT only for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch. The eligibility for Flying Branch through AFCAT entry goes as under –

1. Unmarried men and women can apply for SSC in the Airforce. The Short Service Commission in the Flying branch is for 14 years with no further extension.

AFCAT – Nationality for Flying Branch through NCC Special Entry/ AFCAT Entry 

Any candidate who is willing to apply for the Air Force exam through AFCAT notification must be a citizen of Indian National.

AFCAT Age Limit – The Air force age limit for candidates applying through NCC Special entry and AFCAT entry are the same. Detailed AFCAT age limit is highlighted in the table below-

AFCAT – Educational Qualifications for Flying Branch is the same whether applying through NCC Special Entry or AFCAT entry. Check the details below-

Note –  

1. Final Year/semester students are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any present backlogs at the time of AFSB Testing also they have to produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
2. NCC Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ certificate and validity of the certificate would be two years before the date of advertisement.

AFCAT Eligibility Ground Duty Technical Branch

The eligibility criteria prescribed by the Indian Air Force for Ground duty technical branch is as follows – 

1. Nationality – candidates must be an Indian citizen.
2. The Air Force age limit for Ground duty should be between 20 to 26 years at the time of commencement of course.
3. Both men and women below 25 years of age should be unmarried. IAF provides Permanent Commission (for men) / Short Service Commission for men and women.
4. Education Qualification is as follows

Aspirants of AFCAT exam can check the related links given below-

• AFCAT Result

• AFCAT Salary

Air Force Eligibility – AFCAT Ground Duty (Non-Technical) 

The AFCAT eligibility for candidates willing to join Air Force as Ground Duty Non-Technical Officer is as mentioned below-

• AFCAT Age limit – 20 to 26 Years is the Air force age limit for officers joining the Non-Technical (at the time of commencement of course).
• Nationality – Indian.
• Gender – Both men and women can apply. Permanent Commission (for Men)/Short Service Commission (for Men & Women). 
• Marital Status – Candidates below the age of 25 years must be Unmarried.
• Education – As a Graduate/Post Graduate candidates can join as an officer in any of the following Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches with the mentioned minimum education qualification-

AFCAT Medical & Physical Standard

Candidates are required to be physically and mentally fit in order to apply for the AFCAT examination. Hence, IAF in the official notice mentions that candidates should get themselves examined medically before filling the AFCAT online application form, so as to avoid rejections at a later stage. Additionally, candidates must be free from any disease or disability.

The basic requirements of medical fitness are the same for all branches except for aircrew in which the parameters for visual acuity, anthropometry and certain other physical standards are more stringent. 

Important points regarding physical standards- 

1. Candidates will be screened for their height and weight at AFSB
2. The minimum acceptable height for men and women candidates in Flying Branch is 162.5cms, Leg Length: Min – 99 cms, Max -120 cms. Thigh Length: Max – 64 cms, Sitting Height: Min – 81.5 cms, Max – 96 cms (No concession for age/ sex/ region).
3. The minimum acceptable height for male candidates in Ground Duty Technical/ Non-technical) branch is 157.5 cms. For women candidates, the minimum acceptable height is 152 cms. (For Gorkhas and individuals belonging to hills of North-Eastern region of India, Garhwal and Kumaon, the minimum acceptable height will be 5 cm less. In case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height will be 2 cms less than what is applicable to men and women respectively).

Candidates can go through the detailed AFCAT eligibility requirements under the Physical and medical standard in the official notification provided below-

AFCAT Notification 2020 PDF- Download PDF Here

Aspirants appearing for AFCAT exams must go through the Competitive Exam Preparation Strategies to plan out a good study schedule and leave no stone unturned for exam preparation.

Aspirants preparing for other exams can go through the given links for assistance-