AFCAT 2026 — Complete Guide: Syllabus, Eligibility, Salary & Cut-off
Last Updated: 23 August 2026 · By SarkariPaper Editorial
AFCAT 2026 Overview
AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is conducted twice a year by Indian Air Force for Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) officer posts.
AFCAT 2026 has approximately 304 vacancies. Selection includes online AFCAT exam, AFSB (Air Force Selection Board) interview, and medical examination. Flying branch requires additional CPSS (Computerised Pilot Selection System).
IAF officers start at Pay Level 10 with in-hand salary of ₹65,000–₹85,000/month plus flying allowance (for pilots), accommodation, and medical benefits.
AFCAT 2026 Important Dates
| Notification Release | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Opens | 1 June 2026 |
| Application Last Date | 10 September 2026 |
| Tier 1 Exam Date | 25 September 2026 |
| Official Website | https://afcat.cdac.in |
AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2026
Educational Qualification
Bachelor's Degree (60% for Flying). Engineering for Technical branch
Age Limit
20–24 years (as on 1st January 2026)
As per IAF notification
Nationality
Indian Citizen
AFCAT Selection Process
AFCAT — Online CBT (100 questions, 2 hours)
AFSB Interview — 5-day SSB-style test
CPSS (Flying Branch only)
Medical Examination
AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026
Written / Online Test
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| English | 25 | 100 |
| General Knowledge | 50 | 100 |
| Mathematics (if applicable) | 25 | 100 |
| Total | 100 | 300 |
AFCAT Syllabus 2026
Full Syllabus →General Intelligence / Reasoning
General Awareness
Quantitative Aptitude
English Language
Download the complete AFCAT topic-wise syllabus PDF →Premium (₹199/yr)
AFCAT Posts — Which is Best?
AFCAT offers 1+ posts across different departments. Here's a comparison to help you decide your target post before filling the form.
| Post | Salary | Promotion |
|---|---|---|
Admission Test As per notification TOP PICK | ₹25,000 – ₹60,000 | medium |
AFCAT Salary Structure
Salary varies based on post, city tier (X/Y/Z) for HRA, and DA rate. Figures above are indicative for 2026 DA rates.
AFCAT Cut-off Marks
All Cut-offs →AFCAT 2025 Tier 1 Cut-off
Cut-offs vary by post. Detailed post-wise cut-offs (2015–2026) available withSarkariPaper Premium →
AFCAT Preparation Strategy
Phase 1: Foundation (Month 1–2)
- ›Study the official syllabus and notification carefully
- ›Solve previous year question papers topic-wise
- ›Read daily current affairs for GK section
- ›Build strong basics in Maths, Reasoning & English
Phase 2: Mock Tests (Month 3)
- ›Attempt full-length mocks under exam time limit
- ›Analyse weak areas from mock test results
- ›Revise formula sheets and short notes weekly
- ›Focus on speed, accuracy and time management