AFCAT 1 2026 Eligibility Criteria Age, Height, Qualification

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2026: The Indian Air Force officially released the AFCAT 1 2026 Short Notification on November 3, 2025, inviting both men and women to apply for several branches, including flying, ground duty (technical), and ground duty (non-technical). The AFCAT 2026 registration link will be available on the official website, afcat.cdac.in, beginning November 10, 2025 and ending December 9, 2025. The classes will begin in January 2027. 

AFCAT eligibility includes specific norms for both male and female candidates, such as AFCAT qualification 2026, AFCAT physical eligibility 2026, and marital status requirements. Candidates must fulfill the AFCAT eligibility criteria before submitting the online application form to avoid disqualification.

In brief, candidates who have passed the 12th standard in Maths and Physics subjects and are at least 20 years old are eligible to apply for the AFCAT 2026 Exam. Here discuss the AFCAT 2026 age limit and qualification for engineering graduates, non-technical aspirants, and other roles under the Indian Air Force recruitment 2026 campaign.

AFCAT Eligibility 2026

• AFCAT Age Limit for Male & Female
• AFCAT Educational Qualification
• Nationality & Marital Status
• Physical Standard

AFCAT Eligibility for Females 2026

AFCAT eligibility for females includes age, educational qualification, and physical standards specific to each branch. For the flying branch, the age limit is 20 to 24 years, and for ground duty branches, it is 20 to 26 years. Female candidates are required to fulfill physical fitness eligibility, i.e., minimum height of 162.5 cm for Flying Branch and 152 cm for Ground Duty. Additionally, other eligibility includes Indian citizenship, being unmarried at training commencement, and holding a valid degree with required marks in Physics and Maths at Class 10 and 12.

AFCAT Eligibility for Male 2026

AFCAT eligibility for male candidates differs in terms of height requirements but remains the same in age and qualification. Candidates applying for Flying Branch must be 20 to 24 years old, and those applying for Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) must be between 20 and 26 years old. The minimum height for Ground Duty is 157.5 cm and 162.5 cm for Flying branch. Further, candidates must pass graduation with 60% and Maths and Physics in Class 10 and Class 12 are mandatory.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2026 Overview

AFCAT Age Limit 2026

AFCAT Age Limit for Flying Branch

AFCAT Age Limit for Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch

AFCAT Eligibility 2026

AFCAT Eligibility for Flying Branch

• Passed with at least 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at the 10+2 level and
• Graduation in any discipline from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR
• BE/B Tech degree (Four-year course) from a recognised University with at least 60% marks or equivalent OR
• Passed Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with at least 60% marks or equivalent.

AFCAT Eligibility for Ground Duty (Technical) Branch

1. For Ground Duty (Technical), candidates must hold an Engineering or Technology degree from a recognized university.
2. For Ground Duty (Non-Technical), candidates must hold a graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks.

• Applied Electronics & Instrumentation.
• Communication Engineering.
• Computer Engineering/Technology.
• Computer Engineering & Application.
• Computer Science and Engineering/Technology.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
• Electrical Engineering.
• Electronics Engineering/ Technology.
• Electronics Science and Engineering.
• Electronics.
• Electronics and Communication Engineering
• Electronics and Computer Science.
• Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering.
• Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave).
• Electronics and Computer Engineering.
• Electronics, Communication, and Instrumentation Engineering.
• Electronics Instrument & Control.
• Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering.
• Instrumentation & Control Engineering.
• Instrument & Control Engineering.
• Information Technology.
• Spacecraft Technology.
• Engineering Physics.
• Electric Power and Machinery Engineering.
• Infotech Engineering.
• Cyber Security.

1. Candidates must have scored at least 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level and a graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/Technology from a recognised University. OR
2. Passed Sections A & B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or the Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies with at least 60% marks or equivalent

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Aeronautical Engineering.
• Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering.
• Mechanical Engineering and Automation.
• Mechanical Engineering (Production).
• Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance).
• Mechatronics.
• Industrial Engineering.
• Manufacturing Engineering.
• Production and Industrial Engineering.
• Materials Science and Engineering.
• Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
• Aerospace and Applied Mechanics.
• Automotive Engineering.
• Robotics
• Nanotechnology
• Rubber Technology and Rubber Engineering

AFCAT Eligibility for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch

• Must have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at the 10+2 level and
• Graduation with a minimum of a three-year degree course in any discipline from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. OR
• BE/B Tech degree (Four-year course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

• Passed 10+2 and Graduate Degree (Minimum three-year degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent. Or
• Passed 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

• Passed 10+2 and graduation in any of the following streams with 60 % marks or equivalent from a recognised university:-
• B.Com Degree (Minimum three-year course).
• Bachelor of Business Administration (with specialisation in Finance)/ Bachelor of Management Studies (with specialisation in Finance)/ Bachelor of Business Studies (with specialisation in Finance)
• Qualified CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA. (aad) B.Sc. with specialisation in Finance

• Communication Engineering.
• Computer Engineering/Technology.
• Computer Engineering and Applications.
• Computer Science and Engineering/Technology.
• Electrical and Computer Engineering.
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
• Electronics Engineering/Technology.
• Electronics Science and Engineering.
• Electronics.
• Electronics and Communication Engineering.
• Electronics and Computer Science.
• Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering.
• Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave).
• Electronics, Communication, and Instrumentation Engineering.
• Information Technology.
• Mechanical Engineering

AFCAT Eligibility 2026: Nationality and Marital Status

• The candidate should be a citizen of India as per the Indian Citizenship Act of 1955.
• Candidates must be unmarried during the course commencement, and marriage is prohibited during training.
• Anyone who marries during the training period shall be discharged and liable to refund all expenses incurred by the Government.

AFCAT Eligibility 2026 Physical Standards, Height, Weight

• For male candidates, the minimum acceptable height will be 5 cm less (152.5 cm) for Gorkhas and individuals from the North-Eastern regions of India and the hilly regions of Uttarakhand.  In the case of aspirants from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height can be reduced by 2 cm (155.5 cm).
• For female candidates, the lower minimum height of 147 cm will be accepted for candidates from the North East region or the hilly regions of Uttarakhand. In the case of aspirants from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height will be 150 cm.

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