AFCAT Eligibility 2024: Age Limit, Qualification, Physical Standards

AFCAT Eligibility 2024: Age Limit, Qualification, Physical Standards

ByNaveen Singh  |  Updated on: Sep 25, 2023
AFCAT eligibility 2024 is provided here for Flying Branch and Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical posts. Check various parameters of AFCAT eligibility criteria including qualification, height and other physical standards, AFCAT age limit, etc.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2024 is released by the Indian Air Force in the official notification for the upcoming recruitment cycle. Every year, this exam is held twice to recruit eligible candidates for Flying and Ground Duty in Technical and Non-Technical branches. This post will find the AFCAT eligibility criteria for the Flying branch and Ground Duty Staff. Aspirants must check the details on the eligibility parameters before filling out the application form to avoid the cancellation of their application at later stages.

AFCAT eligibility includes details about the minimum educational qualification, nationality, marital status, AFCAT age limit, and physical and medical standards for both male and female candidates for different posts and branches. Usually, candidates within the age range of 20 to 26 years and with a minimum of 60% marks in Class 12th in Maths and Physics are eligible to apply. Below are all the details about AFCAT exam eligibility that one must be aware of.

AFCAT Eligibility 2024

AFCAT eligibility 2024 can be understood as per the post you are applying for or as per parameters. The AFCAT Exam will be held twice a year. Before filling out the application form, ensure you understand all of the AFCAT eligibility criteria for Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical) & Non-Technical Ground Duty. If a candidate is found ineligible at any stage of the recruitment process, his/her candidature will be cancelled, and the application will be forfeited.

The AFCAT eligibility criteria 2024 are based on the following considerations:

  • Nationality & Marital Status
  • Educational Qualification
  • AFCAT Age Limit
  • Physical Standards

Let us discuss them one by one in the subsequent sections.

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria Overview

Go through the major highlights of AFCAT eligibility for both Male and Female applicants presented in the following table:

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria

Details

Released by

Indian Air Force

AFCAT Age Limit 2023

20 to 26 years

Physical Eligibility

Flying Branch - 162.5

Ground duty (Tech-NON tech)

Male -157.5

Female -152

Educational Qualification

60% in maths and physics in 10+2

Marital Status

Unmarried

Check all details about AFCAT eligibility criteria by downloading the official PDF given below:

☛ AFCAT Eligibility 2024 - Download PDF

byjusexamprep

AFCAT Age Limit 2024

TheAFCAT age limit for the Flying Branch is 20 to 24 years for all applicants. Only those who are born between 02 Jan 2001 to 01 Jan 2005 are eligible to apply for the exam. However, there is a relaxation of 2 years for candidates holding valid and latest Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA.

For the Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical Branch, the AFCAT age limit is 20 to 26 years, with no relaxations for any candidate. Those who are born between 02 Jan 2000 to 01 Jan 2005 are eligible to apply for these posts.

AFCAT Eligibility for Female

All the female applicants should have scored at least 60% marks individually in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level, along with this a minimum score of 60% is also needed for a minimum 3-year graduation degree or equivalent.

The AFCAT eligibility for girls remains the same except for the minimum height requirement and other physical requirements. The minimum height must be 162.5 cm.

AFCAT Flying Branch Eligibility

AFCAT Flying Branch eligibility allows candidates from 20-24 years of age to apply for this post. Interested candidates must check the complete AFCAT eligibility for Flying Branch before applying online. It is important to note that final-year students are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any backlog at the time of AFSB Testing and produce Degree certificates issued by the University.

Educational Eligibility for AFCAT Flying Branch

There is several educational criteria under AFCAT eligibility for Flying Branch. Applicants must fit into any one of them to be eligible for the upcoming exam.

  • Minimum of 60% marks each in Maths & Physics at 10+2 level.
  • Graduates (Three Year Course) in any discipline with minimum 60% marks or equivalent.
  • BE/B Tech (Four Year Course) with minimum 60% marks or equivalent.
  • Cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

AFCAT Age Limit for Flying Branch

The AFCAT Age Limit for Flying Branch will be calculated as of 01 Jan 2025. As per AFCAT eligibility, applicants must be 20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course). The upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years (at the time of commencement of course).

AFCAT Eligibility For Female Flying Branch

The AFCAT Flying Branch eligibility remains the same for females except for the minimum height requirement and other physical requirements. The minimum height must be 162.5 cm and the AFCAT physical eligibility for females is mentioned below in detail.

AFCAT Eligibility for Ground Duty Technical

The AFCAT Eligibility for Ground Duty Technical is mentioned below in detail. Candidates applying for Ground Duty Technical also have to clear Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) along with the AFCAT exam. The AFCAT eligibility for Female Ground Duty candidates is similar to male candidates except for the physical requirement.

AFCAT Qualification - Technical Branch Eligibility

Check the educational qualification as per the branches below.

Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) {AE (L)}:

As per the official AFCAT eligibility criteria, one of the following criteria is acceptable for this course.

  • Minimum 60% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four-year degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from a recognized University
  • Cleared Section A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or,
  • Cleared Section A and B examination of 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:
    • 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

Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)}:

  • Minimum 60% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four-year degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from recognized University.
  • Cleared Section A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or,
  • Cleared Section A and B examination of 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 discipline:
    • Aerospace Engineering
    • Aeronautical Engineering
    • Aircraft Maintenance Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering
    • Mechanical Engineering and Automation
    • Mechanical Engineering (Production)
    • Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance)
    • Mechatronics
    • Industrial Engineering

AFCAT Non-Technical Eligibility

Those who wish to apply for the Ground Duty Non-Technical positions must check the AFCAT eligibility for the Non-Technical posts as stated below. The minimum educational qualification required for Administration and Logistics and Accounts Branch is different.

AFCAT Qualification: Non-Technical Ground Duty

Check the AFCAT qualification required for the Administration and Logistics Branch and Accounts Branch of the Ground Duty Non-Technical profile as stated below:

  • As per AFCAT eligibility for Administration and Logistics, candidates must have either a graduate degree (Minimum three-year degree course) in any discipline with 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
  • For Accounts, AFCAT qualification eligibility states that a candidate must hold a Graduate Degree (Minimum three-year degree course) with 60% marks or equivalent in one of the disciplines:
    • B. Com Degree (Min three years course)
    • Bachelor of Business Administration (with specialization in
      Finance)/ Bachelor of Management Studies (with specialization in
      Finance)/ Bachelor of Business Studies (with specialization in Finance)
    • Qualified CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA.
    • B.Sc. with specialization in Finance

AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2024: Nationality & Marital Status

The following are the nationalities and marital status requirements as per the AFCAT eligibility 2024:

  • Candidates must be Indian citizens.
  • Candidates under the age of 25 must be unmarried.
  • Widows/widowers and divorcees under the age of 25 are not eligible.
  • Married applicants over the age of 25 are eligible to apply; however, they will not be provided with separate housing for their spouses during the training time.
  • Unmarried candidates must not marry during their training; if they do, they will be dismissed from the program and must reimburse the IAF for any expenses incurred on their behalf.

AFCAT Eligibility - Physical Standards, Height, and Weight

Working in the Air Force is reputable, but it is a highly demanding job. The AFCAT job requires officers to be in top physical structure and be medically fit and mentally strong to handle the requirements of the job. Thus, the Indian Air Force has to ensure that a candidate is physically & medically fit to serve as an officer in the Air Force. Aspirant candidates must know the AFCAT eligibility criteria for Flying Branch and Technical and Non-Technical Ground Duty Branch before preparing for it.

Candidates may check the branch-wise AFCAT height and weight, and physical standard tests for male & female candidates are given below. According to the specified standards, the candidates who are found to be overweight are issued with a letter of caution & they have to decrease their weight to the specified standard weight before they report themselves for the medical test.

AFCAT Physical Eligibility For Flying Branch:

Parameters

Min. (in cms)

Max (in cms)

Acceptable Height

162.5

--

Leg Length

99

120

Thigh Length

--

64

Sitting Height

81.5

96

AFCAT Eligibility For Ground Duty (Tech and Non-tech):

Parameters

Min. (in cms)

Acceptable Height for Males

157.5

Acceptable Height for Females

152

Every candidate who wishes to appear for the exam has to undergo a medical & physical fitness test in which they are profoundly scanned by a medical practitioner. The physical attributes of the candidate such as their weight and height are also measured & recorded.

Note:

  • For Gorkha individuals belonging to the hills of the North-Eastern region of India, Garhwali, and Kumaon, the minimum acceptable height will be 5 cm less.
  • In the case of candidates from Lakshadweep, the minimum acceptable height will be by 2 cms less (men and women).

Important Links for AFCAT 2 Exam:

FAQs on AFCAT Eligibility Criteria 2023

  • AFCAT eligibility 2024 defines various parameters that must be fulfilled by every candidate filling out the application form. Those who are in the age group of 20 to 24 years for the Flying Branch and 20 to 26 years for the Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical posts are eligible if they have got at least 60% marks in the 10+2 level. Check the post-wise AFCAT eligible criteria for female and male candidates in the above article.

  • AFCAT age limit for Flying Branch is 20 to 24 years for all candidates. Those who lie in this age group can fill out the application form for the next recruitment cycle. There is also an age relaxation of 2 years for candidates holding a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA.

  • To participate in the AFCAT exam, the candidate must have scored 60% marks in each Maths and Physics of Class 12 along with a Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognized university to be eligible as per the AFCAT eligibility criteria.

  • AFCAT Eligibility for female candidates is the same as that for male candidates except for Height and other Physical requirements. In the Ground Duty Branch, women are allowed to appear for the Short Service Commission (SSC) in which the engagement period is of 14 years with no extension. The minimum AFCAT height for females is 152 cm in the Ground Duty Branch.

  • Candidates should satisfy the age limit criteria and qualification requirements to qualify as per the AFCAT Flying Branch eligibility. They must be 20 to 24 years old and possess a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level. In addition to this, a minimum of three years of Degree course (Graduation) in any discipline from a recognized University with at least 60% marks or a B.Tech/BE degree (4 years course) from a recognized University with at least 60% marks, or, qualified Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University with at least 60% marks or equivalent.

  • Yes, final-year students can apply for the exam as per the AFCAT eligibility 2024. They must have scored a minimum of 60% marks up to the last year or semester at the time of application submission and should be able to submit proof of clearing the Graduation by 30 May 2024.

  • No, as per AFCAT eligibility, marriage is not permitted during the training period. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply, but they will neither be provided family accommodation nor can they live out with family during the training period.

  • AFCAT age limit 2024 for the Ground Duty Branch Technical and Non-Technical posts is 20 to 26 years. There is no age relaxation for any category. Those who are born between 02 Jan 2000 to 01 Jan 2006 are eligible to apply for the AFCAT Ground Duty.

  • For the Flying Branch, the minimum AFCAT height for female candidates is 162.5 cm which is the same as that for male candidates. While, for Ground Duty Branch, the minimum acceptable height is 152 cm for women and 157.5 cm for men.

CDS & Defence

NDACDSAFCATCAPFCRPF and BSFOthers