AFCAT Full Form

What is the full form of AFCAT?

The full form of AFCAT is Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) is a national-level exam conducted by the Indian Air Force to select Class-I Officers for Flying and Ground Duty branches. The exam handpicks candidates who are best suitable to serve our nation while meeting the guidelines set down by the IAF.

This Story also Contains

1. What is the full form of AFCAT?
2. Exam Dates
3. Eligibility Criteria of AFCAT
4. Selection Process of AFCAT
5. Pays and Benefits of an AFCAT Qualifier
6. Growth in IAF

Exam Dates

The AFCAT exam is conducted twice a year in the months of February and August. The details for the same are released by the IAF every year in June and December.

Eligibility Criteria of AFCAT

Every year the Indian Air Force provides guidelines for the minimum requirements expected of their candidates. These guidelines are explained in detail below:

• Gender

Both males and females can appear for the exam.

• Nationality

The candidate should be an Indian citizen.

• Age Limit

The flying branch and the ground duty have different age requirements.

The age range for AFCAT Flying Branch is 20-24 years, while the age range for AFCAT Ground Duty (Technical/Non-Technical) is 20-26 years.

• Marital Status

1. During training, the candidate is expected to be unmarried and younger than 25 years of age. Candidates who are widows or divorced but are under the age of 25 are not eligible.

2. If a candidate marries during the training period they will be expelled from the academy and must pay back all the expenditure that the government incurred on their behalf.

3. Candidates who are married and are above 25 years of age are considered eligible for the exam but they will not be provided with family lodging nor will they be allowed to live outside the campus during the training period.

• Academic Qualifications

1. Candidates should have at least 50% marks in both Maths and Physics in their 10+2 level exams.

• They should have completed an undergraduate degree of at least 3 years from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

OR, They should have completed a 4-year B.tech/ B.E. course with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

• OR, They should have cleared the Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

2. Final year students can apply for the exam provided that they do not have an existent backlog and have secured a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in their last year or last semester. They should be able to present a provisional or an original degree bestowed by the university according to the dates specified by the IAF.

• Medical and Physical Standards

1. The candidates should have well-formed chests with a circumference of 77 cm.

2. The minimum height requirement for the flying branch is 162.5 cm. Along with this, IAF also specifies acceptable sitting height, leg length, and thigh length which is 81.5 - 96.0 cm, 99.0 - 120.0 cm, and max. 64.0 cm respectively.

3. The minimum height required for ground-duty branches is 157.5 cm.

4. For females, a minimum of 162.5 cm is required for the flying branches and 152 cm for other branches.

5. Different ages and heights have different weight requirements to comply with.

• For females- The ages from 20 to 25 have a weight range of 43 to 63 kg depending on their heights.

The ages 26 to 30 have a weight range of 46 to 67 kg.

• For males- Ages 15 - 17 have a weight range of 46 - 68 kg. Ages 18 - 22 have a weight range of 47 - 73 kg. Ages 23 - 27 have a weight range of 50 - 79 kg. Ages 28- 32 have a weight range of 54 - 81 kg. Ages 33 - 37 have a weight range of 54 - 83 kg.

6. Besides these basic requirements, a perfectly healthy body is determined via medical examination.

7. In the case of female candidates, a gynecological examination is conducted along with the regular examination.

Selection Process of AFCAT

AFCAT Selection Process has 4 steps.

• A candidate applies and appears for the AFCAT exam which is a written test.

• Candidates who have successfully passed the AFCAT exam appear for the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB) Testing. This test occurs in 2 stages, namely:

1. Stage I Testing - This includes an Officer Intelligence rating test and a picture perception and discussion test.

2. Stage II Testing - Once the candidate passes Stage I Testing, they will appear for Stage II Testing for the next four to five days. This includes Psychological tests, Group tests, Interviews with an Interviewing Officer, and a Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPPS) Test.

• This is followed by a medical examination.

• An All India Merit List is prepared on the basis of the written test and the AFSB interview thereafter positions are allotted to the candidates.

Pays and Benefits of an AFCAT Qualifier

Joining the IAF comes with a lot of benefits.

• All Air Force personnel get life insurance covered under the Air Force Group Insurance Scheme (AFGIS).

• Members of AFGIS get to avail of home loans, computer loans, and conveyance loans.

• Medical services with the best facilities are free for officers and their families.

• IAF also supports officers who desire to study further than their undergraduate courses.

• IAF has a placement cell that helps officers to adjust back into civil life when they decide to go back to it.

• Arrangements are also made for retired officers.

• Even before one is commissioned, one gets a stipend of Rs. 56,000/- during their last year of training.

• A common allowance of Rs. 56,000/- is paid per month with an additional military service pay of Rs. 15,500/- per month.

• Children's Education Allowance and Transport Allowance are also other allowances one can avail.

• Flying Branch Officers get Flying Allowance while Ground Duty Officers get Technical Allowance.

Growth in IAF

On first joining AirForce, one is given the title of Flying Officer, the junior most post. This is followed by the Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, Group Captain, Air Commodore, Air Vice Marshal, Air Marshal, and finally, Air Chief Marshal. Going from the lowest to the highest, the above are all the ranks a candidate joining the IAF is eligible for.