DEFENCE
Indian Air Force officer
Flying, engineering and running the Air Force on the ground.
Facts checked 17/10/2026
- Class 11–12 subjects
- Class 12 Physics and Maths for flying (NDA Air Force wing, CDS-AFA, AFCAT flying). Engineering for ground duty technical. Any degree (60%) for most ground duty non-technical branches.
- First degree
- Not needed for NDA. A degree (60%) or B.E./B.Tech for AFCAT and CDS-AFA.
- Entrance exams
- NDA and CDS (UPSC); AFCAT (run by the Air Force, twice a year).
- Licence or registration
- None. Selection is through the Air Force Selection Board and a medical (plus a pilot aptitude test for flying).
What the work is like
Fighter, transport and helicopter flying; aircraft engineering; weapon systems, administration, logistics, accounts, education, meteorology.
The path, step by step
- Class 11–12Physics and Maths keep the flying branch open. Look after your eyesight.
- ApplyNDA after Class 12; AFCAT or CDS after a degree.
- SelectionAir Force Selection Board (5 days), pilot aptitude test for flying, then medical.
- TrainingAir Force Academy, Dundigal.
- CommissionFlying Officer.
Ways in
- NDA — Air Force wing (after Class 12)
- Who
- Unmarried men and women, Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Maths.
- Age
- About 16½–19½.
- Selection
- UPSC written exam → SSB → pilot aptitude test (flying) → medical.
- Training
- 3 years at NDA, then the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad).
- You get
- Permanent Commission.
- AFCAT (graduates)
- Who
- Men and women. Flying: Physics and Maths in Class 12 + degree 60% (or B.E./B.Tech 60%). Ground duty technical: engineering 60%. Ground duty non-technical: degree 60%.
- Age
- Flying 20–24 (up to 26 with a commercial pilot licence); ground duty 20–26.
- Selection
- Online test (100 questions, 300 marks) → Air Force Selection Board → pilot aptitude test (flying) → medical.
- Training
- Air Force Academy, Dundigal.
- You get
- Short Service Commission: flying 14 years; ground duty 10 + 4. AFCAT 01/2027 is expected to be notified Nov–Dec 2026.
- CDS — Air Force Academy
- Who
- Unmarried men with a degree (Physics and Maths in Class 12) or B.E./B.Tech.
- Age
- 20–24 (up to 26 with a commercial pilot licence).
- Selection
- UPSC written exam → SSB → pilot aptitude test → medical.
- Training
- Air Force Academy, Dundigal.
- You get
- Permanent Commission (flying).
- NCC Special Entry (flying)
- Who
- NCC Air Wing 'C' certificate (at least B grade) with flying eligibility.
- Age
- As for flying branch.
- Selection
- No written paper → board → pilot aptitude → medical.
- Training
- Air Force Academy, Dundigal.
- You get
- 10% of CDS seats (Permanent) and 10% of AFCAT seats (Short Service).
Good to know
- Every officer entry ends in the same 5-day SSB interview: screening (intelligence test and a picture-story discussion) on day 1, psychology tests, group tasks, a personal interview, and a final board on day 5. Then a medical (pass/fail).
- Officer cadets must be unmarried at entry and through training (official IAF rule; the same rule is reported for the other services).
- Short Service officers do not get a pension; a Permanent Commission may be considered but is not guaranteed (official AFCAT terms).
- Flying needs minimum height and body measurements and no manifest short-sight (reported) — get your eyes checked early.
About pay: it varies a lot by city, employer and skill, and changes year to year, so we don't print salary numbers. Ask us in a session and we'll show you current, sourced figures for your case.
Sources: AFCAT portal · AFCAT general terms and conditions · UPSC (NDA and CDS notices) · AFCAT 02/2026 summary · AFCAT 2027 update (Oct 2026) · The 5-day SSB process (summary)
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