Six Ways on How to Join Indian Air Force

A work that gives you pride, bravery, and satisfaction to make your mark on your country is everything you can ask for. One such job is to get through the Indian Air Force. Aspirants who have the charm of flying high in the sky as pilots in the Indian Air Force should know how to get into action. By learning how to join the Indian Air Force, applicants can draw up their plan and enforce it accordingly. There are various ways to join the Indian air force. For more information on how to join Indian Air Force, applicants may read the article below. We have discussed the exams that one may write to secure an air force job.

How to Join Indian Air Force

Candidates after completing their qualifying standard are very curious about knowing different ways how to join Indian Air Force. We have provided the various ways one can join the air force after completion of their 10th standard in the article below. If you are keen on flying high for your motherland, this is a good opportunity. Get all the details below and join the India air force yourself. You can join the airforce Group X and Y after you complete your 10th. This is a great entry route to be in the defense services of India. So, let us check how to join Indian Air Force below.

 

1. Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT)

AFCAT is a widely preferred competitive test to enter the Indian Air Force as an officer. The test is conducted twice a year. The AFCAT application form is published every year in December and June. AFCAT’s selection process consists of a written test followed by an SSB interview. The chosen candidates will be commissioned by the Flying Branch and the Permanent Commission (PC)/ Short Service Commission (SSC) in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) divisions of the Indian Air Force. Candidates can check the AFCAT Summary Table below for more information.

 

Parameters	Details
Conducting body	Indian Air Force
Name of the exam	Air Force Common Admission Test
Frequency	Twice a year
Exam type	Graduation
Mode of exam	Online
Mode of application	Online
Application fee	250/-

AFCAT Age Limit

• Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) Branch – 20 years to 24 years
• Flying Branch – 20 years to 26 years

AFCAT Exam Pattern

The AFCAT exam is conducted every year in February and September. Applicants must check the AFCAT eligibility requirements before filling out the online application form. As per the AFCAT exam, the test consists of 100 questions of 3 marks each with a negative mark of one mark for each wrong answer. As per the AFCAT syllabus, questions will be asked about current affairs, military aptitude, mathematics, English, etc. The test will be performed online at different centers around the world. A detailed AFCAT test pattern is given below.

 

Topics	Duration	Number of questions	Maximum marks
Numerical ability	120 Minutes	100	300
Reasoning and Military Aptitude
General awareness
Verbal ability in English

If the candidate is applying for ground duty in the technical branch, they also need to appear for the EKT exam after the AFCAT. The EKT exam can be attempted for mechanical, computer science, and electronics & electrical engineering.

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2. Combined Defence Services (CDS)

UPSC CDS is the most common way to join the Indian Air Force. The exam is conducted twice a year for the recruitment of applicants. The CDS application form is available on the official UPSC website during June and October. Graduate applicants between 19 and 25 years of age are eligible to apply for UPSC CDS. The screening process consists of a written examination, an SSB interview, and a medical test. For more info on CDS exam candidates, please check the table below.

 

Parameters	Details
Conducting body	Union Public Service Commission
Name of the exam	Combined Defence Services
Frequency	Twice a year
Exam type	Graduation
Mode of exam	Offline
Mode of application	Online
Application fee	200/-

CDS Age Limit

• Indian Military Academy (IMA) – 19 to 24 years
• Indian Naval Academy (NA) – 19 to 24 years
• Air Force Academy (AFA) – 20 to 24 years
• Officers’ Training Academy (OTA – Men) – 19 to 25 years
• Officers Training Academy (OTA – Women, Non-Technical) – 19 to 25 years

CDS Exam Pattern

The CDS exam is conducted every year in February and November. Applicants aspiring to pursue a career in the Indian Air Force must search the best CDS exam books for better training. As per the CDS exam pattern, candidates must appear for two papers in English and general knowledge, while candidates appearing for IMA must also appear for the elementary mathematics paper. Check the table below for the CDS age limit. Candidates preparing for CDS must thoroughly check the test pattern for effective preparation. As per the CDS syllabus, questions will be asked about mathematics, current affairs, basic English, general knowledge, etc. Check the table below for a detailed CDS exam pattern.

 

Paper	Number of questions	Maximum marks	Duration
English	120	100	2 hours
General knowledge	120	100	2 hours
Elementary mathematics	100	100	2 hours
Total	340	300	6 hours

3. National Defence Academy (NDA)

NDA is one of the most common tests among aspiring Indian Air Force cadets for those who have completed their class 12 or appearing for class 12. The test is conducted twice a year for admissions to the National Defense Academy for several courses. A graduation degree is awarded to all applicants after 4 years (on completion of the course). The NDA application form is available on the official UPSC website every year in January and June. See below for more information on the UPSC NDA exam.

 

Parameters	Details
Conducting body	Union Public Service Commission
Name of the exam	National Defence Academy Exam
Frequency	Twice a year
Exam type	12th Pass or Appearing
Mode of exam	Offline
Mode of application	Online
Application fee	100/-

NDA Age Limit

• For all candidates – 16.5 to 19.5 years

NDA Exam Pattern

NDA exam is conducted twice every year in offline modes across India. These are conducted in April and September. Candidates who have passed their 12th or are appearing are eligible to apply for the exam. Check all the eligibility criteria before applying for the exam. Candidates will be selected based on their performance in written tests, SSB interview,s, and medical test. Questions will be asked from elementary maths general ability. NDA exam is conducted for two papers for 150 minutes. To pass the written exam, candidates must score the qualifying marks in each exam. The exam pattern of NDA is given below.

 

Subject	Number of questions	Maximum marks	Duration
Paper 1: Mathematics	120	300	2 hours 30 minutes
Paper 2: GAT	150	600	2 hours 30 minutes
Total	270	900	5 hours

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4. Indian Air Force Group X & Y

Airmen Category X & Y is one of the easiest ways to join the Indian Air Force after class 12. The test is conducted twice a year for the recruitment of applicants as Airmen in the Indian Air Force. Applicants can apply through an application form to Group X & Y in January and July. The upper age limit for filling out the application form is 21 years. You can get all the details about this from the table below

 

Group	Eligibility
Group X (Except education instructor trade)	Passed Intermediate/10+2/ Equivalent examination with Mathematics, Physics, and English
Group Y (Except Automobile Technician, GTI, IAF(P), Musician, and IAF(S)	Passed Intermediate / 10+2 / Equivalent Examination in any stream/subjects approved by Central / State Education Boards listed as COBSE member with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English
Group Y (Medical Assistant Trade)	Passed 10+2/Intermediate/ equivalent exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English from an Educational Board listed as COBSE member with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English

Indian Air Force Group X & Y Exam Pattern

Applicants for groups X and Y must check the selection process for joining the Indian Air Force after class 12. The group X & Y selection process consists of a written test and a physical test. Applicants must first appear for an online test. After the declaration of results, candidates who have cleared the exam will be called for a physical examination at different centers. Get the Indian Air Force Group X & Y exam pattern from below.

 

Group	Subjects	Number of questions	Duration
Group X	English	20	60 minutes
	Physics	25
	Mathematics	25
Group Y	English	20	45 minutes
	Reasoning & General Awareness	30
Group X & Y	English	20	85 minutes
	Physics	25
	Mathematics	25
	Reasoning & General Awareness	30

5. Indian Air Force NCC Entry

It is one of the special entries to join the Indian Air Force as an officer after graduation. Candidates must have an NCC ‘C’ graduation certificate with a total of 60 percent marks. Applicants will be called for SSB interviews based on the marks earned on the graduation test. Eligible applicants must appear after the SSB for a medical examination. Get all the details about the IAF NCC entry below

 

Particulars	Eligibility
Nationality	Indian
Age limit	19 to 23 years
Marital status	Single
Educational qualification	Graduate in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks and have passed Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level
	BE / B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.
	NCC Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ certificate

6. University Entry Scheme (UES)

For final year candidates, the Indian Air Force will perform UES enrolments for the recruitment of candidates as officers in different cadres. It is the best chance for applicants to join the Indian Air Force during their academic year. Candidates must remember that at the time of the SSB interview, they must not have any backlogs. Upon completion of the degree, applicants must have 60 percent aggregate marks to apply for the UES entry. The Indian Air Force conducts recruitment drives at various colleges across the country. The selection process consists of a round of group discussions. The shortlisted GD candidates must appear for SSB interviews at different centers as allotted by the IAF followed by a medical examination.

So, these were the six ways How to Join Indian Air Force. You can find more such information on our website. Send this article to friends and family who aspire to join the Indian air force. For more information on the same or similar topics, ask us in the comment section below. We will provide all the required information to you at the earliest. If you have liked the content of this article, connect with us on our Facebook page.