The Indian Air Force has announced the opening of registrations for 336 vacancies for Commissioned Officers under the Short Service Commission (SSC) program. This recruitment drive offers 263 positions for male candidates and 73 for female candidates, presenting a significant opportunity for those aspiring to join the ranks of the prestigious force.
Candidates interested in applying must submit their applications for the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT), which is scheduled to take place on February 22 and 23. The submission deadline for online applications is 11:30 PM on December 31. The test will be conducted in two shifts over two days, and examination centers are available in various locations across Kerala, specifically in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur.
The vacancies are divided among several branches within the Air Force:
- Flying Branch
- Ground Duty Branch
- (A) Technical: Candidates can apply as Aeronautical Engineers in Electronics or Mechanical.
- (B) Non-Technical: Opportunities are available in areas such as Weapon Systems, Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education, and Meteorology.
- NCC Special Entry: Specifically for the Flying Branch, in addition to the AFCAT Entry.
The tenure for Short Service Commission in the Flying Branch is set for 14 years, while those in the Ground Duty Branch will serve 10 years, which can be extended up to four additional years based on performance and the requirements of the service. It is important to note that officers under the Short Service Commission are not eligible for a pension.
In terms of eligibility, applicants must meet certain academic qualifications. While candidates holding a B.Tech degree are preferred, individuals with other degrees can also apply, provided they have studied Mathematics and Physics in Class 12 for most branches. The age criteria vary by branch: candidates for the Flying Branch should be aged between 20 and 24 years as of January 1, 2024, with an exception for those possessing a commercial pilot license, who can be up to 26 years old. For the Ground Duty Branch, candidates must be between 20 and 26 years. Additionally, candidates must remain unmarried throughout the course and training period.
The AFCAT is a two-hour examination consisting of 100 objective questions. The subjects encompass numerical ability (at 10th standard level), English (at graduate level), general knowledge, logical reasoning, and military aptitude, with a scoring system that awards three marks for each correct answer and deducts one mark for incorrect responses. Comprehensive preparation is encouraged, and resources including previous years’ question papers and online practice tests are available on the Indian Air Force’s official website.
Candidates who perform well in the AFCAT will advance to a five-day interview conducted by the Air Force Selection Board, which assesses both physical and mental aptitude comprehensively. For those targeting the Flying Branch, passing the Computerized Pilot Selection System (CPSS) is mandatory, and candidates can attempt this assessment only once. A medical examination will also be required following the online test.
Additionally, candidates applying under the NCC Special Entry category will not need to take the AFCAT; they will be invited directly for the interview with the Air Force Selection Board.
The application fee for the AFCAT is set at Rs. 550 plus GST. However, candidates applying through the NCC Special Entry scheme are exempt from this fee. For further details and to apply online, interested candidates can visit the official websites: careerindianairforce.cdac.in and afcat.cdac.in. Guidelines for completing the application form are included in the official notification. For questions, candidates can contact the designated helpline or email the AFCAT cell.
