Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?
Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!

AFCAT Career Path: With the motto of “Touch the sky with Glory”, making a career in the Indian Air Force is every student’s dream. The Indian Air Force conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) twice a year for students. Candidates who want to make a career can apply for the AFCAT entrance exam. Students can opt for the different AFCAT career paths according to their education level.
AFCAT opens the door to the patriotism, honour, adventure, and passion of the students in the Indian Air Force. Once a candidate becomes a part of the Indian Air Force family, they can serve the air force as well as avail of the facilities and benefits.
If you are looking to make a career in the Indian Air Force, then read the article to know the AFCAT career paths, eligibility, salary, job profiles, and other things.
Read More: AFCAT Question Paper 2023
AFCAT Career Path: Quick Overview
Students who want to make a career through AFCAT should know the important things about the exam. Here are the basic details of the AFCAT entrance exam.
Exam Name | Air Force Common Admission Test |
Exam Level | National Level |
Conducting Body | Indian Air Force |
Exam Purpose | To select candidates for Flying Branch and Ground Duty in Indian Air Force |
Frequency | Twice a year |
Exam Mode | Online Mode |
Various AFCAT Career Paths
The Air Force offers a variety of opportunities to make a career through AFCAT. It is a very exciting career to pursue that offers great opportunities. If you are one of those who want to help serve your country with an adrenaline rush, this career is the right choice for you.
Indian Air Force offers job opportunities in both technical and non-technical branches through the AFCAT exam. Here is the list of AFCAT career paths.
Career Path 1: After Graduation
Indian Air Force grants various opportunities to both Men and Women candidates to make a career through the AFCAT exam. Candidates who are already graduates and willing to make a career can appear in the AFCAT exam. Once the candidates pass the entrance exam, they will be required to appear in the training and interview process at Air Force Academy.
Career Path 2: After Engineering
Students who have completed their Engineering graduation can make a career through AFCAT. Indian Air Force calls for enthusiastic candidates and engineers to handle the engineering department. Candidates can apply for the AFCAT exam application and CDS exams to make a career through AFCAT after Engineering.
Career Path 3: After Post Graduation
Candidates can also make a career through AFCAT and this includes both Male and female candidates between the age of 20-24 years. Students can work for the Indian Air Force after post-graduation through the AFCAT exam.
AFCAT Career Path: Educational Qualification
The education qualifications and eligibility for AFCAT depend on the branch you are applying for. The Flying branch, Ground duty branch (Technical and non-technical) have different qualification requirements. The AFCAT branch-wise educational qualification is given below:
Flying Branch AFCAT Qualification:
- Candidates who are applying for Flying Branch must have passed with a minimum of 60% marks in the 12th class. The students must have Maths and Physics as compulsory subjects in the 12th class.
- Students must have a graduate degree in BE/BTech or cleared section A and B exams of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India.
Technical Ground Duty AFCAT Qualification
- Students must have completed 4 years of graduation degree in Engineering or integrated post-graduation in Engineering/ Technology from a recognised university.
OR
- Candidates must have cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of the Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or the Graduate membership examination of the institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers.
- Students must have passed the 12th class from a recognized board with a minimum of 60%.
Non-Technical Ground Duty AFCAT Qualification
- Candidates who are applying for the non-technical branches through AFCAT must have completed graduation such as LLB, BSc, MCA, etc.
- Students must not have any backlog while applying for the AFCAT exam. Final-year students are also eligible to apply for the AFCAT exam.
- Candidates must have passed the 12th class from a recognized board with 60% marks.
Read More: AFCAT Previous Year’s Question Papers
AFCAT Career Path: Required Skills
The Air Force is a field where heroes belong. To make a career in the Air Force through AFCAT, there are some required skills in a candidate. Being extremely bright students, the candidates should be able to lead. They also require the ability to motivate yourself and others in their time of need. Here are some skills mentioned below that an AFCAT aspirant should possess.
Leadership | Motivativating and Inspiring nature |
Decision Maker | Management skills |
Teamwork | Communication skills |
Strategic Mind | Confident |
Dynamic thinking | Quick Learner |
AFCAT Career Path: Career Opportunities
Candidates can make a career in the Air Force through AFCAT, and there are various career opportunities for the students. Candidates can make a career in Flying Branch, Technical Branch, and Non-Technical Branch according to their interests and educational qualification. The career options in the AFCAT career path are mentioned below.
Career in Flying Branch:
The candidates can make a career in Flying Branch in different departments, which include:
- Fighters
- Transports
- Helicopters
Career in Technical Ground Duty:
Students who have done graduation in Engineering can opt for the Technical duties, which are:
- Mechanical
- Electronics
Career in Non-Technical Ground Duty:
Students who want to make a career in the Air Force through a non-technical branch can opt for different departments according to their educational qualification. The departments for the non-technical branch are:
- Weapon Systems
- Administration
- Accounts
- Logistics
- Education
- Meteorology
Read More:How to Score 200+ Marks in AFCAT
AFCAT Career Path: Job Profile
The AFCAT provides students with different job profiles depending on their interests. The table shows the job profile for various branches of IAF:
AFCAT Flying Branch |
|
AFCAT Ground Duty (Technical) |
|
AFCAT Ground Duty (Non-Technical) |
|
AFCAT Career Path: Salary
The Air Force provides a decent salary for the AFCAT candidates. The table shows the starting salary of the AFCAT candidates for different branches.
Branch | Annual Package | Per Month Salary |
---|---|---|
Flying Branch | Rs 8-10 lakh | Rs. 85,372/- |
Ground Duty (Tech) | Rs 7-9 lakh | Rs. 74,872/- |
Ground Duty (Non-Tech) | Rs 7-9 lakh | Rs. 71,872/- |
AFCAT Career Path: Benefits
Once a candidate gets selected in the IAF through AFCAT, they get plenty of career and health benefits. The benefits include health insurance, allowances, and much more. Here are some benefits mentioned after AFACT.
AFCAT Salary Allowance - All the officers and candidates of the Flying branch, tech and non-tech branches get the salary allowance benefit. The allowance is based on the nature of the duty and department.
AFCAT Salary Privileges - AIF provides accommodation, comprehensive medical cover for candidates and dependents, a Canteen facility, Mess, loans, LTC, and so much more. The candidates are provided Leaves (for 60 days annual and 20 days casual).
AFCAT Salary Insurance - The candidates get Rs. 1 crore Insurance Cover for serving officers. The Flying Branch Officers get an additional cover of Rs.12 Lakhs.
AFCAT Salary Sports and Adventure - Indian Air Force provides various sports and adventure activities for adventure seekers. The activities include skydiving, microlight flying, mountaineering, water rafting, and many other activities.
AFCAT Education Benefit - Once you completed the AFCAT exam and join the IAF, you can avail the education benefits. The IAF sponsors an M.Tech course for the officers of the Technical Branch from the best colleges. They also provide leaves for education and long-distance learning programs.
Post Retirement Benefits - IAF not only offers benefits until you are working but after retirement. IAF takes care of all the candidates post-retirement and the benefits include:
- Pension for officers
- Insurance
- Medical coverage (Lifetime access)
- Placement Cell after service
Other Benefits - AIF offers some of the other benefits, which are:
- Leave travel concessions
- Institute and Messes membership
- School facilities
- Rail concessions
- Secured camp life
- CSD facilities
- Recreational and sports facilities
Read More: AFCAT Physical and Medical Standards
Hope this article will help you. Stay tuned with CollegeDekho for more updates about the AFCAT exam!
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