AFCAT- 2021 Eligibility Criteria

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Updated Tue, 15 Dec 2020 04:52 PM IST

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AFCAT 2021 Eligibility Criteria

(a) Nationality- Candidate must be a citizen of India as per the Indian citizenship act, 1955.

(b) Age-

(i) Flying Branch through AFCAT and NCC Special Entry: 20 to 24 years as on 01 January 2022 i.e. born between 02 January 1998 to 01 January 2002 (both dates inclusive). Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot License issued by DGCA (India) is relaxable up to 26 years i.e. born between 02 January 1996 to 01 January 2002 (both dates inclusive).

(ii) Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch: 20 to 26 years as on 01 January 2022 i.e. born between 02 January 1996 to 01 January 2002 (both dates inclusive).

(iii) Marital Status: Candidates below 25 years of age must be unmarried at the time of commencement of course. Widows/ Widowers and divorcees (with or without encumbrances) below 25 years of age are also not eligible. A candidate who marries subsequent to the date of his application though successful at SSB or medical will not be eligible for training. A candidate who marries during the period of training shall be discharged and will be liable to refund all expenditure incurred on him by the Government. Married candidates above 25 years of age are eligible to apply but during the training period they will neither be provided married accommodation nor can they live out with family.

(iv) The date of birth accepted by the IAF is that entered in the Matriculation or Secondary School Leaving Certificate or in a certificate recognised by an Indian University as equivalent to Matriculation or in an extract from a Register of Matriculates maintained by a University, the extract must be certified by the proper authority of the University or in the Higher Secondary or an equivalent examination certificate. No other document related to age like horoscopes, affidavits, birth extracts from Municipal Corporation, service records and likewise will be accepted.

(v) Incase the Matriculation/ Higher Secondary Examination Certificate does not show the date of birth, or only shows the age by completed years or completed years and months. In such cases, a candidate must possess a self-attested/ certified copy of a certificate from the Headmaster/ Principal of the Institution from where he/ she passed the Matriculation/ Higher Secondary Examination showing the date of his/ her birth or exact age as recorded in the Admission Register of the Institution.

(vi) Candidates should note that only the Date of Birth as recorded in the Matriculation/ Higher Secondary Examination Certificate or an equivalent certificate on the date of submission of application will be accepted by the IAF and no subsequent request for its change will be considered or granted.

(vii) The candidates should exercise due care while entering their Date of Birth. If on verification at any subsequent stage, variation is found in their date of birth from the one entered in their Matriculation or equivalent examination certificate, will render them disqualified.

(c) Educational Qualifications

(i) Flying Branch- Candidates should have mandatorily passed with a minimum of 50% marks each in Maths and Physics at 10+2 level and

(a) Graduation with a minimum three years degree course in any discipline from a recognized University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

(b) BE/B Tech degree (Four years course) from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

Candidates who have cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

(ii) Ground Duty (Technical) Branch-
Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) {AE (L)}. Candidates with a minimum of 50% marks each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/ Technology from recognized University OR cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership examination of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines:-

Communication Engineering.
Computer Engineering/Technology.
Computer Engineering & Application.
Computer Science and Engineering/Technology.
Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Electrical Engineering.
Electronics Engineering/ Technology.
Electronics Science and Engineering.
Electronics.
Electronics and Communication Engineering.
Electronics and Computer Science.
Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering.
Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave).
Electronics and Computer Engineering.
Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering.
Electronics Instrument & Control.
Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering.
Instrumentation & Control Engineering.
Instrument & Control Engineering.
Information Technology.
Spacecraft Technology.
Engineering in Physics.
Electric Power and Machinery Engineering.
Infotech Engineering.
Cyber Security.

Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) {AE (M)}. Candidates with a minimum of 50% mark each in Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level and a minimum of four years degree graduation/integrated post-graduation qualification in Engineering/Technology from recognised University OR cleared Sections A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent in the following disciplines:-

Aerospace Engineering.
Aeronautical Engineering.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering.
Mechanical Engineering and Automation.
Mechanical Engineering (Production).
Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance).
Mechatronics.
Industrial Engineering.
Manufacturing Engineering.
Production and Industrial Engineering.
Materials Science and Engineering.
Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
Aerospace and Applied Mechanics.
Automotive Engineering.
Robotics
Nanotechnology
Rubber Technology and Rubber Engineering.

(iii) Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches-

Administration & Logistics- Passed 10+2 and Graduate Degree (Minimum three years degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

Accounts Branch- Passed 10+2 and did graduation in any of the following streams with 60 % marks or equivalent from a recognized university:- B. Com Degree (Min three years course).

Bachelor of Business Administration (with specialization in Finance)/ Bachelor of Management Studies (with specialization in Finance)/ Bachelor of Business Studies (with specialization in Finance) Qualified CA/ CMA/ CS/ CFA. B.Sc. with specialization in Finance.

Note-

Only those candidates who have given 12th standard in the 10+2 pattern of the examination are eligible to apply for these courses.
Two seats are reserved for Law qualified candidates in Ground duty (Non-Tech) branches and these candidates may be employed on legal duties of the IAF (after commissioning).
In case the candidates are awarded grades/ CGPA instead of marks, the conversion of grades/ CGPA to percentage of marks would be based on the procedure certified by the University from where they have obtained the degree. In case the University does not have any scheme for converting CGPA to percentage conversion certificate, CGPA will be converted into 10 points scale and multiplied by 10 to get an equivalent percentage.
Candidates who are studying in the final year/ semester Degree course and are yet to pass the final year degree examination can also apply provided candidate should not have any present backlog and should have secured a minimum of 60% marks up to the last semester/ year for which results have been declared up to the time of submission of application. They are required to submit proof of passing the Degree Examination by 30 Nov 2021 and no request for extending this date will be entertained on the grounds of late conduct of basic qualifying University Examination, delay in declaration of results or any other ground whatsoever.
Candidates who have failed the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) in an earlier attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at Air Force Academy will not be eligible to apply in the Flying Branch.

(d) Candidates who were admitted to an earlier course at the National Defence Academy, Indian Military Academy, Air Force Academy, Indian Naval Academy, Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai and Officers Training Academy Gaya but were removed on grounds of indiscipline are ineligible to apply.

(e) Candidates who are debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding any type of commission in the Defence Services shall not be eligible for AFCAT and if admitted, their candidature will be cancelled.

(f) Candidates who have been convicted on criminal charges and those who are still stuck in a criminal case are not eligible to apply.

AFCAT 2021 Physical & Medical Standards

The physical and medical standards of AFCAT 2021 are as follows -

All applicants must be mentally as well as physically fit.
An exam will be conducted to examine candidates’ mental and physical health.

AFCAT Height and Weight Parameters:

The candidate may check the minimum and maximum acceptable height which is provided below.

AFCAT Physical Requirement For Flying Branch

Job Designation	Leg Length	Height	Sitting Height	Thigh Length
Flying Branch	Min - 99 cms	162.5 cms	Min - 81.5 cms	Max - 64 cms
Flying Branch	Max -120 cms	162.5 cms	Max - 96 cms	Max - 64 cms

Note: No concession is provided for age and region.

AFCAT Physical Requirement for Technical and Ground Duty Branch

Job Designation	Height
Ground Duty (Technical/ Non-technical) Branch	Women	Men
Ground Duty (Technical/ Non-technical) Branch	157.5 cms	152 cms

Note:

Gorkhas belonging to hills of North-Eastern region of India, Kumaon and Garhwal will get a concession of 5 cms.
Men and women from Lakshadweep will get a concession of 2 cms in the minimum acceptable height.

AFCAT Height and Weight Standards

Applicants may check the table provided below to check the weight and height standards set by the Indian Air Force.

For Male Candidates:

Height in cm	Weight acc to Age range (years)
Height in cm	15-17	18-22	23-27	28-32	33-37
152	46	47	50	54	54
153	47	47	51	55	55
154	47	48	51	56	56
155	48	49	52	56	56
156	48	49	53	57	57
157	49	50	54	58	58
158	49	50	54	58	58
159	50	51	55	59	59
160	51	52	56	59	60
161	51	52	56	60	60
162	52	53	57	61	61
163	52	54	58	61	62
164	53	54	59	62	63
165	53	55	59	63	63
166	54	56	60	63	64
167	54	56	61	64	65
168	55	57	61	65	65
169	55	57	62	65	66
170	56	58	63	66	67
171	56	59	64	66	68
172	57	59	64	67	68
173	58	60	65	68	69
174	58	61	66	68	70
175	59	61	66	69	71
176	59	62	67	70	71
177	60	62	68	70	72
178	60	63	69	71	73
179	61	64	69	72	73
180	61	64	70	72	74
181	62	65	71	73	75
182	62	66	72	74	76
183	63	66	72	74	76
184	64	67	73	75	77
185	64	68	74	75	78
186	65	68	74	76	78
187	65	69	75	77	79
188	66	69	76	77	80
189	66	70	77	78	81
190	67	71	77	79	81
191	67	71	78	79	82
192	68	72	79	80	82
193	68	73	79	81	83
SD	6.0	6.3	7.1	6.6	6.9

For Female Candidates

Height in cm	Weight in cm
Height in cm	20-25 cm	26-30 cm
148	43	46
149	44	47
150	45	48
151	45	48
152	46	49
153	47	50
154	47	50
155	48	51
156	49	52
157	49	53
158	50	53
159	51	54
160	51	55
161	52	55
162	52	56
163	53	57
164	54	57
165	54	58
166	55	59
167	56	60
168	56	60
169	57	61
170	58	62
171	58	62
172	59	63
173	59	64
174	60	64
175	61	65
176	61	66
177	62	67
178	63	67
SD	5	5

AFCAT 2021 Visual Standards

For Flying Branch

Visual Standards for Flying Branch
Minimum distant vision 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in other correctable to 6/6 only for Hypermetropia		Colour vision CP-1
		Hypermetropia : +2.0 d Sph
		Manifest Myopia: Nil
		RetinoscopicMyopia: – 0.5 in any meridian permitted
		Astigmatism : +0.75 D Cyl (with + 2.0 DMax)
Maddox Rod Test	At 6 meters	Exo -6 prism D
		Eso- 6 prism D
		Hyper -1 prism D
		Hypo -1 prism D
	At 33 cms	Exo -16 prism D
		Eso - 6 prism D
		Hyper -1 prism D
		1 Hypo -1 prism D
Handheld Stereoscope		All of BSV Grades
Convergence		up to 10 cm
Cover test for distant and near		Latent divergence/convergence recovery rapid and complete.
Binocular Vision		Applicants must have a good binocular vision (fusion and stereopsis with good amplitude and depth).

Note: Applicants who wear spectacles regularly are not eligible for flying branch.

Visual Standards for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch

Maximum Limits of Refractive Error	Visual Acuity Errors	Colour Vision
Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Sph	Corrected visual acuity should be 6/9 in each eye. Applicants will have to wear glasses when advised.	CP-II
Myopia: -3.50 D Sph
Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cyl

Visual Standards for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branch:

Sub Branch	Maximum Limits of Refractive Error	Visual Acuity Errors	Colour Vision
Administration	Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Sph	Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in each eye	CP-II
	Myopia: -3.5 Sph
	Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cyl in any meridian
Logistics	Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Sph	Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye. Wearing of Glasses will be compulsory.	CP-III
	Myopia: -3.50 D Sph
	Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cyl
Accounts and Education	Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Sph	Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye. Wearing of Glasses will be compulsory.	CP-III
	Myopia: -3.50 D Sph
	Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cyl
Meteorology	Hypermetropia: +3.5 D Sph	Corrected visual acuity should be 6/6 in the better eye and 6/18 in the worse eye. Wearing of Glasses will be compulsory.	CP-II
	Myopia: -3.5 D Sph
	Astigmatism: ± 2.50 D Cyl in any meridian

Criteria for post LASIK surgery for all branches (Flying/Ground Duty (Tech)/ Ground Duty (Non-tech)

Applicants who go through the LASIK (Laser in Situ Keratomileusis)/ PRK (Photo Refractive Keratotomy) are treated as eligible for all the branches in the Air Force. Candidates have to meet the criteria mentioned below:

At least twelve months should have lapsed post uncomplicate stable LASIK. No history or evidence of any complication.
The post LASIK corneal thickness as measured by a corneal pachymeter should be at least 450 microns.

An Inguinal Hernia

Applicants who have gone through the Hernia operation will only be considered if he/ she satisfies the conditions mentioned below.

The candidate will only be allowed to appear if there is a gap of 12 months after the operation else he/she will be considered ineligible.
The scar must have healed well.

Medical Standards for the Flying Branch

The applicants applying for the AFCAT should not have gone through any operation or injury from the past few years and he must not have any disease. Some of the reasons which can reject him/her are mentioned below:

Non-articular rheumUnilateral/bilateralism ( e.g lesions of the rotator cuff, tennis elbow, recurrent lumbago etc).
Compression fracture of vertebra
Granulomatous Disease of the spine
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Misc disorders including SLE, Polymyositis and Vasculitis.
Loss of cervical lordosis when associated with clinically restricted movements of the cervical spine.
Scheuerman’s Disease (Adolescent Kyphosis)
Rheumatoid arthritis and allied disorders
Unilateral/bilateral cervical ribs with a demonstrable neurological or circulatory deficit.
Osteoarthrosis, Spondylosis and Degenerative joint disease.
Any other abnormality as so considered by the specialist.
Spondylolisthesis / Spondylolysis.
Arthritis / Spondylosis