Exam Timing for AFCAT and EKT -
The AFCAT and EKT exams will be carried out in two days as per the underneath schedule –
Activity
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22nd and 23rd February 2020
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19th and 20th September 2020
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1st Shift (AFCAT)
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2nd Shift (AFCAT + EKT)
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1st Shift (AFCAT)
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2nd Shift (AFCAT + EKT)
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Reporting time
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8 am
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12.30 pm
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8 am
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12.30 pm
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Admit card, photo, thumb impression, ID proof, sign on attendance biometrics and seating verification
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8 am to 9.30 am
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12.30 pm to 2 pm
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8 am to 9.30 am
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12.30 pm to 2 pm
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Going through the instructions
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9.30 am to 9.45 am
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2 pm to 2.15 pm
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9.30 am to 9.45 am
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2 pm to 2.15 pm
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AFCAT
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9.45 am to 11.45 am
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2.15 pm to 4.15 pm
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9.45 am to 11.45 am
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2.15 pm to 4.15 pm
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EKT – reading of instructions
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4.15 pm to 4.30 pm
|
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4.15 pm to 4.30 pm
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Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)
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4.30 pm to 5.15 pm
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4.30 pm to 5.15 pm
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Note: Candidates appearing at the exam centre after ‘the pre-exam verification process’ has commenced will not get an entry under any circumstance. The verification process will start at 8 am for Shift 1 and at 12.30 pm for Shift 2.
AFCAT 2020 Centres -
The AFCAT 2020 exam will be conducted at the following 104 cities across the country:
- A: Agra, Agartala, Allahabad, Aizawl, Aligarh, Ambala, Ahmedabad, Amritsar
- B: Bareilly, Belgaum, Bengaluru, Bhuj, Bhagalpur, Bhopal, Bhilai, Bhubaneswar, Behrampur (Odisha), Bikaner
- C: Chennai, Chandigarh
- D: Darbhanga, Dehradun, Coimbatore, Delhi/NCR, Diu, Dhanbad, Durgapur
- G: Gorakhpur, Ganganagar, Guntur, Gwalior, Guwahati
- H: Hissar, Haldwani, Hyderabad
- I: Imphal, Itanagar
- J: Jabalpur, Jalandhar, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jalpaigudi, Jamshedpur, Jammu, Jhansi, Indore, Jorhat
- K: Kannur, Kakinada, Kharagpur, Kochi, Kanpur, Kohima, Kolhapur, Kota, Kolkata, Kurukshetra
- L: Lucknow, Leh
- M: Mangalore, Madurai, Mumbai, Meerut, Mysore
- N: Nasik, Nagpur, Nizamabad
- P: Pathankot, Puducherry, Patna, Port Blair, Pune
- R: Rourkee, Rajkot, Rohtak, Ranchi, Rourkela
- S: Shillong, Sambalpur, Shimla, Solapur, Silchar, Srinagar
- T: Tinsukia, Thane, Thrissur, Thiruvananthapuram, Tirunelveli, Tirupati
- U: Ujjain, Udaipur
- V: Varanasi, Vadodara, Vijayawada, Vellore, Visakhapatnam
- W: Warangal
Note: Candidates are provided with the choice to fill their preferred examination center while filling up the application form. Thus, no changes in the exam center venue, date, or slot are allowed under any circumstances. As far as possible, IAF tries to allot the centers as per the candidates’ choices.
AFCAT (I) Admit Card 2020
Candidates can download the AFCAT admit card from the official website from 4th February 2020. The call letter will also be sent to the registered email IDs of the candidates provided at the time of registration. Under any circumstances, it will not be sent through the post. Candidates will not be allowed to enter the examination hall without the admit card. If there are any discrepancies in the admit card details or any issue in downloading the same, inform the AFCAT Query Cell at 020-25503105 or 020-25503106 or email at [email protected]
How to Download AFCAT Admit Card 2020?
- Visit the website of AFCAT.
- Enter your registered email ID and Password, followed by CAPTCHA image to log in.
- That’s it! You can now download the call letter and take a printout for future reference.
AFCAT (II) Admit Card 2020
The AFCAT II admit card has been out now on 16th September 2020. Candidates can download the same using their username and password and enter it at the official website - careerindianairforce.cdac.in. The admit card will also be sent to the registered email ID of the candidates. Please note that no admit card will be sent via post.
Details Mentioned on the AFCAT Admit Card
The following details are mentioned on the AFCAT admit card. Candidates are advised to check these carefully and report any discrepancies to the exam conducting authority at the earliest.
- Candidate’s Name
- Father’s Name
- Mother’s Name
- Candidate’s Date of Birth
- Gender
- Identification Mark Details
- Hall Ticket number
- Aadhaar Card Number
- Registration Number
- Address
- Email ID
- Mobile Number
- AFCAT Center Name and Address
- Date of the Exam
- Reporting time
- Uploaded Signature and Thumb Impression
- EKT Stream
- Declaration
- General Instructions
Candidates must paste their passport size photograph in the space provided. For reporting discrepancies in the AFCAT admit card, contact the AFCAT Query Cell at C-DAC, Pune at 020-25503105 or 020-25503106. Email can also be sent at [email protected].
Forgot Password? Procedure to Retrieve
It is a very common issue that candidates forget the password of their AFCAT profile. No need to worry as you can easily retrieve the password by following the steps mentioned below:
- Go to the official website and click on the candidate’s login link.
- The log-in window will appear on the screen.
- Look for the ‘Forgot Password’ link and click it.
- You will be asked to enter your registered email and answer the secret question.
- Reset the password.
- Now, log-in using your registration number and the new password.
- Do note down the new password at a place you remember.
Items Permitted inside the Exam Hall
Candidates are required to carry the following items inside the examination hall:
- AFCAT 2020 Admit Card
- Candidate’s Photo ID Proof (Original) - Any one of the Aadhaar Card, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Voter Identity Card, College Identity Card.
- Two Passport-Size Photograph (coloured)
- Ball Pen (Blue or Black)
Items Not Permitted inside the Exam Hall
The following items are not allowed inside the examination hall:
- Textual Material
- Docu-pen
- Calculators
- Mobile Phones
- BlueTooth, Pager
- Slide Rulers, Electronic Watches, Log Tables
Malpractices
“If any candidate resorts to the use of unfair means during the exam, he/she will be withdrawn from the examination and his/her candidature will be cancelled.”
Exam Day Tips
- Keep all the required things viz. admit card, ID proof, and other items ready and don’t forget to carry them to the examination center.
- Reach the examination center well before time to avoid the last-minute rush.
- Keep calm during the exam. Just stay confident about your preparation.
- Attempt the questions you are sure about at first and then move on to the difficult questions. GK and Aptitude are scoring subjects. So, focus more on them.
- Don’t forget about the negative marking. It will reduce your score. So, don’t do any guesswork while answering the questions.
- Keep track of the time and try to solve questions in each section. Don’t ignore any section as qualifying each section is also necessary.
AFCAT (I) Result 2020 -
The AFCAT result 2020 for Paper-I was announced on 17th March 2020. Candidates had an opportunity to check the result through the official website by using their login credentials.
How to Download AFCAT Result 2020?
- Visit the official website of AFCAT.
- In the next step, enter your registered email ID and Password, followed by CAPTCHA image to complete the login.
- That’s it! You can now see the result and the scorecard in PDF format. You can take a printout for future reference.
AFCAT (II) 2020 Result
The AFCAT (2) 2020 result is now available at the official website. To check AFCAT result, candidates need to enter email ID, password and captcha code. The result displays the qualifying status of candidates, section-wise marks, overall marks and cutoff marks.
The exam was held in 03rd, 04th, and 05th October 2020 and selected candidates need to select their AFSB Interview date and centre. The AFSB Interview will be conducted from 14th November 2020. The result is made available at the official website and candidates can check the same using their email-ID and password.
How to check AFCAT 2 2020 Result?
- Go to the official website - afcat.cdac.in
- Click the link ‘AFCAT (2) 2020 Cycle’ given under ‘Candidates Login’ tab
- Enter your user ID, password and captcha code
- Click on 'Log in'
- AFCAT Result will appear on your screen
- You can take a print out for future use
AFCAT 2020 Cut-Off
The AFCAT 2020 cut-off is released along with the result. AFCAT cut-off is the minimum qualifying marks required to qualify the exam. Those who secure the minimum qualifying marks are eligible for the next round of selection. The cut-off marks are determined by the IAF. It varies every year and depends upon the difficulty level and the number of candidates appeared for the exam.
Steps to check the AFCAT 2020 cut-off
The cut-off is mentioned on the scorecard. So candidates can easily check it while accessing the scorecards. Here are the quick steps:
- Visit the official website.
- Click on the candidate’s login link.
- Enter your details to log-in.
- The scorecard will appear on the screen. The AFCAT 2020 cut-off will be mentioned in the scorecard.
- Download the scorecard.
Factors Determining AFCAT Cut-Off
IAF determines the AFCAT cut-off based on various factors. Here are the factors:
- Total number of seats available (Vacancies)
- Number of applicants appeared for the exam
- The difficulty level of the exam
- Previous Years’ cut-off trends
Previous Years’ Cut-Off Trends
Here are the details about previous years’ cut-offs to help you understand the trends:
Years
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AFCAT-I
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EKT-I
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AFCAT-II
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EKT-II
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2018
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140
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55
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155
|
60
|
2017
|
160
|
60
|
150
|
60
|
2016
|
148
|
60
|
132
|
52
|
2015
|
144
|
52
|
126
|
55
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AFCAT-I 2020 Cut-Off
AFCAT-I 2020 result and cut-off has been released. The cut-off details of the same are as under:
- AFCAT-I cut-off - 153 (out of 300 marks)
- EKT-I cut-off - 40 (out of 150 marks)
AFCAT Cut-Off - Quick Question and Answers
Q: What will be considered a good score in AFCAT?
Looking at the previous trends, the cut-off ranges from 140 to 160. So, candidates must try to reach the cut-off level as well as score as high as possible for appearing above in the merit list.
Q: Is there any sectional-cutoff in the exam?
No, there is no sectional-cutoff in the exam.
Q: Will my academic percentage be considered while preparing the merit list for AFSB Interview?
No. The list of qualified candidates will be based only on the scores secured in the online examination.
Q: If I qualify the AFCAT cut-off but not the EKT cut-off, will I not be selected?
The EKT cut-off is for selection to the Ground Duty Technical branch. So, if you don’t qualify the EKT cut-off, you will not be considered for the branch. However, you will be eligible for other branches.
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What After Online Test Result? Detailed Selection Process
AFCAT Written/ Online examination is the first phase of the selection process. The entire selection process comprises of the following stages:
- AFCAT Written Examination
- AFSB Interview/ Personality Test
- Medical Examination
- Final Merit List
We will be discussing the detailed selection process here. The details about the AFCAT exam are provided above in the ‘Exam Pattern and Syllabus’ section.
After qualifying the online AFCAT exam, candidates are required to appear for the interview round conducted by the Air Force Selection Board (AFSB). Those who have applied through the ‘NCC Special Entry’ can directly appear for the AFSB interview round. Qualified candidates are required to choose the AFSB interview date and venue through the official websites - careerindianairforce.cdac.in or afcat.cdac.in. The call letter for the interview will be generated after selecting the interview date and timing.
Important Points
- Candidates must be physically fit while reporting at the AFSB center. They must aim to achieve the ability to run 1.6 km in 10 minutes, do 3 chin-ups and 10 push-ups.
- Permanent tattoos are permitted only on the reverse side of the palm/ backside of hand and on the inner face of the forearm. Permanent tattoos on any other body parts are not acceptable. Tattoos on face or body as per existing tribe’s customs and tradition will be permitted.
- Candidates will be tested for the use of drugs during the medical examination. Use or possession of narcotics results in permanent debarment from the forces at any stage of selection, training, as well as service.
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AFSB Interview Centers
The AFSB interview centers are at the following places:
- Dehradun (1 AFSB)
- Gandhinagar (3 AFSB)
- Mysuru (2 AFSB)
- Varanasi (4 AFSB)
Those who have opted for the flying branch can choose only from Dehradun, Varanasi, and Mysore centers.
Provision for Changes of Interview Dates
Requests for postponing the interview process may be considered only under genuine circumstances and that too on the sole discretion of the concerned authority. Such requests must be sent only through email to the AFSB center at which the interview is scheduled.
Stages of AFSB Interview Round
The interview round will comprise of the following three stages:
Stage-I: Stage-I is a screening test and candidates who qualify the screening test can appear for the next stages. The stage-I comprises Officer Intelligence Rating Test with Picture Perception and Discussion Test. The document verification process is also conducted in this stage to check the eligibility. These tests will be conducted on the first day. Those who don’t qualify the tests or fail the document verification process will be sent back on the first day only.
Stage-II: In stage-II, Psychological test is conducted. It is also conducted on Day 1 (Afternoon). Group Tests and Interviews are conducted for the next five days.
For Flying Branch: Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS) is only for recommended candidates. It is a once in a lifetime test. “Candidates who have failed the CPSS/ PABT in an earlier attempt or a Flight Cadet suspended from flying training at Air Force Academy will not be eligible.”
Injuries during AFSB Tests
As per the official notification; “Candidates will appear before the AFSB and undergo the test at their own risk and will not be entitled to claim any compensation or other relief from Government in the event of any injury which they may sustain in the course of or as a result of any of the tests given to them at the Selection Board whether due to the negligence of any person or otherwise. Candidates will be required to sign an indemnity bond to this effect on the form appended to the application. ”
Documents Required to be Carried for AFSB Round
Candidates must carry the following documents for the document verification process at the AFSB center:
- AFCAT 2020 Admit Card
- Original Matriculation/ Secondary School Certificate and Mark Sheet issued by ICSE/ CBSE/ State Board. “No other certificate will be accepted for verification of Date of Birth.”
- Original Mark Sheet and Certificate of 10+2 examination issued by a recognised board.
- Original or Provisional Certificates and Mark Sheets of Graduation/ Post-graduation degree. Mark Sheets of each semester/ year is required. Provisional Certificate issued by a college Principal will not be accepted. However, if the provisional degree certificate is issued by the University, it will be accepted.
- If the student is in the final semester/ year, he is required to produce a certificate issued by the College Principal with the following details:
- Name of the College
- Name of the University
- Discipline in which Graduation/ Post Graduation obtained
- Aggregate Percentage
- Likely Date of Declaration of Final Result (in DD/MM/YYYY Format)
The certificate should have the proper stamp and seal of the institution.
- Two photocopies (attested) of each of the above-mentioned certificates.
- NCC Certificate (original) - if applicable
- NOC from employers - if the candidate is working in State/ Central Government or any Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
- Valid Commercial Pilot’s License (original) issued by DGCA - if applicable
- Railway Ticket/ Bus Ticket (for a refund of TA)
- Twenty recent passport size coloured photographs (must be taken against a white background in light coloured clothes.)
Travelling Allowance (TA)
As per the official notification; “To and fro travelling fare by the shortest route of AC-III Tier/AC Chair Car or actual normal bus fare will be reimbursed to the candidates appearing in AFSB for the first time. ” Candidates must furnish the railway ticket/ bus ticket (in hard copy) to the Board to claim the TA. “No TA is admissible if you have already appeared for the same type of entry at any of the Selection Boards.”
Change in address (if any) must be intimated to the board before reaching the interview center.
AFCAT Selection Process - Quick Question and Answers
Q: Are the AFSB Interview days reduced to 3 days?
No. There is no information on the reduction of Interview days. The AFSB Interview and Tests will take 5 days to complete.
Q: Is there any reservation in the AFCAT selection process?
No, there is no reservation.
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Final Merit List
To be eligible for the final selection, candidates must have secured the minimum qualifying marks in the written examination and AFSB tests, separately. The final merit list is prepared based on the total marks secured by the candidates in the written examination and AFSB round. As per the official notification; “The form and manner of communication of the result of the examination to individual candidates shall be decided by the IAF at their discretion.”
Note - “10% of the vacancies are reserved for NCC Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate holders in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-technical) Branches. Allotment of PC/ SSC in Ground Duty (Technical and Non-technical) Branches would be based on the number of vacancies, performance in the selection process and the choice given by the candidates.”
Training
After the final merit list declaration, candidates are required to undergo the training. Candidates are detailed for the training only on merit basis and vacancies. The details of the training are as under:
Date and Duration
Training for candidates, who will qualify the AFCAT 2020 selection process, is scheduled to commence in the first week of January 2021 for all courses. The approximate duration of training is as under:
- For Flying and Ground Duty (Technical) Branches - 74 weeks
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches - 52 weeks
Training will be conducted at Air Force Training Establishments.
Physical Conditioning
“Candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition to adapt to physical training at AFA which encompasses running, swimming, rope climbing and other forms of physical training/conditioning in which they would undergo mandatory tests during training. Candidates are advised to keep themselves in good physical condition by following the under mentioned routine:
- Running: up to 4 Km. in 15 minutes
- Skipping
- Push-ups & Sit-ups: Minimum 20 each
- Chin-ups: 08
- Rope Climbing: 3 to 4 metres
- Swimming (25 m)”
Important Note - “After admission to Air Force Academy, candidates will not be considered for any other commission. They will not be permitted to appear for any interview or examination after they have been finally selected for training in AFA. No request for withdrawal of candidature received from a candidate after he/she has submitted his/her application will be entertained under any circumstance. PAN Card, Aadhaar card and account in SBI/ Nationalized Bank is mandatory at the time of joining Air Force Academy (AFA).”
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AFCAT Job Profile, Salary, and Career Growth
Job Profile
The job profiles are different as per the branches. Here are the details about branches and the respective departments come under them:
Branches
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Departments
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Flying
|
Helicopter, Fighter, Transport (Commercial)
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Ground (Technical)
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Mechanical and Electrical
|
Ground (Non-Technical)
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Logistics, Administration, Education, Accounts, Meteorology
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Annual Salary
A stipend of ₹ 52,600 is paid to trainees of the Indian Air Force during the training period. The annual package for each branch is as under:
- Flying branch - INR 8 to 10 lakhs
- Ground Duty (Technical) - INR 7 to 9 lakhs
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical) - INR 7 to 9 lakhs
In-Hand Monthly Salary (Initial)
- Flying Branch - INR 85,372/-
- Ground Duty (Technical) - INR 74,872/-
- Ground Duty (Non-Technical) - INR 71,872/-
Salary Structure
The latest breakdown of salary for a commissioned officer is as under:
Heads
|
Amount (per month)
|
Pay Band (Level 10 - Pay Matrix)
|
INR 56,100/-
|
Military Service Pay
|
INR 15,500/-
|
CPC
|
INR 56,000/- to 1,10,700/-
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Benefits and Perks
Candidates are also entitled to other perks and benefits apart from the salary. These are categorised as under:
Categories
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Benefits
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Medical
|
Free access to medical rooms and hospitals for all officers and their dependents.
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Insurance
|
Air Force Personnel - ₹ 75 lakhs
Air Force Personnel (Pilots) - ₹ 85 lakhs
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Loan Facility
|
House Loan
Conveyance Loan
Computer Loan
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Scholarships and Welfare
|
Grants from the Air Force Wives Welfare Association (AFWWA)
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Educational Opportunities
|
M.Tech. for officers of Technical branches in IIT and BHU-IT
Tie-ups with IGNOU
Study leave of up to 24 months
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Other Benefits
|
Accommodation (Secured campus life)
Annual leave of 60 days and casual leave of 20 days per year
Leave travel concessions
Rail concessions
Institutes and Messes membership
CSD facilities
Recreational and sports facilities
School facilities for children
|
Placement Cell
|
For retired officers to get private jobs as per their profile
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Post-Retirement Benefits
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Pension
Medical (Lifetime)
Insurance
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Promotions
Promotions for the first three ranks are done on a time-scale basis and for the other posts based on selection. It depends upon the frequency with which the job positions get vacant. Here are some important points regarding promotions:
- After serving as a Flying Officer for 3 years, candidates are promoted as Flight Lieutenants. For this, they are required to qualify a department test.
- On completion of 6 years of service in IAF, the rank of Squadron Leader is granted.
- All officers are required to clear the promotion exam ‘C’ (departmental) for promotions.
Rank Structure
Here is the rank structure of the commissioned officers in the Indian Air Force:
Level
|
Posts
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Junior Level
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Flying Officer
|
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Flight Lieutenant
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Executive Level
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Squadron Leader
|
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Wing commander
|
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Group Captain
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Director Level
|
Air Commodore
|
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Air Vice Marshal
|
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Air Marshal
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Chief
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Air Chief Marshal
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Helplines for Candidates
Candidates can find answers to their queries through the helpline numbers. The timings for telephonic queries are from 0930 hrs to 1300 hrs and 1400 hrs to 1700 hrs from Monday to Friday (except for closed holidays).
For Queries related to Registration Process, Admit Cards, Online Examination
Contact AFCAT Cell on 020-25503105 or 020-25503106
Email at [email protected].
For Queries related to Eligibility, Date of AFSB Interview, Allotment of AFSB centers, Merit List, Joining Instructions, Selection Process
Contact on 011-23010231 Extn: 7610
Toll-Free Number - 1800-11- 2448
Visit Website at careerindianairforce.cdac.in or afcat.cdac.in.
Check our latest AFCAT Frequently Asked Questions - Click Here.
Kavya PB - July 14, 2020
Such nice article reletive topic good communication way tq ...
Kunal - January 11, 2019
can we attempt this exam twice in a year ?