AFCAT 1 Notification 2027: Expected Dates, Eligibility, Vacancies and How to Apply

Quick Answer: The AFCAT 01/2027 notice isn't out yet. Based on the last two cycles, expect it in early to mid November 2026, with applications open for about a month and the exam in late January or early February 2027. Selected candidates would join training in January 2028. Since AFCAT 02/2026, there's no minimum percentage rule in Class 12 or graduation.

Checking the Air Force portal every few days for the 01/2027 notice? You're early, and that's a good place to be. Every week before the notice is a week of extra practice.

The AFCAT 1 notification 2027 is expected in November 2026. The Indian Air Force hasn't released it yet. So everything below combines confirmed facts from the AFCAT 01/2026 and 02/2026 notices with clearly marked estimates for this cycle.

You'll find the expected timeline, vacancy trends, projected age windows, the eligibility changes that came in 2026, the exam pattern and the application steps.

When Will the AFCAT 1 Notification 2027 Be Released?

Expect it in early to mid November 2026. AFCAT 01/2026 was notified on 9 November 2025, with applications from 17 November to 19 December and the exam on 31 January 2026. If the Air Force repeats that rhythm, the exam should fall in late January or early February 2027.

What the Last Two Cycles Tell You

• Deadlines slip, but don't count on it: both cycles ended with an extended last date. Plan to apply in the first week anyway.
• The AFCAT 1 2027 registration date should land within a week or two of the notice. In 02/2026, that gap was about a week.
• Admit cards come late: the 02/2026 admit card opened on 4 August, just four days before the exam.
• Results move fast: the 02/2026 result came on 9 September, about a month after the exam. AFSB interviews follow over the next few months.

Dates help you plan. But what most aspirants really want to know next is how many seats there are.

How Many Vacancies Can You Expect?

If the trend holds, expect a figure close to 340 to 380. AFCAT 01/2026 had 340 vacancies and AFCAT 02/2026 had 379, split across Flying, Ground Duty Technical, Ground Duty Non-Technical and GATE entry. The 01/2027 figure will only be confirmed in the notice.

What These Numbers Mean for Your Branch Choice

• Flying is the tightest: just 35 seats in 02/2026, and only 5 for women. Flying aspirants should keep a ground duty branch as a second preference.
• Technical is the biggest pool: 211 seats went to Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) and (Mechanical).
• Non-technical spreads thin: Administration had 62 seats, Weapon Systems 26, Accounts 7, Logistics 6, and Education and Meteorology 3 each.
• NCC Air Wing C certificate holders get a separate Flying route, with 10% of Flying seats and no written exam.

Seat counts set your odds. Eligibility decides whether you're in the race at all.

What Is the AFCAT 2027 Eligibility?

You must be an unmarried Indian citizen within the branch age limit, with the required degree. The biggest change came in AFCAT 02/2026: the minimum percentage rule in Class 12 and graduation was removed, as SSBCrackExams reported. If that rule carries over, a candidate with 55% in graduation can now apply for Flying.

These windows are projected by moving the 01/2026 windows forward one year, since the course shifts from January 2027 to January 2028. Confirm them against the notice before applying.

Branch-wise Education Rules (as per AFCAT 02/2026)

• Flying: Class 12 with Maths and Physics, plus any three-year degree, or BE/B.Tech.
• Ground Duty Technical: a four-year engineering degree (or AMIE equivalent) in the listed disciplines for Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) or (Mechanical). The separate EKT paper didn't appear in the 02/2026 notice.
• Weapon Systems: Class 12 with Maths and Physics, plus any degree.
• Administration and Logistics: any graduate degree.
• Accounts: B.Com, BBA, BMS or BBS with finance, or CA, CMA, CS or CFA.
• Education: a postgraduate degree in any discipline. Meteorology: B.Sc with Physics and Maths, or engineering in the listed streams.

Final-year students can apply if they have no current backlog and submit their degree proof by the notified date.

What Is the AFCAT Exam Pattern?

AFCAT is a two-hour online test with 100 questions worth 300 marks. Each correct answer gets 3 marks and each wrong one loses 1. Leaving a question blank costs nothing. The paper is in English only.

Three wrong answers cancel one right one, so skip what you can't narrow down.

What Happens After the Written Exam

• AFSB: five days at Dehradun, Mysuru, Gandhinagar, Varanasi or Guwahati. Day 1 has the OIR test and picture discussion, followed by psychology tests, group tasks and the interview.
• CPSS for Flying: a pilot aptitude test you get only once in your lifetime.
• Medical exam: for candidates the AFSB recommends.
• Merit list: built from written and AFSB performance, matched against your branch preferences.

Know the stages? Then the last step is getting the application right.

How to Apply for AFCAT 1 2027

You'll apply online on the official AFCAT portal once the notice is out. The fee in 02/2026 was ₹550 plus GST, about ₹649 in total. NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry candidates paid nothing.

1. Register with your name, mobile number and email, and verify with an OTP.
2. Fill in personal, education and branch preference details.
3. Upload your photo, signature, thumb impression and a live webcam photo.
4. Pay the fee online and download the confirmation page.

Documents to Keep Ready Now

• Class 10 certificate for date of birth, plus Class 12 marksheets.
• Degree marksheets for every semester, or a college letter if you're in final year.
• Aadhaar card, and an NCC C certificate or valid GATE scorecard if applicable.
• Scanned photo and signature, resized to the portal's file limits.

No edits are allowed after you submit, so check every field twice.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will the AFCAT 01/2027 notification come out?

It's expected in early to mid November 2026. The previous January-cycle notice came out on 9 November 2025, with applications from 17 November. Exact dates will be confirmed only when the Indian Air Force publishes the notice on the official AFCAT portal.

What is the expected AFCAT 1 2027 exam date?

Late January or early February 2027. AFCAT 01/2026 was held on 31 January 2026, and the Air Force usually keeps the January-cycle exam in that window. In 02/2026, the admit card opened four days before the exam.

Is 60% in graduation still required for AFCAT?

Not as of AFCAT 02/2026. That notice removed the minimum percentage criteria in Class 12 and graduation. You still need the right subjects and degree for your branch, such as Maths and Physics in Class 12 for Flying. Recheck this in the 01/2027 notice.

Can final-year students apply for AFCAT 1 2027?

Yes. Final-year students without a current backlog can apply, provided they submit proof of their degree by the date set in the notice. In the 02/2026 cycle, that date was about a month before training began.

Start Before the AFCAT 1 Notification 2027 Drops

The notice is likely a few weeks away, and the exam about three months away. Use that gap well: check your branch eligibility now, keep your documents scanned, and start timed practice on all four sections, especially if Flying is your target.

Want an alert the day the notice and application link go live? Join the community channels on WhatsApp or Telegram.

Read Also:

• Flying Branch vs Ground Duty Branch: Which to Choose in AFCAT
• How to Crack AFCAT in the First Attempt: 3-Month Plan
• Air Force AFSB Interview: Full 5-Day Process