IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028 has been announced by the Indian Air Force for commissioning in Flying and Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical) branches through AFCAT 01/2027, NCC Special Entry and GATE Score Entry, for courses commencing in January 2028. Online registration runs from 12/11/2026 (1100 hrs) to 11/12/2026 (2330 hrs) at afcat.edcil.co.in, with separate tabs for each entry scheme. Men and women Indian citizens are eligible as per the Citizenship Act 1955.
Aspirants aiming for a commissioned career in the Indian Air Force get three parallel entry routes through the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028, with training beginning in the first week of January 2028 at Air Force Academy Dundigal (Hyderabad).
IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028 Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organization | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Entries | AFCAT 01/2027, NCC Special Entry, GATE Score Entry |
| Branches | Flying; Ground Duty Technical and Non-Technical |
| Course Commencement | January 2028 |
| Registration | 12/11/2026 1100 hrs to 11/12/2026 2330 hrs |
| Portal | https://afcat.edcil.co.in |
| Training | AFA Dundigal; 74 weeks Flying/GD Tech, 50 weeks GD Non-Tech |
| Pay | Flying Officer Rs. 56,100-1,77,500 Level 10 + MSP Rs. 15,500 |
All three entry tabs of the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028 operate on the single AFCAT portal with Aadhaar-based registration.
Entry, Branch and Course Numbers
| Entry | Branch | Course Number | Vacancies |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFCAT Entry | Flying | 223/28F/SSC/M&W | As per 01/2027 cycle notification |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 222/28T/PC/112AEC/M&W, 222/28T/SSC/112AEC/M&W | As per 01/2027 cycle notification |
| AFCAT Entry | Ground Duty (Non-Technical) | 222/28G/SSC/M&W (Adm, Lgs, Accts, Edn, Met) | As per 01/2027 cycle notification |
| NCC Special Entry | Flying | 223/28F/PC/M and 223/28F/SSC/M&W | 10% of CDSE vacancies for PC and 10% of AFCAT vacancies for SSC |
| GATE Score Entry | Ground Duty (Technical) | 222/28T/PC/112AEC/M&W, 222/28T/SSC/112AEC/M&W | As per 01/2027 cycle notification |
A disclaimer in the advertisement states that vacancies may change without notice depending on organizational requirements, cadre control, training slots and actual vacancies of January 2028, and two seats are reserved from Ground Duty (Non-Technical) vacancies for Law qualified candidates under the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028.
Age Limit as on 01 January 2028
- Flying Branch (SSC): 20 to 24 years, i.e. born between 02/01/2004 and 01/01/2008 inclusive; holders of a valid current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA get upper age relaxation up to 26 years, i.e. born between 02/01/2002 and 01/01/2008.
- Ground Duty (Technical and Non-Technical): 20 to 26 years, i.e. born between 02/01/2002 and 01/01/2008 inclusive; GATE Score Entry for Ground Duty Technical follows the same band.
Commission Types and Training
The commission framework of the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028 offers both PC and SSC routes:
- Permanent Commission for men and women who continue till superannuation in their branches; SSC flying officers serve fourteen years from commissioning, while SSC Ground Duty officers serve an initial ten years with a possible four-year extension.
- Training commences in the first week of January 2028 at Air Force Academy Dundigal; duration is 74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty Technical and 50 weeks for Ground Duty Non-Technical at Air Force Training Establishments.
- PAN card and an account in SBI or a nationalised bank are mandatory at commissioning, and Aadhaar is mandatory for registration in the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028.
Pay, Allowances and Privileges
Under the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028, Flying Officers draw Rs. 56,100-1,77,500 at Level 10 plus Military Service Pay of Rs. 15,500, and flight cadets receive a fixed stipend of Rs. 56,100 per month during training. Allowances include flying, transport, technical, test pilot and flight test engineer, risk and hardship allowances; officers get furnished accommodation, medical cover for self and dependants, subsidised canteen and mess, LTC and 60 days annual plus 20 days casual leave. Mandatory insurance under AFGIS covers Rs. 1.25 Cr on death in service, with PC officers eligible for Air Veterans Insurance Cover of Rs. 24 Lacs initially for 15 years after retirement.
How to Apply
- Visit https://afcat.edcil.co.in during the window of the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028.
- Register through the separate tabs for AFCAT Entry, NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry; candidates eligible for more than one entry must register separately in each.
- Fill personal and educational details using Aadhaar-verified identity.
- Upload documents as per instructions and submit before 11/12/2026 (2330 hrs).
- Keep the registration printout for AFSB and later stages.
Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Registration Opens | 12/11/2026, 1100 hrs |
| Online Registration Closes | 11/12/2026, 2330 hrs |
| Course Commencement | First week of January 2028 |
Registration for the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028 closes sharply at 2330 hrs on 11/12/2026, so candidates should not delay submission.
Important Links
| Link | URL |
|---|---|
| AFCAT Registration Portal | https://afcat.edcil.co.in/ |
| Official Notification | Download |
FAQs
1. What are the entry routes in the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028?
AFCAT 01/2027, NCC Special Entry for Flying and GATE Score Entry for Ground Duty Technical, with separate registration tabs.
2. What is the registration window?
From 12 November 2026 at 1100 hrs to 11 December 2026 at 2330 hrs on afcat.edcil.co.in.
3. What is the age limit for Flying Branch?
20 to 24 years as on 01/01/2028, relaxable to 26 years for current DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence holders.
4. How long is the training?
74 weeks for Flying and Ground Duty Technical and 50 weeks for Ground Duty Non-Technical, starting January 2028 at AFA Dundigal.
5. What pay does a Flying Officer receive?
Rs. 56,100-1,77,500 at Level 10 plus MSP Rs. 15,500, with a Rs. 56,100 monthly stipend during training.
6. Are vacancies fixed?
No, actual intake depends on organizational requirements and vacancies of January 2028, with two Law-qualified seats reserved in Ground Duty Non-Technical under the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028.
Conclusion
The IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028 opens prestigious Flying and Ground Duty commissions through three parallel entries with a clear November-December 2026 registration window. Verify your birth band against the 01/01/2028 cut-off, register in every entry you qualify for, and keep Aadhaar, PAN and a nationalised bank account ready for commissioning. Follow gccjobinfo.com for AFCAT exam dates, AFSB calls and course updates of the IAF Commissioned Officer Recruitment 2028.