AFCAT Vacancy 2026 – Branch Wise Vacancies & Post Details

The Indian Air Force (IAF) conducts the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) twice every year to recruit Commissioned Officers in the Flying Branch and Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branches. Knowing the AFCAT Vacancy 2026 is essential to understand the competition level and plan your target branch wisely.

Here, you’ll find the complete AFCAT 2026 Vacancy details including branch-wise, gender-wise, and category-wise distribution — along with last year’s comparison for better clarity.

AFCAT 2026 Total Vacancies (Expected)

As per trends, the AFCAT 1 2026 Notification is expected to announce around 350–400 total vacancies across all branches. This includes seats for both men and women in the Flying and Ground Duty streams.

Branch	Expected Vacancies (Approx.)	Eligibility
Flying Branch	45–50	Graduates (Physics & Maths in 10+2)
Ground Duty (Technical)	120–130	Engineering Graduates (Mechanical, Electronics, CS, etc.)
Ground Duty (Non-Technical)	150–180	Graduates from any discipline

Last Year’s AFCAT Vacancies (2025)

To understand the trend, let’s look at the AFCAT 1 2025 official vacancy distribution:

Branch	Men	Women	Total
Flying	29	11	40
Ground Duty (Tech) – AE (L)	88	29	117
Ground Duty (Tech) – AE (M)	36	10	46
Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Admin	43	11	54
Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Accounts	14	3	17
Ground Duty (Non-Tech) – Education	8	2	10

Total AFCAT 2025 Vacancies: 284 (Men) + 66 (Women) = 350

Branch-Wise Roles & Work Profile

Let’s understand what each branch actually does inside the Indian Air Force:

1️⃣ Flying Branch

Operate fighter, transport, and helicopter aircraft.
Ensure mission planning and flight safety.
Requires excellent physical and visual standards.

2️⃣ Ground Duty (Technical)

AE (L): Deals with avionics, radar, signals, and communication systems.
AE (M): Handles aircraft structures, propulsion, and mechanical systems.
Ideal for engineering graduates from Electronics, Electrical, or Mechanical streams.

3️⃣ Ground Duty (Non-Technical)

Administration: Manages operations, HR, logistics, and base coordination.
Accounts: Handles budgeting, financial records, and procurement.
Education: Works in training and academic sections within IAF institutions.

Comparison – AFCAT 2025 vs AFCAT 2026 Vacancies (Expected)

Branch	AFCAT 2025	AFCAT 2026 (Expected)	Trend
Flying	40	45–50	↑ Slight Increase
Ground Duty (Tech)	163	170–180	↑ Moderate Increase
Ground Duty (Non-Tech)	117	130–150	↑ Increase due to admin needs

Gender-Wise Vacancy Ratio (Approx.)

Indian Air Force promotes gender equality. In recent years, women candidates have been allocated 20–25% of total seats.

Gender	Approx. Vacancy Share
Male	75–80%
Female	20–25%

Key Points about AFCAT Vacancies

Vacancies are subject to change depending on Air Force requirements.
Separate vacancies exist for NCC Special Entry (Flying Branch).
Candidates can apply for multiple branches if they meet eligibility criteria.
Final selection depends on merit-cum-preference after AFSB & Medical.

How to Choose the Right Branch

If you love flying: Go for the Flying Branch (requires 10+2 Physics & Maths).
If you’re an engineer: Choose Technical Branch (AE-L or AE-M based on stream).
If you prefer management & planning: Choose Non-Tech (Admin or Accounts).

FAQs on AFCAT Vacancy 2026

Q1. How many total vacancies are expected in AFCAT 2026?

Around 350–400 total vacancies are expected across Flying, Technical, and Non-Technical branches.

Q2. Are AFCAT vacancies the same for men and women?

No, IAF announces gender-wise distribution — women usually get around 20–25% of total seats.

Q3. Is there any reservation in AFCAT vacancies?

No, AFCAT follows merit-based selection; there is no category-based reservation.

Q4. Can non-engineers apply for AFCAT?

Yes, graduates from any discipline can apply for Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches.

Q5. How often are AFCAT vacancies released?

Twice a year — for AFCAT 1 (January cycle) and AFCAT 2 (August cycle).

Conclusion

The AFCAT Vacancy 2026 is expected to bring exciting opportunities for graduates and engineers aspiring to serve in the Indian Air Force. With an estimated 350+ posts across all branches, the competition will be tough — but with the right preparation, you can secure your dream uniform. Start early, understand your eligible branch, and aim to score 10–15 marks above the expected cutoff to stay ahead of the crowd.

Keywords used: AFCAT Vacancy 2026, AFCAT Branch Wise Vacancy, AFCAT Flying Branch Seats, AFCAT Ground Duty Technical Vacancy, AFCAT Non Technical Posts.

AFCAT Study Plan 2026 – 3 & 6 Month Strategy for Beginners

AFCAT Best Books 2026 – English, GK, Maths & Reasoning

AFCAT Preparation Tips 2026 – Strategy to Crack in First Attempt

AFCAT Selection Process 2026 – Online Test, AFSB Interview & Medical Explained

AFSB Interview Process 2026 – Stage I & II Explained in Detail

AFCAT Medical Test 2026 – Standards, Requirements & Common Rejections

AFCAT Cut Off 2026 – Previous Year Cut Off Marks & Analysis

AFCAT Salary 2026 – In-hand Salary, Perks, and Career Growth

AFCAT Syllabus 2026 – Subject Wise Topics, Pattern & PDF Download

AFCAT Admit Card 2026 – Download Link, Release Date & Steps to Download

AFCAT Marital Status Rules 2026 – What Happens If You Marry During Training?

AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026 – Subject-Wise Marks & Duration