Checked 25 September 2026. No 01/2027 notification had been issued on 25 September 2026. Past dates are from the 01/2025, 01/2026 and 02/2026 notifications and portal notices; 01/2027 dates are projections and are labelled.
As of 25 September 2026 the Air Force has not issued the AFCAT 01/2027 notification. But its last three cycles follow a clear pattern, and the course dates it leads to are predictable: a 01 cycle trains from January of the following year. This guide sets out the official dates of recent cycles, what they suggest for 01/2027, where to apply — the portal has moved — and what to do in the months before.
AFCAT 01/2025, 01/2026 and 02/2026 notifications; AFCAT portal.
The last three cycles
| Cycle | Applications | Exam | Course starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01/2025 | 2–31 Dec 2024 | 22–23 Feb 2025 (two shifts each day) | January 2026 |
| 01/2026 | 17 Nov – 14 Dec 2025 (extended to 19 Dec) | 31 Jan 2026 | January 2027 |
| 02/2026 | 20 May – 19 Jun 2026 (extended to 21 Jun) | 8 Aug 2026 | July 2027 |
| 01/2027 | Not announced (projection: Nov–Dec 2026) | Not announced (projection: late Jan–Feb 2027) | January 2028 if the pattern holds |
Past rows from the notifications and portal notices; the 01/2027 row is our projection from them, not an IAF announcement. The portal's own selection-process page still says advertisements appear in June and December and exams in February and August — an older description; the notifications' dates are the reliable guide.
Our arithmetic on the official dates. If 01/2027 opens in mid-November, a late-January to early-February exam would fit the pattern.
Where to apply
Where other pages get this wrong
AFCAT applications now go through afcat.edcil.co.in, not afcat.cdac.in.
Commonly published instead: "Apply for AFCAT 2027 at afcat.cdac.in."
Both 2026 notifications say applications are made "through AFCAT website https://afcat.edcil.co.in". The older afcat.cdac.in address was used up to 01/2025 and no longer serves applications. Bookmark the new portal and watch its news section for the 01/2027 notice.
The 01/2026 cycle in detail
| Stage | Official date |
|---|---|
| Applications | 17 Nov – 14 Dec 2025, extended to 19 Dec |
| Admit card | From 22 Jan 2026 |
| Exam | 31 Jan 2026, 1000–1200 |
| Objection window | 1–3 Feb 2026 (set by corrigendum) |
| Result | Declared in March 2026 (reported 11–12 Mar) |
| Course | First week of January 2027 |
From the 01/2026 notification, its corrigendum and portal notices; the result date is reported. This is the closest template for 01/2027.
The 02/2026 timeline in detail
| Stage | Official date |
|---|---|
| Applications | 20 May – 19 Jun 2026, extended to 21 Jun |
| Edit window (personal details) | 29–30 Jun 2026 |
| Exam-city intimation | Sent by email/SMS ahead of the admit card (portal notices, 2026 cycles) |
| Admit card | "On 04 Aug 26 onwards" (para 7.4; para 8.4.1 says nine days before the exam) |
| Exam | 8 Aug 2026 — reporting 0800, gate closes 0930, exam 1000–1200 |
| Objection window | 9–11 Aug 2026, with question paper, key and your responses in your login |
| Result | Declared on the portal (undated notice; reported as 9 Sep 2026) |
| AFSB date selection | 10–14 Sep 2026, on the portal |
| Course | First week of July 2027 |
From the 02/2026 notification and portal notices. It is a useful template: expect the same sequence for 01/2027, roughly six months earlier.
Applying: fee and documents
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fee | ₹550 + 18% GST, non-refundable, paid online (card, net banking, UPI); none for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry |
| Aadhaar | Mandatory for registration; if you submit more than once with the same Aadhaar, only the latest application is considered for the admit card |
| Exam cities | About 120 listed in 02/2026; no change of centre or date after allotment |
| On exam day | Printed admit card, original Aadhaar, a second original photo ID, two photographs, blue or black ballpoint |
| Attempts | No limit stated; your age window is the real limit |
Reading the notification quickly
| Section (02/2026 layout) | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Para 3 | Vacancies by branch, PC/SSC, men/women |
| Para 5 | Age, qualifications, marital status and other eligibility conditions |
| Para 7 | How to apply, fee, documents, NCC and GATE entries |
| Para 8 | Exam date, timetable, pattern, marking, syllabus, admit card, exam cities |
| Paras 9–10 | AFSB procedure, documents, CPSS, merit list |
| Paras 11–12 | Training, pay and allowances, insurance |
| Appendix A | Medical and physical standards |
Section numbers from the 02/2026 notification; expect a similar layout in 01/2027. Read paras 3, 5 and 8 first — they decide whether and when to apply — and save a copy of the PDF, since portal pages change during a cycle while the notification is the fixed reference.
Mistakes that cost applications
Get these right on the form
- Date of birth exactly as on your Class 10 certificate — no change is accepted later.
- Name exactly as on your documents; the same name must appear on the admit card and ID.
- One application per Aadhaar — only the latest one with the same Aadhaar is considered for the admit card, and extra fees are not refunded.
- Branch preferences only for branches you are eligible for; eligibility is checked again at AFSB.
- Exam city — choose carefully; centres and dates are not changed after allotment.
- Percentages or CGPA as on your marksheets, with the university's conversion if you are graded in CGPA.
AFCAT 02/2026 notification, paras 5.2, 7 and 8.6–8.7.
On the day the notification appears
A checklist
- Read paras 3, 5 and 8 — vacancies, eligibility, exam date — before anything else.
- Check your age window against your Class 10 date of birth, for each branch you want.
- Check the qualification rules — especially whether any percentage bar has returned.
- Note the application deadline; past cycles extended by a few days, but do not rely on it.
- Gather documents — Aadhaar, Class 10 and 12 marksheets, degree or semester marksheets, photo and signature scans.
- Apply early to get your preferred exam city and avoid last-day portal slowdowns.
Our checklist, built on the 02/2026 notification.
Admit card and exam city
In both 2026 cycles the portal announced that an exam-city intimation had been sent to registered email IDs and mobile numbers ahead of the admit card; the admit card is then issued by email and on the portal only, never by post. In 02/2026 the notification gave the admit card date as 4 August in one paragraph and "nine days prior" to the exam — 30 July — in another, so watch from the earlier date. About 120 exam cities were listed, from Agartala to Warangal, including Leh, Port Blair and Srinagar. The list is tentative, and once a centre is allotted it cannot be changed.
What to do now
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Now (late September) | Start a 12-week study plan; take a timed baseline paper |
| October | Build Numerical Ability speed and English vocabulary daily; check your eligibility against the 02/2026 rules |
| November | Watch afcat.edcil.co.in; when the notification appears, read it in full and apply early |
| December | Full timed mocks weekly; current affairs from the last 6–8 months |
| January | Admit card, centre, final mocks; plan the AFSB fitness routine |
Our suggested plan, assuming the 01/2027 cycle follows the 01/2026 pattern. Adjust as soon as the notification sets real dates, and move everything earlier if it opens in early November.
Which AFCAT cycles can you still take?
Enter your date of birth as on your Class 10 certificate. The tool applies the age rule from the 02/2026 notification — Flying 20–24, Ground Duty 20–26, reckoned on the first day of the course month — to the next cycles.
Only the 02/2026 row is official. Later rows assume IAF keeps the same rule (age on 1 January or 1 July of the course start); check each new notification.
If you miss the 01/2027 window, the next chance is the 02/2027 cycle. On the pattern of 02/2026, it would open for applications around May–June 2027 with the exam in August and the course in July 2028. Your age is reckoned afresh for each cycle, so check the tool above: a candidate who is eligible for 01/2027 may be over the Flying limit by 02/2027. If you are near a limit, 01/2027 may be your last Flying chance — plan to sit it rather than waiting.
Practise it, don't just read it
A late-January exam leaves about 18 weeks from today. Daily quizzes are the easiest habit to start now.
The ProSyllabus AFCAT library has topic quizzes for Synonyms and Antonyms, Idioms and Phrases, Reading Comprehension, English, Numerical Ability, Number Series, Profit and Loss, Simple and Compound Interest, Time, Distance, Trains and Boats, General Awareness and Defence and Armed Forces. Each question comes with an explanation.
When will the AFCAT 1 2027 notification come?
It had not been issued by 25 September 2026. The last two 01 cycles opened applications in November–December, so a notification around then is likely; watch afcat.edcil.co.in.
When is the AFCAT 1 2027 exam?
Not yet announced. Past 01 cycles held the exam on 22–23 February 2025 and 31 January 2026.
What is the official website for AFCAT?
https://afcat.edcil.co.in — the address both 2026 notifications give for applications.
What is the AFCAT application fee?
₹550 plus 18% GST in 02/2026, non-refundable; no fee for NCC Special Entry or GATE Score Entry.
When does the AFCAT admit card come?
In 02/2026 the notification gave 4 August 2026 in one paragraph and "nine days prior" to the 8 August exam in another; it is issued by email and on the portal only.
Can I edit my AFCAT application?
In 02/2026 the portal opened an edit window for personal details on 29–30 June 2026, after applications closed. Watch for a similar window in 01/2027.
Can I change my exam city after applying for AFCAT?
Not after allotment: the notification states there is no change of centre or date. Choose your city carefully when applying.
Is the AFCAT application form available on afcat.cdac.in?
No. Both 2026 notifications direct applicants to afcat.edcil.co.in.
When is AFCAT 2 2027?
Not announced. On the pattern of 02/2026, applications would open around May–June 2027 with the exam in August 2027.
How many times can I take AFCAT?
The notifications set no limit on attempts. The age window for your branch is the practical limit.
Sources
- official — IAF — AFCAT 02/2026 notification
- official — IAF — AFCAT 01/2026 notification
- official — IAF — corrigendum to the AFCAT 01/2026 notification
- official — IAF — AFCAT 01/2025 notification (archived)
- official — AFCAT portal (afcat.edcil.co.in)
- official — AFCAT portal — selection process
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
