ENTRY TO AIR FORCE

There are many ways of earning Commission as an Officer in Indian Armed Forces, both for civilians (after 10+2, Graduation, Post Graduation), as well as for Serving Personnel. Let's talk about one by one.

After 10+2

You can join NDA by taking the exam conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). This exam is conducted twice a year in all major cities throughout India. 

Eligibility Criteria

To join the NDA you need to fulfil the following requirements:

• Age 
  16 ½ to 19 years*
• Nationality
  Indian
• Gender
  This is applicable only to men.
• Educational Qualifications
  You should have passed your 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. Final year students can also apply.
• Advertisement Schedule
  March and October every year. ( Advertisement released by UPSC)

After Graduation/Post Graduation

Air Force invites young, enthusiastic and committed, men and women, to lead and manage as officers. Candidates short-listed after the initial selection procedure, go through a rigorous training regimen at one of the Air Force training establishments. Thereafter, they are commissioned as officers and posted at any of the Air Force Stations

After graduation you can apply for flying, technical or ground duty branch,

FLYING BRANCH

You surely fly high after joining the Flying branch of the Indian Air Force. You are trained either as a Fighter pilot, or a Helicopter pilot, or a Transport pilot and are a part of various peace and wartime missions.

As a graduate, you enter the Flying branch through the Air Force Academy.

The following are the three modes of entry for graduates to join the Flying branch:

• Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) 
  You can take the Combined Defence Services Examination (written test conducted by UPSC) to join the Flying branch of the Indian Air Force. Men can join the Air Force through this mode of entry and will be given a Permanent Commission.
• For applying through any of the entry points mentioned above, you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• Age 
  19 to 23 years*
• Marital Status
  Single
• Nationality
  Indian
• Gender
  for men only.
• Educational Qualifications
  1. Graduate (Three Year Course ) in any discipline from a recognised university (with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) / BE / B Tech (Four Year Course) .
  2. Final Year students can also apply, provided thay do not have any backlogs.
  3. No Percentage Bar for CDSE entry.
     
     Advertisement Schedule:
     
     April and September Every Year 

• National Cadet Corps Special Entry (Through CO NCC Unit / DG NCC)
  As a Air Wing Senior division 'C' Certificate holder of the National Cadet Corps, you can apply to the Flying branch of the Indian Air Force. Men can join the Air Force through this mode of entry and will be given a Permanent Commission.
• For applying through any of the entry points mentioned above, you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

• Age 
  19 to 23 years*
• Marital Status
  Single
• Nationality
  Indian
• Gender
  for men only.
• Educational Qualifications
  1. Graduate (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised university who have attained minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together and have Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR BE / B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognised university with minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.
  2. Final Year students can also apply, provided thay do not have any backlogs and should have min 60 % marks in aggregate upto the previous year / semister.
  3. NCC Air Wing Senior Division 'C' certificate.
     
     Advertisement Schedule:
     
     April and October Every Year 
  
  

• Flying (Pilot) Short Service Commission (For Men & Women) with Term of Engagement of 14 Years with no further extension
  Both men and women are eligible to apply for Short Service Commission in the flying branch. Short Service Commission in Flying branch is for 14 years with no further extension.For applying through any of the entry points mentioned above, you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
• Age 
  19 to 23 years*
• Marital Status
  Single
• Nationality
  Indian
• Gender
  This is applicable to both men and women.
• Educational Qualifications
  1. Graduate (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised university who have attained minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together and have Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level OR BE / B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognised university with minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.
  2. Final Year students can also apply, provided thay do not have any backlog and should have min 60% marks in aggregate upto the previous year / semister.
  3. Upper age limit for Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed upto 25 yeras*.
  
  Advertisement Schedule:December & June
  
  
  
  
  

  TECHNICAL BRANCH

As an officer in the Technical Branch, you propel and manage your team to ensure that the Indian Air Force remains airworthy. You can apply for any of the following streams through the Direct Entry Scheme.

• Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)
  As an Aeronautical Engineer in the Electronics stream, you will be responsible for the communication and signals required on the Air Force station. You will also be in charge of the execution of preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft. With further in-service training, you could also move to the repair and overhaul divisions of the Indian Air Force.
• Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)
  After you join the Indian Air Force as an Aeronautical Engineer in the Mechanical stream, you could be placed at a position that requires you to be involved with preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft or of common user and specialist application vehicles. You could also be involved in the safety and maintenance of firearms and ammunition at an Air Force Base.You can apply for the Technical Branch via any of the two schemes listed below:
  
  • Direct Entry Scheme
    After you have completed your engineering, you can join the Technical Branch through the Direct Entry Scheme. Both Men and Women can use this mode of entry to apply to the Indian Air Force.
  • University Entry Scheme (UES)
  Eligibility Criteria:
  
  Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) & Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)
  Permanent Commission ( for Men) / Short Service Commission ( for Men & Women)
  
  
  Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)
  
  As an Aeronautical Engineer in the Electronics stream, you will be responsible for the communication and signals required on the Air Force station. You will also be in charge of the execution of preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft. With further in-service training, you could also move to the repair and overhaul divisions of the Indian Air Force.
  To join as the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) stream you must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:
  
  • Age
    18 to 28 years*
  • Marital Status
    Candidates below the age of 25 years should be Unmarried.
  • Nationality
    Indian
  • Gender
    Applicable to both men and women.
  • Educational Qualification (Aeronautical Engineer – Electronics)
    Candidates applying for Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics) Branch would be eligible if they have undergone any one of the follwing Educational Qualifications
  Four year degree qualification and secured a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together from a recognised university
  OR
  Cleared section A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India)
  OR
  Cleared section A and B examination of Aeronautical Society of India
  OR
  
  Graduate membership examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies
  All the candidates should have studied at least eight subjects out of the list of eighteen subjects mentioned below while pusuing any one of the above mentioned qualifications:-
  
  (1) Physics / Engineering Physics.
  (2) Mathematics / Engineering Mathematics.
  (3) Engineering Graphics / Engineering Drawing.
  (4) Electrical Engineering / Electrical Technology.
  (5) Control Engineering.
  (6) Microprocessors.
  (7) Digital Electronics / Basic Electronics.
  (8) Computer Networks.
  (9) Information Technology.
  (10) Network Theory Design.
  (11) Telecommunication Systems.
  (12) Electronic Circuit Design.
  (13) Radar Theory.
  (14) Switching Theory.
  (15) Instrumentation.
  (16) Microwave Engineering.
  (17) Antenna and Wave Propagation.
  (18) Electronic Devices.
  Note : Final year students are eligible to apply provided they produce the degree and marks sheet 15 days prior to commencement of training.
  
  Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)
  
  After you join the Indian Air Force as an Aeronautical Engineer in the Mechanical stream, you could be placed at a position that requires you to be involved with preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft or of common user and specialist application vehicles. You could also be involved in the safety and maintenance of firearms and ammunition at an Air Force Base.
  To join the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) stream, you must fulfil the following conditions:
  
  • Age 
    18 to 28 years*
  • Marital Status
    Candidates below the age of 25 years should be Unmarried.
  • Nationality
    Indian
  • Gender
    A pplicable to both men and women.
  • Educational Qualification (Aeronautical Engineer-Mechanical)
    Candidates applying for Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical) Branch would be eligible if they have undergone any one of the follwing Educational Qualifications
    

    Four year degree qualification and secured a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together from a recognised university
    OR
    Cleared section A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India)
    OR
    Cleared section A and B examination of Aeronautical Society of India
    

    All the candidates should have studied at least eight subjects out of the list of eighteen subjects mentioned below while pusuing any one of the above mentioned qualifications:-

  (1) Physics / Engineering Physics.
  (2) Engineering Maths / Mathematics.
  (3) Engineering Drawing / Graphics.
  (4) Automotive Engineering / Plant Engineering / Industrial Engineering.
  (5) Engineering Mechanics / Strength of Material.
  (6) Aerodynamics.
  (7) Thermodynamics and Applications / Heat Power Engineering.
  (8) Heat and Mass Transfer.
  (9) Theory of Machines (Kinematics and Dynamics of Machinery).
  (10) Fluid Mechanics / Turbo Machines.
  (11) Flight Mechanics.
  (12) Machine Drawing / Machine Design.
  (13) Mechatronics.
  (14) Material Science / Metallurgy.
  (15) Vibrations.
  (16) Workshop Technology / Manufacturing Technology / Production Engineering.
  (17) Hydraulics and Pneumatics.
  (18) Aircraft Structures.

  Note : Final year students are eligible to apply provided they produce the degree and marks sheet 15 days prior to commencement of training.

  Advertisement Schedule:

  *At the time of commencement of training.
  University Entry Scheme ( UES)
  Permanent Commission ( For Men only)
  
  Educational Qualifications: The candidate must be currently studying in Pre-final year of BE / B Tech degree course in the relevant streams of engineering as mentioned above and must have secured minimum of 60% marks in aggregate upto the last semester for which results have been declared, at the time of applying / AFSB testing. There must be No backlog / arrears of papers of previous semesters. On completion of degree, minimum 60% of marks in aggregate in all papers put togehther are mandatory.
  • Age
    18 to 28 years*
  • Marital Status
    Candidates below the age of 25 years should be Unmarried.
  • Nationality
    Indian
  
  
  • Gender
    Applicable for Men only.
  Advertisement Schedule: December & June every year 
  
  
  

  GROUND DUTY BRANCH

Managing human and material resources, the Ground Duty Branch is the mechanism that steers the Indian Air Force. There are numerous opportunities for both men and women to build a challenging career.

You can join as an officer in any of the following Ground Duty Branches:

• Administration Branch
• Accounts Branch
• Logistics Branch
  

Administration Branch
Permanent/Short Service Commission
As an officer in the Administration Department, you will be responsible for the efficient management of both human and material resources. Some of the officers of the Administration Branch are selected to carry out the following duties also:

• Air Traffic Controller
  As Air Traffic Controller, your core responsibilities will involve maintaining an orderly flow of traffic and airspace management.
• Fighter Controller
  As Fighter Controller, you will be posted to an Air Defence radar unit and will be responsible for close contact and supervision between the air and radar for effective airspace management.To join the Administration Branches, you must fulfil the following criteria:
  
  • Age
    20 to 23 years* for Graduates, 20 to 25 years* for Post Graduates / LLB ( Five year integrated course) and 20 to 26 Years for Law Graduates (3 Years Course after Graduation).
  • Marital Status
    Candidates below the age of 25 years must be Unmarried.
  • Nationality
    Indian
  • Gender
    This is applicable to both men and women.
  • Educational Qualifications

    Graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together
    OR
    a Post Graduation degree / equivalant diploma in any discipline with a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together .

Accounts Branch
Permanent/Short Service Commission
As an officer in the Accounts Branch, you are responsible for efficient management of funds as well as disbursement of pay and allowances to Air Force personnel. You will also act as internal auditor to ensure a zero-defect audit from outside agencies.

You must fulfil the following criteria to be a part of the Accounts Branch:

• Age
  20 to 23 years* for Graduates , 20 to 25 years* for Post Graduates and 20 to 27 years for CA / ICWA..
• Marital Status
  Candidates below the age of 25 years must be Unmarried.
• Nationality
  Indian
• Gender
  This is applicable to both men and women.
• Educational Qualifications

  Graduate Degree in commerce (B Com) with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together
  OR
  Post Graduate Degree in commerce ( M Com) / CA / ICWA with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together

Logistics
Permanent/Short Service Commission
As an officer in the logistics department, you will undertake material management of all Air Force resources. From clothing to aircraft equipment, you will ensure efficient supervision of inventories, and availability of necessary items to all operators and users.

To join our material management team, you must fulfil the following criteria:

• Age
  20 to 23 years* for Graduates, 20 to 25 years* for Post Graduates / LLB ( Five year integrated course) and 20 to 26 Years for Law Graduates (3 Years Course after Graduation).
• Marital Status
  Candidates below the age of 25 years must be Unmarried.
• Nationality
  Indian
• Gender
  This is applicable to both men and women.
• Educational Qualifications

  Graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum 60% marks in aggregate in all papers put together
  OR

  a Post Graduation Degree / equivalant diploma in any discipline with a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together .

Advertisement Schedule:December & June