AFCAT Selection Procedure: AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test) is a commissioned level examination conducted by the Indian Air Force twice a year for the selection of male as well as female officers into all branches of the Indian Air Force.
In this informative blog dedicated to Air Force aspirants preparing for AFCAT we are going to discuss about important topics frequently asked and searched on the web. These topics include- AFCAT Selection Procedure, Branches, Age Limit and Tenures of Jobs (Service Period). Do read it and learn in detail.
AFCAT SELECTION PROCEDURE
Below is the AFCAT selection process stepwise.
STEP 1- AFCAT Online Written Exam
- All the candidates who are eligible for AFCAT exam and submitted the application form successfully will be called for Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) and Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) which is being conducted twice in a year.
Candidates who clear the written exams (AFCAT) successfully and get shortlisted for next round (SSB) will be called at Air Force Selection Boards (AFSCs) at Dehradun, Mysore, Gandhinagar or Varanasi for further testing.
All the shortlisted candidates will receive call later to report to any one of the Air Force Selection Boards located at Dehradun, Varanasi, Gandhinagar, Mysore and Kancharapara.
STEP 2- 5 Day AFSB Selection Process
AFSB Interview Day 1
On Day 1 which is known as the Screening Day, the process begins with reporting on the railway station in the city where your interview is to take place. Primarily the reporting time is held between 6:45 AM-7:00 AM and the candidates have to report on time anyhow while latecomers are not tolerated.
Screening Day of AFSB Interview is held with the purpose of reducing the workload of the board. As managing costs on candidates are covered by it. It is noteworthy that boarding and lodging expenses are covered and are free of cost. Candidates coming along with guardian or parents will have to look after their adjustments.
Boarding and lodging expenses are meant for the concerned candidates and not anyone else coming with them. Called up candidates are taken to the interview center by bus. Firstly PIQ(Personal Information Questionnaire) forms are required to be filled up. Following up comes the OIR Test (Officers Intelligence Rating Test) where the intelligence and competence of candidate is tested.
After this test PPDT (Picture Perception and Discussion Test) is taken. In this, a candidate is given 4 minutes to write a story based on a picture shown and they have to tell in detail what is happening now and what will happen next.
Results of these tests are announced around 3 PM with a maximum delay or in advance of 30 minutes. Selected candidates are allocated rooms whereas non-selected candidates have to go back.
The document check is done just after it then after it selected candidates are free for the remainder of Day 1. Around 70 % of students fail to pass the Screening Day of AFSB interview and only 30 % of candidates proceed to the next day’s tests.
AFSB Interview Day 2
Day 2 includes the Psychological Test which involves the four separate tests:-
- Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)-In this test a candidate has to write 12 stories on pictures shown on the screen shown one by another. 30 seconds is for viewing while 4 minutes is given for writing.
- Word Association Test (WAT)- In this test 60 words are given to that candidate and he has 15 seconds for each to write the first thought on it which comes in their mind.
- Situation Reaction Test (SRT).- A total of 60 unfamiliar, stressful and real-life situations are given to which the candidate has to give spontaneous answer. The total time is 60 minutes.
- Self Description (SD)- In this test a candidate has to give his/ her opinion on family, teachers, friends and himself/herself. They have to answer in three-four lines on each.
Note- Earlier PABT (Pilot Aptitude Battery Test) used to take place along with the Psychological Test.
This test generally begins at 12 pm and after this board takes the psychological tests which conducted for around 2 hours. It is to be noted that qualifying these 4 tests of the Psychological Tests is important.After appearing in both the tests candidates are free but have to stay in their respective rooms.
AFSB Interview Day 3 & 4
No fixed schedule is there for these 2 days. These two days are dedicated to GTO Tasks and PI (Personal Interview) Group tasks are held under the supervision of the Group Testing Officer (GTO).Time and dates are decided only by the board and candidates should check the schedule on the notice board respectively.GTO tasks have a total of 9 activities. These activities are done in Indoor and Outdoor include-
GTO Indoor Activities
- GD (Group Discussion)
- Military Planning Excercise.
- Lecturette
GTO Outdoor Activities
- Progressive Group Task
- Snake Race
- Half Group Task
- Individual Obstacles
- Command Task
- Final Group Task
The interview round duration is 30 to 60 minutes. In this round, a candidate is required to carry all certificates related to academics and extra-curricular activities. It is highly possible that the candidates will have a full free day after these consecutive three days.
AFSB Interview – Final Day
The final day of AFSB Interview is also called as Conference Day. A conference is a place where all officers are present in Army uniforms. This day is reserved only for result declaration while in some cases in the interview of some candidates may be taken up. It may happen before the conference.
All candidates are called in the conference where their individual result is announced. The selected candidates are to remain for further formalities while non-selected candidates are to depart back to their respective homes.
STEP 3-MEDICAL EXAMINATION
- All those who have sailed through step 2 and get a recommendation by SSB will be kept for medical examination
- Medical Examination will be either at Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi or Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru.
STEP 4-ALL INDIA MERIT LIST: Final Selection process of AFCAT
- At final step An All India Merit List will be declared.
- This list is compiled on the basis of your performance in the written test and AFSB interview, subject to being medically fit.
- Also, the merit list depends on the vacancies available in various branches / sub-branches, joining instructions are issued to join one of the Training establishments.
All Branches Under AFCAT
Under AFCAT there are broadly two branches :-
- Flying Branch
- Ground Duty (Technical & Non-Technical) Branch
Flying Branch: Flying Branch consists of the Pilots. Both men and women can become pilots. The persons in this branch actually fly the planes during operations and battles. There are three kinds of pilots: Fighter Pilot, Helicopter Pilot and Transport Pilot.
Ground Duty Branch: Ground Duty Branch deals with the control tower and meteorological functions. The Officers are expected to co-ordinate with the pilots and keep them informed of the weather conditions. Ground Duty Branch has two different branches. These are:
Ground Duty (Technical Branch): Technical Branch is concerned with the aircraft and other air force equipment. It includes the following posts-
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Electronics Engineer
- Aeronautical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineer
Ground Duty (Non-Technical Branch): Non-Technical Branch includes the Logistics, Accounts, Education, Administration. (Medical & Dental Branch do not fall under AFCAT).
AFCAT Age Limit Eligibility Criteria (Men & Women)
AFCAT Flying Branch Age Limit
- 20 to 24 years (Minimum 20 Years and Maximum 24 Years)
- Upper age limit for Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot is relaxable upto 26 years.
AFCAT Technical Branch Age Limit (Men & Women):
- 20 to 26 years (Minimum 20 Years and Maximum 26 Years)
AFCAT Ground Duty Branch Age Limit (Men & Women):
- 20 to 26 year (Minimum 20 Years and Maximum 26 Years)
AFCAT Flying Branch Educational Qualifications Eligibility Criteria
- Graduates (Min 3 three year degree course) in any discipline from a recognized University
- Minimum 60% marks in 10+2 Maths and Physics.
- Minimum 60% marks in graduation.
AFCAT Technical Branch Educational Qualifications Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates would be eligible if they have undergone a minimum of four-year degree qualification from a recognized University or cleared Sections A and B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers by actual studies.
- Minimum 60% marks in 10+2 Maths and Physics.
- Minimum 60% marks in graduation.
AFCAT Ground Duty Branch Educational Qualifications Eligibility Criteria
- Administration & Logistics Branch: Graduate Degree (Minimum three year degree course) in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate of all papers put together.
- Accounts Branch: B. Com. degree (Minimum three-year degree course) from a recognized university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
- Education Branch: Post Graduate Degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate of all papers put together.
AFCAT Service Period
There are only two types of commission in the Indian Air Force. It is Short Commission & Permanent Commission.
Permanent Commission- A Permanent Commission in the Air Force means that you will work for IAF till you retire.
Short Commission- Under short commission you only work for a limited period spaning from 10-14 years depending on which you are serving in.
- Flying Branch – Service period is up to 14 years from the date of commission which is not extendable.
- Technical & Ground Duty Branch- Service period is up to 10 years and +4 years extension may be granted depending on vacancies, suitability, merit, willingness and service requirement.
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