How to Join Indian Air Force - Career in IAF

How to Join Indian Air Force: An air force is a department of the Indian military that conducts mainly aerial welfare. The air force’s job is to make strategies and carry out tactical bombing missions, attaining control of the air, and providing support to naval and land forces. They also work as air-sea rescuers in peacetime. The air force mainly involves aircraft like bombers, helicopters, fighters, transport planes, and others. A career in the air force is very exciting and diverse. Indian force is one of the extensive air arms across the nation.

Their main work is to protect the nation against external attacks in the air. The pilot is the main officer in the air force as it is mainly concerned with the flying of an aircraft. Air force officers also have to manage a workforce on base camp, perform and plan high-level tactics and strategies. At the time of emergencies and natural calamities, they help in carrying food and crucial supplies to the people of the nation.

Joining the AirForce is the dream of many people, the career as an air force officer rewarding and challenging at the same time. A candidate will get recognition and rewards. There is a wide range of careers for interested candidates. Taking a career as an air force officer requires courage and dignity in serving the nation. Many candidates don’t know the process of how to join the airforce? We have provided every single piece of information on joining the air force after 12th and graduation.

Before moving further, candidates must know the classification of the Indian air force. So to make it more clear and understandable we have divided the categories of the air force in which candidates can choose easily and have a successful career.

Indian Air Force Branches with Sub-Division:

Flying Branch

• Fighters
• Transports
• Helicopters

Ground Duty (Technical Branch)

• Mechanical
• Electronics

Ground Duty (Non-Technical Branch)

• Administration
• Accounts
• Logistics
• Education
• Meteorology

We have mentioned all the steps for achieving the position as an Indian air force officer.

Process to Join the Indian Air force after 12th:

After passing class 12th students apply for the Indian air force officer to serve the nation with full determination and loyalty. But some students are unaware of the process of joining and getting selection in the Indian air force. So we are here to provide you the complete information from steps to eligibility, applying, and selection process of the Indian air force.

Step 1: National Defense Academy (NDA)

National Defense Academy is the common entrance examination which is conducted by the UPSC only for taking admission of the candidates in the air force, army, and navy. The NDA entrance exam is conducted twice a year in the months of June and December. The NDA entrance exam involves two stages, one is written, and the test and SSB interview. The NDA entrance exam consists of general ability and mathematics questions.

➤ Eligibility Criteria for IAF After 12th: Students must fulfill the minimum eligibility criteria set by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to get into the Indian air force.

➤ Education Requirement: Students must have completed their class 12th in physics and mathematics as main subjects from a recognized education board. Students who are in the final year of examination can also apply for the Indian air force. Students also have to secure 50% marks in the equivalent subjects.

Students who have done a 3-year diploma course in engineering from any government engineering institute.

➤ Age Limit: Students who are applying for the Indian air force must have ages between 16 ½ to 19 years. At the time of filling the application if the student’s age limit increases they will not be eligible for the Indian air force.

➤ Gender: Only male students can apply for the Indian air force officer.

➤ Nationality: Students must hold Indian nationality otherwise they will not be eligible for applying as Indian air force officers.

➤ Syllabus: General ability questions and mathematics questions

➤ Physical Requirements: To apply for the Indian air force students must be physically and mentally fit according to the medical standards set by the Examination Naval Academy and National Defense Academy.

➤ Height Requirement: Students must have a minimum height of 162.5 cms for the Indian air force officer. Relaxation will be given to the students from Lakshadweep and Gorkhas of 2 cms and 5 cms respectively.

➤ Weight requirement: Students’ weight should be according to their heights. Weight should be around 46 kg to 66kg according to height and age.

Visual Standards required for Applying to the Indian Air Force:

Specification	Air Force
Astigmatism	+0.75 Cyl (within + 2.0 D.Max)
Binocular Vision	Nil
Colour Vision	CP-I (MLT)
Corrected with Glass	6/6 (only for Hypermetropia)
Limits of Colour Perception	+2.00 D Sph
Limits of Myopia	Nil
Manifest Myopia	Nil
Near Vision	N-5 each eye
Retinoscopic Myopia	0.5
Uncorrected without glass	6/6, 6/9

Step 2: Air Force Selection Board

Air Force Selection Board’s aim is to identify the candidate’s potential as a flying officer in the Indian Air Force. AFSB has two stages:

• Stage 1 - Involves an officer intelligence rating test and picture perception and discussion test. It is known as a screening test for students. Those who clear stage 1 move to the next stage.
• Stage 2 - all qualified students give psychological tests, interviews, group tests, and computerized pilot selection system tests; this one is only for the flying branches.

Step 3: Medical Examination

Students who get selected are sent for the medical examination at the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru, or Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi. All India merit is prep[ared based on the performance in the NDA entrance exam, AFSB/SSB interview, and medical examination.

Process to Apply for Indian Air Force:

To apply for the Indian air force students have to visit the official website of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The application form for the National Defense Academy entrance exam will be available on the UPSC website. Follow these steps to fill out the application for the NDA entrance exam.

• Firstly, visit the official website of the Central Airmen Selection Board (CASB) i.e https://agnipathvayu.cdac.in/AV/
• After that click on the link of the application form for the NDA and National Navy entrance exam.
• Fill in all the required information carefully including name, father’s name, date of birth, aadhaar number, nationality, category, phone number.
• After that choose your branch Indian air force.
• And also check if you’re the son of an NCO/JCO or other rank officer or student of Sainik school/military.
• Now proceed to the next page.
• After that verify all the information that you have provided.
• Once done, your registration id will be generated and it will be sent to your registered id.
• Now submit the application fee through debit card/credit card/cash or net banking.
• After that, you have to choose the NDA exam center according to your preferences.
• Now you have to upload all your scanned images of your signature and photographs to the website.
• There is a limit set in the size of the documents. Document size should be 20kb to 300kb. If the size increases then the website will not accept your documents for uploading.

Process of Joining Indian Air Force After 12th:

To join the Indian air force after the 12th students have to appear in the NDA entrance exam. Students can go through the completed selection process mentioned below:

• Students who have passed the NDA entrance exam have to go for an SSB interview.
• After that, students who get selected have to appear for the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test (PABT).
• Pilot Aptitude Battery Test through this test they can find out student potential to become a good pilot.
• Students who clear the Pilot Aptitude Battery Test have to go for a medical examination.
• After that merit list will be prepared considering students’ performance in the NDA entrance exam, SSB interview, and medical exam.
• Students who get selected will get training for 3 years with the military and naval cadets.
• After completing 3-years of training students will be sent to the Indian air force academy Hyderabad for 1 year of training.
• When training is completed, students will be posted as flying officers in the Indian air force.

How to Join Indian Air Force After Graduation:

If you have missed the chance after the 12th then there is no need to worry about you still getting the chance to get in the Indian air force. After completing graduation students get the career opportunity in the Indian air force as officers. They conduct CDSE and NCC special entries for graduate students. For more detailed information see below:

➥ Flying Branch

Under this students get 3 ways to get into the Indian air force:

WAY 1:

Common Defense Services Examination (CDSE)

Common Defense Services Examination is conducted for the graduate students for taking their admission to the Indian air force. CDSE entrance exam is conducted twice a year in the month of July and November by (UPSC).

• Education Qualification: Students have to complete their graduation degree in any stream from a recognized university. Can be a BE/BTech four-year course.
• Age limit: There is an age limit set by the Indian air force that is the minimum age of the students has to be 20 years and the maximum age has to be 24 years.
• Nationality: Students must hold Indian nationality to get into the Indian air force.
• Gender: only male students can apply for the Indian air force officer.
• Marital Status: students have to be single to apply as air force officers.
• Syllabus: general knowledge, elementary mathematics, and English.

And the next steps are the Air Force Selection Board and the Medical Examination of the students.

WAY 2:

National Cadet Corps (NCC) Special Entry

Students who are willing to join IAF can apply through NCC also. An individual has to be an Air Wing Senior Division “C” Certificate holder of the NCC. Through NCC special entry both men and women can join the Indian air force. Short service commission is provided to men and women and Permanent commission is provided to men.

• Education Qualification: students have to score a minimum score of 60% marks in physics and mathematics in class 12th. The student has to graduate in any stream from a recognized university Or Students have done B.Tech/BE 4 years course with a minimum mark of 60% marks from any recognized university.
• Age Limit: the student’s age has to be between 20 to 24 years to join the Indian air force.
• Gender: Both men and women can join the India air force.
• Nationality: a student has to be Indian to join the Indian air force.
• Marital Status: an individual has to be single while applying for the Indian air force.

After that students have to go for the Air Force Selection Board and Medical Examination.

WAY 3:

Air Force Common Aptitude Test (AFCAT)

Air Force Common Aptitude Test is conducted by the Indian air force across India. applications come in the months of June and December. Air Force Common Aptitude Test (AFCAT) is conducted twice a year in the months of February and August.

• Education Qualification: Candidates have to score a minimum score of 60% marks in physics and mathematics in class 12th. Candidates have to graduate in any stream from a recognized university. Or Candidates have done B.Tech/BE 4 years course with a minimum mark of 60% marks from any recognized university.
• Age Limit: The age of the candidate has to be between 20 years to 24 years.
• Nationality: The candidate must hold Indian nationality to join the Indian air force.
• Marital Status: Single candidates only can apply for the Indian air force.
• Gender: Through AFCAT both male and female candidates can apply for the Indian air force.
• Syllabus: Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, and Military Aptitude Test, General Awareness, Reasoning.

After that candidates have to go through the Air Force Selection Board and Medical Examination.

➥ Ground Duty (Technical) Branches

Air Force Common Aptitude Test (AFCAT)

• Education Qualification: students must have completed 10+2 in Mathematics and Physics as main subjects and secure 50% of marks. Done graduation in any stream or B.TECH/ BE from a recognized university. With minimum marks of 60%.
• Age Limit: the student age has to be between 20 years to 26 years.
• Gender: Both men and women are allowed to join the Indian force.
• Marital Status: the student’s age must be less than 25 years and unmarried.
• Nationality: the student must hold Indian nationality.

➥ Ground Duty (Non-Technical) Branches

Step 1: Common Defense Services Examination

Step 2: Air Force Selection Board

Step 3: Medical Examination

Following all the steps mentioned above any individual can make a career in the Indian air force. In case, you have any queries regarding how to join the air force then contact College Disha. Our professional counselors will help you in planning your career path.