Career options as an Officer

As per branches
As per qualifications

CAREER - AS PER BRANCHES

AS PER BRANCHES

FLYING BRANCH

As a graduate As a graduate

GROUND DUTY (TECHNICAL) BRANCH

Ground Duty(Technical) Branch

GROUND DUTY(NON-TECHNICAL) BRANCH

Ground Duty(Non-Technical) Branch

FLYING BRANCH - AS A GRADUATE

As a Graduate/ Engineer, you can enter the Flying branch through the Air Force Academy. The following are the three modes of entry for Graduates/ Engineers to join the Flying branch:

CDSE (COMBINED DEFENCE SERVICES EXAMINATION) (FOR MEN ONLY)

Men can enter through this mode of entry and will get a Permanent Commission.
Eligibility criteria:
- Age - 20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course)
- Nationality – Indian
- Marital Status - Single
- Gender - Men only.
- Educational Qualifications
  - 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).
  - Final Year/semester students are also eligible to apply, provided they produce Degree certificate
  - No Percentage Bar for CDSE entry.
Advertisement Schedule: Advertisements are released by UPSC in the months of November and August.

For more details visit www.upsc.gov.in

NCC SPECIAL ENTRY (FOR MEN AND WOMEN)

(Candidates can apply online through NCC Special Entry )

As an 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 & women can join the Air Force through this mode of entry. Permanent Commission offered for men and Short Service Commission for men and women.
Eligibility criteria:
- Age –20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course). Upper age limit for Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years(at the time of commencement of course).
- Nationality - Indian
- Marital Status - Single
- Gender - Men and women.
- Educational Qualifications
  - Minimum 50% marks in each in Maths & Physics at 10 + 2 level.
  - Graduate (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised University with minimum 60% marks or equivalent.
  - BE/B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognised University with minimum 60% marks or equivalent
  - Cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
  - Final Year/semester students are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any present backlogs at the time of AFSB Testing and produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
  - NCC Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ certificate and validity of the certificate would be two years before the date of advertisement.
Advertisement Schedule: Advertisement for NCC Special Entry is released by the IAF in the months of June and December.

AFCAT ENTRY (SSC FOR MEN AND WOMEN)

You can apply through AFCAT for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying Branch.
Short Service Commission in Flying branch is for 14 years with no further extension.
Eligibility criteria:
- Age - 20 to 24 years (at the time of commencement of course).Upper age limit for Candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 26 years(at the time of commencement of course).
- Nationality - Indian
- Marital Status - Single
- Gender - Men and women.
- Educational Qualifications
  - Minimum of 60% marks each in Maths & Physics at 10+2 level.
  - Graduates (Three Year Course) in any discipline from a recognised University who have attained minimum 60% marks or equivalent OR BE/B Tech (Four Year Course) from a recognised university with minimum 60% marks or equivalent.
  - Cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised University with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.
  - Final Year students are also eligible to apply, provided they do not have any backlog at the time of AFSB Testing and produce Degree certificate issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
Advertisement Schedule: Advertisements for AFCAT are released by the IAF in the months of June and December.
Educational Qualification for Aeronautical Engineering Branch - Depending upon your stream of Engineering and subjects studied, you could join one of the sub branches of the Ground Duty (Technical) branch. Check the educational qualification required for the sub branches.

GROUND DUTY (TECHNICAL) BRANCH

As an officer in the Ground Duty (Technical) Branch, you propel and manage your team to ensure that the Indian Air Force remains airworthy. You would be incharge of some of the most sophisticated equipment in the world by joining one of the sub branches based on your qualification.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA For Ground Duty (Technical) Branches

Age - 20 to 26 years (at the time of commencement of course)
Nationality - Indian
Marital Status - Candidates below the age of 25 years should be unmarried.
For both Men and Women. Permanent Commission (for men) / Short Service Commission (For men and women)
Final year students are eligible to apply provided they do not have any present backlog at the time of AFSB testing and they produce provisional/ original degree issued by the University as per the date stipulated in the advertisement.
Advertisement Schedule - Advertisements for AFCAT are released by the IAF in the months of June and December.
Educational Qualification for Aeronautical Engineering Branch - Depending upon your stream of Engineering and subjects studied, you could join one of the sub branches of the Ground Duty (Technical) branch.
The following are the sub branches:
- Aeronautical Engineering Electronics
- Aeronautical Engineering Mechanical

GROUND DUTY (NON - TECHNICAL) BRANCH

(For Graduates/Post Graduates)

Managing human and material resources, the Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branch is the mechanism that steers the Indian Air Force.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA For Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches

Age - 20 to 26 Years for Graduates and Post Graduates (at the time of commencement of course).
Marital Status - Candidates below the age of 25 years must be Unmarried.
Nationality - Indian.
Gender - Both men and women.

As a Graduate/Post Graduate you can join as an officer in any of the following Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branches.

ADMINISTRATION BRANCH

Permanent Commission (for Men)/Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
Responsible for the efficient management of both human and material resources. Some of the officers of the Administration Branch are selected and trained to carry out the following duties also:
- Air Traffic Controller – Involves maintaining an orderly flow of traffic and airspace management.
- Fighter Controller – Involves close contact and supervision between the air and radar for effective airspace management.
Educational Qualifications
- Graduate Degree (Minimum three year degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

ACCOUNTS BRANCH

Permanent Commission (for Men)/Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
Responsible for efficient financial management of funds.You will also act as internal auditor to ensure a zero-defect audit from outside agencies.
Educational Qualifications
- B.Com degree (minimum three year degree course) from a recognised university with a minimum 60% marks or equivalent.

LOGISTICS BRANCH

Permanent Commission (for Men)/Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
Responsible for materials management of all Air Force resources. You would ensure efficient supervision of inventories, and involve in procurement processes of various ranges of equipment.
Educational Qualifications
- Graduate Degree (Minimum three year degree course) in any discipline from a recognised university with 60% marks or equivalent or cleared section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognised university with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent.

EDUCATION BRANCH

Permanent Commission (for Men)/Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
Educational Qualifications
- Passed 10+2 and Post-Graduation with 50% in any discipline including integrated courses offering PG (Single degree without permission to exit and lateral entry) and with 60% marks in Graduation in any discipline
- For integrated courses (single degree without permission to exit and lateral entry), the minimum duration must be as per prevailing UGC guidelines with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate of all papers put together.

METEOROLOGY BRANCH

Permanent Commission (for Men)/Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)
As a Meteorology Branch Officer you would be involved handling the latest satellite imagery and state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, you would render specific advice to the operators on all aspects of weather.
Educational Qualifications
- Post Graduation Degree in any science stream/Mathematics/Statistics/Geography/Computer Applications/Environmental Science/Applied Physics/Oceanography/Agricultural Meteorology/Ecology & Environment/Geo-physics/Environmental Biology. All candidates should have scored a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in all papers of Post Graduation put together (provided Maths & Physics were studied at Graduation level with a minimum of 55% marks in both).