Indian Air Force: Officer's Entry Routes

The Indian Air Force took off as a tiny fleet with four Westland Wapiti army co- operative by-planes, six RAF trained officers and 19 Hawaii Sepoys. Today, it is the fourth largest Air Force in the world with a highly technical and specialised fighting force that safeguards our skies against enemy invasions. On 8 October 1932, the Indian Air Force came into being and on 1st April 1954 Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee; one of the founding members of the Air Force took over as the first Indian Chief of Air Staff. Airforce SSB Coaching is in Delhi to trained the candidate to join the Airforce

After 10+2

The valiant boys could be part of the Indian Air Force family by applying for NDA Candidates, short-listed for Indian Air Force after the initial selection procedure, go through a rigorous three-year training regimen at the National Defence Academy at Khadakwasla, followed by specialised training at one of the training establishment. Thereafter, they are commissioned as Permanent Commission Officers and posted as pilots at any of the Air Force Stations. 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

• Age - 16 to 19 years(at the time of commencement of course)
• Nationality - Indian
• Gender - Men only
• Educational Qualifications - 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. Appearing final year students can also eligible to apply.
• Advertisement Schedule - May and December. (Advertisement is released by UPSC. Visit www.upsc.gov.in)

For Graduates/ Post Graduates

Managing human and material resources, the Ground Duty Branch is the mechanism that steers the Indian Air Force.

General Eligibility Criteria for Ground Duty 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 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:
  1. Air Traffic Controller - Involves maintaining an orderly flow of traffic and airspace
  2. Fighter Controller - Involves close contact and supervision between the air and radar for effective airspace management.

Educational Qualifications

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

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

• 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 50% marks in aggregate in all papers put together.

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

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

EDUCATION BRANCH

• Permanent Commission (for Men) / Short Service Commission (for Men & Women)

Educational Qualifications

• Post Graduation Degree in any discipline with a minimum 50% marks in aggregate in 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 and should have studied Maths & Physics in Graduation with minimum of 55% marks in both subjects.

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 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 for Aeronautical Engineering Branch are (applicable for men and women):

• 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

Entry into the Technical Branch is through two schemes, both via AFCAT

I.UNIVERSITY ENTRY SCHEME(UES)

• For candidates studying in Pre-Final year of B-tech/BE degree course
• For men only. Grant of Permanent Commission.
• Educational Qualifications: The candidate must be currently studying in Pre-final year of BE / BTech degree course with choice of subject as mentioned above. There must be No backlog / arrears of papers of previous semesters at the time of SSB Testing. On completion of degree, minimum 60% of marks in aggregate in all papers put together are mandatory.

Advertisement Schedule: December every year (through AFCAT)

II.AERONAUTICAL ENGINEERING COURSE

• After completion of Engineering degree or while in your final year/semester of Engineering
• For both Men and Women. Permanent Commission (for men) / Short Service Commission (For men and women)
• Marks - Must have scored a minimum of 60% marks in aggregate in all the papers put together in any one of the qualifications listed.
• Final year students are eligible to apply provided they do not have any present backlog at the time of SSB 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 Technical branch. Check the educational qualification required for the sub branches.