Air Force Officer

Hi Shraddha!
Indian Air Force is the most sought-after service among women. Even though Air Force has only two women entries, IAF has the highest number of women officers as compared to Navy and Army. You can join Indian Air force through 2 ways; AFCAT and Non-AFCAT entries. AFCAT- This exam is held twice in a year. It is a written exam and those who qualify in this exam are called for SSB interview. You can opt for Flying branch, technical branch and ground duty by AFCAT exam. Non-AFCAT Entry (Meteorological Branch)- In this entry, candidates are short-listed and called for SSB interviews at Air Force Selection Boards. Age group in this entry is 20 to 25 years and 27 years for Ph.D. candidates. To be eligible for this entry candidates must be having a Post graduate degree in any Science stream / Maths / Statistics / Geography / CS / EVS / Physics / Geo-physics etc. With minimum 50% aggregate and have scores 55% marks both in Maths and Physics at graduation level. Final year students can also apply for it.

One can join the Indian Air Force as an officer in the flying, technical or the ground duty branches depending on his/her educational qualification. These three branches of the IAF have further sub-streams:
(a) Flying Branch: Fighter pilots, Transport pilots, Helicopter pilots - You would be working as any of these pilots both during peace and war. You can get into the flying branch as a graduate [through CDS exam (men), through AFCAT exam (men and women), through NCC special entry (men)]. You can also get in after 10+2 by qualifying the NDA/ NA exam.
(b) Technical Branch: Mechanical, Electronics - You would be taking care of some of the most sophisticated equipment in the world - You can get into this branch through the exam, AFCAT or through University Entry Scheme (UES).
(c) Ground Duty Branch: Administration, Accounts, Logistics, Education, Meteorology - As part of these mentioned departments, you would be looking after and maintaining human & material resource/ managing funds, work as internal auditors/ work as air traffic controller or fighter controller. You can get into this branch by qualifying AFCAT. After 10+2:
There is a golden opportunity for young boys having 10+2 (Science) qualification with Physics and Maths to join as an officer in the Indian Air Force by appearing for the National Defence Academy (NDA) and Naval Academy (NA) Examination conducted by the UPSC conducted twice a year in all major cities throughout India. If you get short-listed for Air Force after the initial selection procedure, you will have to undergo a very strict 3 year training routine at NDA, Khadakwasla. Post this, you will be commissioned as officers and posted as pilots at any of the Air Force Stations. After Graduation:
Both men and women, who are graduates, can enter the Air Force as officers through this route. Candidates short-listed after the initial selection procedure (such as the AFCAT exam) 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.

You are going to get many opportunities after 12th with PCMB, I will mention all Entries which you will get in ascending order, with the one which comes first in first place. NDA Entry:- UPSC Conducts NDA Exam for 12th Pass and Appearing Students, twice a year. You need to keep the track of Notification on Welcome to UPSC | UPSC. Type of Commission is Permanent Commission. Following will give you the tentative date of release of Notification. The valiant boys could be part of the Indian Air Force family by applying for NDA ( National Defence Academy)
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. To be in the National Defence Academy
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 - June and December. (Advertisement is released by UPSC. Visit Welcome to UPSC | UPSC)
NDA is the only option after 12th to join Indian Ari Force, however, if you do your graduation or Engineering, many opportunities come your way. CDSE Entry: - If in case you were wise and didn't opt for engineering and instead got into B.Sc. course, or another corresponding course, you can give CDS Exam, again conducted by UPSC twice a year. Kindly note, even engineers can apply through CDS Entry, actually, they can apply everywhere. :P
AFCAT Air Force Common Admission Test. oFor all entries other than CDSE and for all branches, candidates have to undergo the AFCAT. - the test is conducted twice a year in February and August. - Advertisements inviting applications for AFCAT are out in June and December. Candidates are to apply as per the advertisement. - The test is conducted all across India by the Indian Air Force
NCC entry
- Air Sqn NCC Senior division C certificate holders are to apply through DG NCC.

Hi Vinayak, You can opt for any stream for your graduation in order to pursue a career in Indian Air Force. But yes, you should have taken Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level as an eligibility criteria. Once you complete your graduation, you can apply for the following exams:
1. CDSE Entry: an exclusive entry for men, after graduation and meant only for flying branch. CDSE is an exam conducted by UPSC twice every year.
2. NCC Special Entry: Once again an exclusive entry for men aiming for the flying branch. Training procedure almost same as CDSE. 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.
3. AFCAT Entry: This is the biggest test conducted for inducting officer in IAF. This test inducts both men and women as officers in all the three branches of IAF, I. e. Flying, Technical and Ground Duty. AFCTA is conducted twice every year by IAF.