How to Join Indian Air Force, eligibility, process, admission

How to Join Indian Air Force, eligibility, process, admission: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the component of the Indian Armed Forces. It consists of crew and aircraft assets that rank fourth amongst all the air forces in the world. The official formation of IAF was on 8th October 1932 as a confederate air force. The IAF had a major contribution to World War II under British surveillance. Here you can avail complete details about How to Join Indian Air Force, eligibility, process, admission.

Youngsters can join the Indian Air Force (IAF) in many ways. The IAF provides opportunities to the candidates who have passed 10th, 12th, graduation and post graduation. 

What are the ways to join Indian Air Force

A candidate can join the Indian Air Force through NDA, CDSE, AFCAT, NCC, or University Entry Scheme (UES). You will have to clear out the written test and then you will have to appear for an interview. 

After you clear all the previous rounds, you will have to pass the medical examination and if you will qualify for all the rounds, you will be given training for final selection. To start with, let us have a look at the branches of the Indian Air Force.

Branches of the Indian Air Force (AIF)

The IAF has the following branches. These are;

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.

Ground Duty (Non-Technical Branch): Non-Technical Branch includes the Logistics, Accounts, Education, Administration and Medical & Dental Branch.

How to join Indian Air Force after 10th

IAF recruits for various civilian posts like Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), Stenographer, Content Assistant (Material Assistant), Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Watchman, Cook, Carpenter, Messenger, Gardener, Fitter, Vendor, Barber, Tin and Copper Smith, Mechanic, Tailor, Painter etc.

To get recruited for these posts, the candidates must have passed 10th class or having diploma in the concerned field to get recruited. In some posts, qualification is limited to 10th class only while in some others, ITI is required. It is also to be noted that preference is given to the candidates who have passed class 12th.

How to join Indian Air Force after 12th (10+2)

The candidates can enter the IAF after passing class 12th also. All men, who have passed the exam of class 12th, may join National Defence Academy (NDA) by passing the written exam and SSB interview. Once the training is completed, the candidates join the IAF. The exam for NDA is conducted by the UPSC twice a year.

How to join Indian Air Force after Graduation 

Graduates can also join any branch of the IAF by passing the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam which is conducted by the UPSC twice a year. 

The candidates can also appear in the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) to get selected in the IAF. After the selection, the candidates get training at one of the IAF training institutes and then they are commissioned and posted as Officers.

How to join Indian Air Force after Post-Graduation

After completing the post-graduation, the candidates can join the technical or ground duty branches. It is easy to join the IAF if the candidates have a degree in Aeronautical Engineering or Electronics.

The entry in the Meteorological Branch is possible only after post-graduation in any Science stream / Mathematics / Statistics / Geography / Computer Applications / Environmental Science / Applied Physics / Oceanography / Meteorology / Agricultural Meteorology / Ecology & Environment / Geo-physics / Environmental Biology with minimum 50% marks in total in all the papers put together (Provided that Maths and Physics are the subjects at Graduation Level, with minimum 55% marks in both).

Eligibility Criteria to Join under NDA

The minimum age to Join IAF through NDA is 16 years and the maximum age limit is 19 years.

The nationality of the candidate should be Indian.

A Candidate must have Physics and Mathematics in 10+2. If you are in your final year, then you can apply for this position.

Eligibility Criteria to Join through CDSE (Combined Defence Services Examination)

A candidate must be of at least 19 years and a maximum of 24 years.

The Nationality of the Candidate should be Indian.

The Marital status of the candidate should be single.

A candidate must have a graduation degree with Mathematics and Physics as their major subjects.

There is no minimum qualifying percentage to Join through CDSE.

You must have your degree certification while applying.

Eligibility Criteria to Join through AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)

The minimum age limit to Join through AFCAT is 20 years and the maximum age limit is 24 years.

The nationality of the candidate should be Indian and the Marital status should be single till the final selection.

A Candidate must have a graduation degree from any authoritative organisation with at least 60% or equivalent marks. If you are in your final year, then also you are eligible to apply.

If a candidate has passed section A and Section B of the examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers or Aeronautical Society of India, then also you can easily apply for this position.

Eligibility Criteria to Join through AFCAT

A candidate must lie between the age group of 20 to 24 years old.

Both male and female candidates are eligible to apply for this position.

The Nationality of the candidate should be Indian and the Marital Status of the candidate should be Single.

It is mandatory to have a minimum of 50% in 10+2 with maths and physics as the main subjects. A candidate should have a graduation degree in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or have a four-year course degree in Bachelors in Engineering or Bachelor’s in Technology with minimum percentage criteria of 60% marks.

If a candidate has cleared both section A and Section B of the examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers or Aeronautical Society of India, then also you can easily apply for this position.

Indian Air Force NCC Entry

National Cadet Corps (NCC), also known as the Fourth Line of Defence, provides an opportunity to join the IAF. If the candidates have completed NCC training and obtained a ‘C’ Certificate from the Air Wing NCC then they are eligible to join the IAF.

University Entry Scheme (UES) Entry

University Entry Scheme (UES) is for those candidates who are currently pursuing their Pre-final year of BE/B.Tech degree. It is to be ensured that there should not be any backlog in any paper in the previous semesters at the time of SSB Interview. On the completion of the degree, the candidates must obtain minimum 60% marks in total in all the papers.

Indian Air Force Medical Examination

After qualifying the eligibility criteria and clearing the exams, and then if you will clear the interview round then, the candidate has to go through the Medical Examination. 

A Candidate will have to go through the medical examination that will be conducted at the Air Force centre Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi, or at the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bengaluru.

If a Candidate will be selected, then he/she will have to go through a scrupulous training of 3 years regimen at the National Defense Academy. And after that, you will be required to have specialized training at AF Training Establishments. After successfully passing all the levels, a candidate will become a permanent member of the Indian Air Force.

Salary in Indian Air Force

During the starting training period, the pay scales start at Rs 56,000 for flying candidates. The pay scale is common in all branches with Rs 15,600 and the grade varies for different levels. 

The grade pay of higher posts such as flight lieutenant, flight officer, air marshall, CAS starts above Rs 50,000 and goes till 3 lakh rupees. There are other perks as well associated with IAF such as Military Service Pay, dearness allowance, kit maintenance allowance, transport allowance, etc.

If you have the determination and will to contribute towards the victory of the nation by joining the Indian Air Force, then you should definitely go ahead with your aim. You can enter IAF by various means. Clear out the exams, interview, be medically fit and attain a position at IAF.

We wish the data shared above regarding How to Join Indian Air Force, eligibillty, process, admission Course has been beneficial to you in clarifying your concerns. For more information, feel free to ask in the comment section. If you find this article informative and for video lectures on career related videos SUBSCRIBE our YouTube channel. Thank you very much for your time. 

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