AFCAT applicants choose from three broad branch groups: Flying, Ground Duty (Technical), and Ground Duty (Non-Technical). Each has separate eligibility criteria, and the Technical branches require an engineering background in a relevant discipline, which rules the branch in or out for most candidates before preparation even starts.
The exam itself is common across branches — General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability and Reasoning — except that Technical-branch applicants additionally attempt the EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test), a separate, discipline-specific paper alongside AFCAT.
Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branches
This covers Administration, Logistics, Accounts, Education and Meteorology. Most of these branches accept graduates from a wide range of streams, though some carry their own degree conditions (Accounts and Meteorology, for example), and they are typically the most accessible entry point for non-engineering graduates who want to join the Air Force without the additional aptitude filter that applies to Flying.
Ground Duty (Technical) branches
Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) and (Mechanical) require a relevant engineering degree and the EKT score is weighted alongside AFCAT in shortlisting. Candidates from a non-core engineering background should check the exact eligible-degree list carefully before investing preparation time here.
Choosing without wasting a preparation cycle
Confirm branch eligibility against your degree first — this single check eliminates wrong-branch preparation before it starts. If you're eligible for more than one branch, prioritise Ground Duty (Non-Technical) if speed to a shortlist matters most, since it carries fewer additional filters than Flying or Technical branches.
Flying branch
Flying branch candidates need Physics and Mathematics at class 12 plus a graduation (or BE/B.Tech) with the marks the notification specifies, and they must fall inside the flying age band — 20 to 24 years, with relaxation to 26 for holders of a valid Commercial Pilot Licence. At the Air Force Selection Board they also take the Computerised Pilot Selection System (CPSS), which can be attempted only once in a lifetime. Anyone serious about flying should treat CPSS as a separate preparation item, not an afterthought.
The common AFCAT paper — 100 questions, 300 marks, two hours, +3 for a correct answer and −1 for a wrong one — decides whether you reach the Air Force Selection Board at all, whichever branch you choose. The ground duty age band is 20 to 26 years.