How to Join Indian Air Force: Working with the Indian Air Force (IAF) is a matter of great pride and honour. It is not easy to get selected in one of the three major armed forces of India. Indian Air Force is the armed force that works on Air. The other two armed forces Indian Army and Indian Navy work on land and sea, respectively. Joining IAF, as a warrior, you will uphold the Indian constitution, serving and protecting Indian land from enemies and protecting its freedom.
To join Indian Air Force, the candidates have to go through the written test first. After clearing the first round of written test, then the candidates will be allowed to go to the next levels, that is interviews and medical tests. Also, the All India merit list will be considered as a part of the selection.
For many youngsters, it’s a dream come true to join IAF. The Indian Air Force hires in three branches such as Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical Branch) and Ground Duty (Non-technical Branch). Based on their interest and qualifications the candidates have to apply for the relevant branches. All the positions here are exemplary and unique. Also, the salary and benefits associated with each post are good.
There are many ways to join Indian Air Force based on their qualifications. The candidates who have passed 10th, 12th, graduation and post-graduation are provided with opportunities to join IAF. Also, there are other entrance exams like NCC and the University Entry Scheme (UES) to get entry into IAF.
So in total, there are six ways by which an eligible candidate can join Indian Air Force. Let us know all about them.
Branch-Wise Career in IAF
As we have discussed in the introduction, there are three branches in the Indian Air Force:
- Flying Branch
- Ground Duty (Technical) Branch
- Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branch
Let us learn about them one by one.
Flying Branch
The candidates who want to fly high and be a fighter for our nation, have to join this branch. In this branch, the selected candidates are given training as a Fighter pilot or a Helicopter pilot or a transport pilot. Also, they become a part of many peace and war missions for India.
Ground Duty (Technical) Branch
To ensure the Indian Air Force remains airworthy, the ground duty technicians or officers have to propel and manage the whole team. Here, by joining the sub-branches based on your qualification, as an officer, you will take care of the most efficient equipment available in the whole world.
Ground Duty (Non-technical) Branch
As a ground duty non-technical officer, you will be responsible for human resources and material resources in IAF. This branch steers the Indian Air Force mechanism.
6 Ways on How to Join Indian Air Force (IAF)
Now let us learn how to join the Indian Air Force or who are eligible to join Indian Air Force. There are qualifications based on which candidates can join Indian Air Force. Such as:
- Class 10th Passed
- Class 12th Passed
- Graduation Passed
- Post-Graduation Passed
- NCC Entrance
- University Entry Scheme Entrance
Let us have a look at them.
IAF for Class 10th Passed
There are various posts such as Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), Stenographer, Content Assistant (Material Assistant), Cook, Carpenter, Messenger, Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Watchman, Tin and CopperSmith, Mechanic, Tailor, Gardener, Fitter, Vendor, Barber, Painter, etc., for which IAF hires candidates. These are the civilian posts which are joined based in class 10th qualification.
Candidates should have passed 10th standard or a diploma in the relevant field to apply for these posts. For some posts, if candidates have passed class 10th then they are eligible to apply but for some posts, ITI qualification is a must. There are chances if the candidates have passed class 12th then they will be getting preferences.
Eligibility:
- Nationality: Indian
IAF for Class 12th Passed
Students who have passed the class 12th exam in the relevant field can join IAF by giving NDA (National defense Academy) exam. They have to pass the written test and then SSB interview. After clearing the interview, they will be given training sessions before joining the IAF. NDA exams are conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) every year twice (January and June).
Eligibility Criteria
- Age of the candidate should be between 16.5 years to 19.5 years when they start their class 12th.
- Only for Male Candidates
- Only for Indians
- Passed 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics.
IAF for Graduation Passed
To join Indian Air Force as a graduate, candidates have to give CDSE (Combined Defence Service Examination) which is also conducted by UPSC, yearly twice. Another option to join IAF for graduate students is giving the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) test and qualifying it. Whoever candidates get selected by the AFCAT test are given training in IAF training centers. After they have completed their training, they will be commissioned and get postings as officers.
Eligibility
- Age limit: 20 to 24 years (during the joining of the course)
- Only for Indians
- Only for Male candidates
- Only for Unmarried
- Graduate (Three years) or BE/BTech (Four years) passed and 10+2 passed with Physics and Mathematics from recognised universities.
- Pursuing students (final year) are also eligible. They need to provide a degree or provisional during the selection procedure.
IAF for Post Graduation Passed
To join IAF, postgraduate students can directly apply for ground duty (non-technical) branches. Candidates who have done a degree in Aeronautical Engineering or Electronics can easily join the IAF.
To join Meteorological Branch, candidates should have done post-graduation in any of the science stream such as Science stream / Mathematics / Statistics / Geography / Computer Applications / Environmental Science / Applied Physics / Oceanography / Meteorology / Agricultural Meteorology / Ecology & Environment / Geo-physics /Environmental Biology. They should have passed PG in the relevant stream with 50% marks in total. And also, they should have passed graduation in Maths and Physics with 55%.
Eligibility
- Age limit: 20 to 26 years (during the joining of the course)
- Only for Indians
- Both for Male and female candidates
- Candidates below 25 years should be Unmarried
- 50% in Post graduation and 12th, 60% in graduation
NCC for IAF
The NCC (National Cadet Corps) brings opportunities for candidates who want to join IAF. It is also called the Fourth Line of Defence. To be eligible to join IAF through NCC, candidates have to complete the training there and should have obtained a ‘C’ certificate, from the Airwing NCC.
Eligibility
- Age limit: 20 to 24 years (during the joining of the course)
- Only for Indians
- Both for Male and female candidates
- Only for unmarried
- Passed 10+2 with 50% in each subject (Maths & Physics )
- Passed graduation (three years) or BE Tech (four years) with 60% marks
- Cleared Section A & B examination of Associate Membership of Institute Engineers (India) or Aeronautical Society of India with 60% marks
- Final year students can apply, provided they have to produce their degree certificate during the final selections.
University Entry Scheme (UES) for IAF
Candidates who are pursuing final year BE/B.Tech. can apply to join IAF through University Entry Scheme (UES). They need to make sure that there is no backlogs for the previous years in any paper when they approach giving an SSB interview. Only those candidates will be eligible then who have scored 60% marks in their final year exams.
FAQ’s on How To Join Indian Air Force
Question 1.
How to join Indian Air Force after 12th?
Answer:
Students who have passed the class 12th exam in the relevant field can join IAF by giving NDA (National defence Academy) exam. They have to pass the written test and then SSB interview. After clearing the interview, they will be given training sessions before joining the IAF. NDA exams are conducted by UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) every year twice (January and June).
Question 2.
How to join IAF after graduation?
Answer:
To join Indian Air Force as a graduate, candidates have to give CDSE (Combined Defence Service Examination) which is also conducted by UPSC, yearly twice. Another option to join IAF for graduate students is giving the Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) test and qualifying it. Whoever candidates get selected by the AFCAT test are given training in IAF training centers. After they have completed their training, they will be commissioned and get postings as officers.
Question 3.
How to join Indian Air Force after 10th?
Answer:
Candidates should have passed 10th standard or a diploma in the relevant field to apply for various IAF posts such as Multi Tasking Staff (MTS), Stenographer, Content Assistant (Material Assistant), Cook, Carpenter, Messenger, Lower Division Clerk (LDC), Watchman, Tin and CopperSmith, Mechanic, Tailor, Gardener, Fitter, Vendor, Barber, Painter, etc. For some posts, if candidates have passed class 10th then they are eligible to apply but for some posts, ITI qualification is a must. There are chances if the candidates have passed class 12th then they will be getting preferences.
Question 4.
How to join IAF after post-graduation?
Answer:
To join IAF, postgraduate students can directly apply for ground duty (non-technical) branches. Candidates who have done a degree in Aeronautical Engineering or Electronics can easily join the IAF. Candidates can apply for two branches here: Education branch and Meteorology Branch.