IAF Officer Introduction Eligibility Application Procedure Selection Remuneration

An Engineer (men and women), can join the Air Force in either of the three branches i.e the Flying, Technical or the Ground branch. He/ She can choose the suitable branch and is required to mention the preference while filling up the application form.

Flying Branch

As an engineer, you enter the Flying branch through the Air Force Academy,  one of the most prestigious training establishments of the Indian Air Force. Here you are trained and prepared for your responsibilities as a pilot. You are trained either as a Fighter pilot, or a Helicopter pilot, or a Transport pilot in the Flying branch. 

Eligibility criteria for Flying Branch:

 • Age -19 to 23 years
 • Marital Status - Single
 • Nationality - Indian
 • Gender - This is applicable to both men and women.
 • Educational Qualifications - One should have completed his/hers B.E. (four years) to join the Flying branch. 

The following are the three modes of entry for Engineers to join the Flying Branch:

1. Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE)
   One can take the Combined Defence Services Examination (conducted by UPSC) to join the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force. Men can join the Air Force through this mode of entry and will be given a Permanent Commission. Candidates qualifying the written test are interviewed by the Service Selection Board and if finally selected, depending on their merit list ranking, are sent to Air Force Academy, Begumpet, Hyderabad for orientation training.
   Click here to know the eligibility, selection, application and Syllabus of the CDSE exam in detail
   
2. National Cadet Corps
   As a senior division 'C' Certificate holder of the National Cadet Corps, you can apply to the Flying Branch of the Indian Air Force. Men can join the Air Force through this mode of entry and will be given a Permanent Commission.
   
3. Women (Short Service Commission)
   If you are a woman, you are eligible for a Short Service Commission to the Flying Branch.

Ground Branch 

An Engineer can join as an officer in the Meteorological department of the Ground Branch on Permanent commission, for service for life (only for men) or Short Service commission for a service of 10-20 years (for men and women). In this department, you would handle the latest satellite imagery and state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and render specific advice to the operators on all aspects of weather. 

Eligibility Criteria for Meteorological department of the Ground branch:

 •  Age -20 to 25 years
 •  Marital Status-Single
 • Nationality-Indian
 •  Gender-This is applicable to both men and women
 •  Educational Qualifications-At least 50% in your M.Tech. in Atmospheric Science from IIT, Delhi. 

Technical Branch 

An Engineer can apply as an officer in any of the Aeronautical engineering streams such as Electronics and Mechanical of the Technical Branch via Direct Entry Scheme or University Entry Scheme either on Permanent commission (only for men) or Short Service commission (for men and women). One can join the Technical Branch through Direct Entry Scheme, only after completing engineering. Both men and women can use this mode of entry to apply to the Indian Air Force. One can join the Technical Branch through University Entry Scheme, when you are still in your final or Pre-final year of Engineering. You will be entitled to a stipend during your final year. Those selected for Permanent Commission would receive a Flying Officer's basic pay as stipend, while those selected for Short Service Commission would receive half that amount. The basic pay of a Flying Officer is Rs. 8250/- per month. The University Entry scheme is open only to men.

Common Eligibility criteria for the Aeronautical Engineering Streams of the Technical Branch:

Age  - 18 to 28 years
Marital Status- Single
Nationality- Indian
Gender- The 'Direct entry scheme' is applicable to both men and women but the 'University entry scheme' is applicable only to women. 

Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)
Permanent / Short Service Commission
As an Aeronautical Engineer in the Electronics stream, one will be responsible for the communication and signals required on the Air Force station and also be in charge of the execution of preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft. With further in-service training, one could also move to the repair and overhaul divisions of the Indian Air Force.

Educational Qualifications- To apply you must have an Engineering degree (in case of Direct Entry) or should be in your pre-final/final year of Engineering (in case of University Entry Scheme) in any of the streams listed below:

 • Electronics 
 • Telecommunications
 • Electrical
 • Electrical Communication
 • Electronics and Communication
 • Computer Science and Engineering A combination of the above mentioned subjects.

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Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)
Permanent / Short Service Commission
As an Aeronautical Engineer in the Mechanical stream, one would be involved with preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft or of common user and specialist application vehicles and could also in the safety and maintenance of firearms and ammunition at an Air Force Base. 

Educational Qualification
To apply you must have an Engineering degree (in case of Direct Entry) or should be in your pre-final/final year of Engineering (in case of University Entry Scheme) in any of the streams listed below: 

 •  Aeronautical 
 • Mechanical 
 • Production 
 • Industrial Production