Career in Indian Airforce

[Rudra.J]

Selection

The selection procedure for picking the candidates is quite strict and elaborate. The four steps involved are

• Scanning of Application
  
• Testing Officer like Qualities
  
• Conducting Medical Examinations
  
• Preparing All India Merit List

Scanning of Application

After checking all eligibility wise application forms for the three branches, you will receive a call letter with further instructions.

If you have applied to the Flying Branch through the NDA or CDSE, your applications will be sent for processing to UPSC. There after you will receive a call letter for writing the UPSC Exam. Men after clearing the UPSC Exams take the pilot aptitude battery test (PABT). If you are a woman applying for the Short Service Commission or applying as an NCC Senior Division 'C' Certificate Holder, you skip the UPSC Exams, and move to the next step i.e PABT, after your application has been processed. PABT comprises a written test in which a candidate's perception and grasp of the subject is gauged. This is followed by two machine tests for checking the basic co-ordination and psychomotor skills.

If you have applied to the Ground Duty Branch, your application will be sent to the Air Headquarters for short-listing. Then the candidates need to undergo an officer intelligence-rating test.

If you have applied to the Technical Branch, you will be required to take the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). If you pass the EKT, you move to the next step.

Testing Officer like Qualities

After you have successfully cleared Step 1, you will receive a call letter to report to any one of the Air Force Selection Boards (AFSB) located at Dehradun, Varanasi and Mysore. At the Air Force Selection Boards, you undergo a number of psychological tests, an interview and group activities, which are collectively called the Officer Like Qualities (OLQ) Tests.

The Psychological Tests are written tests that are conducted by a Psychologist.
The Group Tests are interactive indoor and outdoor tests. We expect active physical participation from you.
The Interview involves a personal conversation with our Interviewing Officer.

All of the above are screening tests. If you do not make the passing grades, you are routed back home the same day. If you have applied through NDA/CDSE (for Flying Branch) there is no screening; you are tested for your second/third choice of Army and Navy.

At the conference held on the last day, all the assessors, i.e. the Psychologist, Ground Testing Officer and the Interviewing Officer, discuss your performance. Based on your performance, you will be selected for the next step.

Conducting Medical Examinations

If you have applied for the Flying branch and are found suitable by the Selection Board, you would be sent to the Air Force Central Medical Establishment, New Delhi or the Institute of Aviation Medicine, Bangalore for a thorough medical examination.

If you have applied for the Technical or Ground Duty Branches and are found suitable, you would be asked to return home and await a call for a medical examination depending upon your position in the merit list.

Preparing All India Merit List

An All India merit list is compiled on the basis of your performance at the group tests as well as the medical examination. If you qualify the merit list, depending upon vacancies, you are instructed to go to the training academy.

[Rudra.J]

Remuneration

Air Force not only offers you an adventurous and challenging career, but also takes care of all your needs including basic accommodation, health care, recreational areas, education facilities for your children etc.

Even before you are commissioned as an Air Force officer you start earning a monthly stipend of Rs. 8000/- during your training period at any of the Air Force Training Establishments. And on successful completion of your training you receive the retrospective D.A. for the complete training period.

Once you are commissioned as a Flying Officer, besides getting an attractive pay package, you and your family enjoy an excellent way of life. Depending on your branch, you start your career with the following emoluments on the grant of Permanent Commission:

Posts---------------------------------------------------------> Monthly Income

Flying Branch (Pilots/ Navigators)-----------------------------> Rs 16,900 (approx.)

Technical Branch (Electronics/Mechanical)-------------------> Rs 13,400 (approx.)

Ground Duty Branches----------------------------------------------> Rs 12,400 (approx.).

The other benefits include living accomodation with 2-3 bed rooms (depending upon the rank), Insurance cover of Rs 10 lakhs at low premium rates, an annual leave of 60 days and 20 days causal leave, liberal Leave Travel Concessions to you and your family, Liberal loans for purchase of cars, computer or a house from the Air Force Group Insurance Society, Medical Facilities including specialist services to you and your family, Ration, Schooling facilities and opportunities for higher learning and facilities for recreational as well as competitive sports and other adventure activities.

After retirement, you are offered a large number of benefits like pension, medical facilities, use of the canteen etc.

The following is the pay you get according to your rank and branch chosen:

Gross Annual Income (approx.)

RANK-------------------Flying Branch--------------------Technical Branch-------------------Ground Duty Branches

Flight Lieutenant-----------Rs 2.43 lakhs---------------------------Rs 1.88 lakhs-----------------------------Rs 1.77 lakhs
Squadron Leader----------Rs 3.04 lakhs---------------------------Rs 2.33 lakhs-----------------------------Rs 2.21 lakhs
Wing Commander----------Rs 3.42 lakhs---------------------------Rs 2.70 lakhs-----------------------------Rs 2.58 lakhs
Group Captain--------------Rs 3.75 lakhs---------------------------Rs 3.02 lakhs-----------------------------Rs 2.90 lakhs
Air Commodore-------------Rs 3.85 lakhs---------------------------Rs 3.34 lakhs-----------------------------Rs 3.23 lakhs

[DayanandPatil]

This is very important Information you have provided here, I was also searching for the complete information about the Indian Airforce which is for my friend who has completed his Engineering and wanted to persuade to this course..

Thanks once again for your valuable information...

[shilpa b]

I am engineering graduate in computer science and i want to apply for Technical Branch -Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics).(i suppose i am eligible to apply for this post according to the information from IAF website-please correct me if i am wrong)
Also can anybody tell me when can we expect next notification to apply for the post...

[akku28]

Hey!
You are eligible...! All the best and have a successful career...! Not all get a chance to be in the AirFore...! All the best Soldier...!

can you please tell me when can we expect the next notification for the exam so that i can apply for it.(bacause as the date of applying has already finished this time)

Well... I'm not into this field... all i can guess is start lookin for it from december itself... Well by the time keep yourself prepared...! All the best...!

I Hve One Query That My Frnd Has Dne Dip+deg (electrnics) Nd Ve Both Applied For Aec Corse In Iaf,but I Got Call Letter For Xamz N She Dint.she Feels That Bcoz She Haz Dne Dip Sha Is Nt Eligible,can U Plz Ansr My Query???????

[komal.A]

Hey..
superb info Rudra..
i only wanted to clarify one thing..
according to the IAF website, the monthly salaries are as follows..

RANK Gross Monthly Emoluments
Flight Lieutenant Rs 41, 358 /-
Squadron Leader Rs 48, 324/-
Wing Commander Rs 66, 612/-
Group Captain Rs 71, 722/-
Air Commodore Rs 75, 081/-


Also,
it is writen that "Even before you are Commissioned as an Air Force Officer you start earning a monthly stipend of Rs. 21,000/- during last one year of your training period at any of the Air Force Training Institutions. "

But in the post you mentioned some different salaries..

So which one is correct? ?

[Masters]

hi Rudra.J

hi have applied for IAF eletronics division....
i am going to apper written test on 25thoct2009 for EKT..
but i need question format and entire syllabus Please send me the information

best regards
senthilkumar
waiting for your mail

See this link : http://forums.techarena.in/education...ob/1135813.htm All the best!

hi...the information provided is really helpful but i m still confused about one thing that for pre-final year engineering students to get into technical brach as offficer via university entry scheme if one is going to appear this year oct 2009 then he wont be able to join the training starting in july 2010 so how is going to happen for pre-final year students i mean what would be the procedure for after clearing the exam ...

The best way to know the exact detail is by contacting them or taking some help from a counselor. Also you may ask your friends. Well i think after the exam you just get into the training from the next session. Thats what i think. but not sure...

[rosanoinam]

Administrative Division


As an officer in the Education Branch, you will be responsible for the successful implementation of various educational programs organised at the Air Force bases. You will also be in charge of structuring libraries to ensure all requisite study material is available for officers undertaking in-service courses.

Along with the eligibility criteria common to all the divisions one must have the following Educational Qualifications

A minimum score of 50% in your post graduation in any of the following courses:

• M.A./ M.Sc. in any of the following subjects:
  
• English, Psychology, Defence Studies, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics, Computer Science
  
• M.Ed. (The age limit is extended to 27 years)
  
• M.B.A. or post graduate Diploma in Business Administration
  
• Two year full time or three year part-time from an Institute recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education with a combination of any two of the following subjects at a B.A. / B.Sc. level:
  
• English, Psychology, Defence Studies, Mathematics, Physics, Statistics
  
• Ph.D. (The age limit is extended to 27 years)
  

Regarding the above qualification for Ph.D, the age limit is given as 27 years. But isn't this too early? Supposed, if we complete 12th at the age of 17 yrs, then graduate in 4 yrs (as I did for engg) at the age of 21 yrs and master for 2 yrs at the age of 23 yrs. then Ph.D normally takes 4-5 yrs and at that time, you are exactly 27-28 yrs and you lost the oppurtunity.. So, could you please confirm this? Actually, I am really interested in joining IAF in future. So, I want to make this clear. Thank you very much..

[electganesh]

Eligibility : Post Graduate

As a post graduate (men and women) , one can join as an officer in the Air force only in the Technical and Ground duty branch. In the Technical Branch, an M Sc Electronics holder subject to certain specifications, can join as an Aeronautical Engineer in the Electronics stream.

Technical Branch

Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)

As a post graduate you can join the Technical Branch as an Aeronautical Engineer (Electronics). One will be responsible for the communication and signals required on the Air Force station and in charge of the execution of preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft. With further in-service training, you could also move to the repair and overhaul divisions of the Indian Air Force.

Eligibility criteria:

Age - 18 to 28 years

Marital Status - Single

Nationality - Indian

Gender -Applicable to both men and women.

Educational Qualifications - M.Sc. Electronics from any of the following universities:
Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Gujarat, Lucknow, Calcutta

top


Ground Duty Branches

After completing your post graduation, both men and women can enter any of sub branches of the Ground Duty Branch such as Administrative, Accounts, Education, Logistics and Meteorological Branches on Permanent Commission (only for Men) or Short service Commission (both for men and women).

Common Eligibility criteria for Administrative, Accounts, Education, Logistics and Meteorological divisions of the Ground Duty Branch :

• Age - 20 to 25 years
  
• Marital Status - Single
  
• Nationality - Indian
  
• Gender - Applicable to both men and women.

please send previous questions

[vineetaur]

hey rudra,
u r doing really a vry gud job.... thnx for hlping me.... one thng i need frm u that , m doing my 3rd of engineering in ECE branch nd i want to join trchnical branch.. so plz giv all d details as m lil bit confused dis tym... thnx

[coolviky]

Could i get any information on the university entry examination for pre final years ?

[venusstephen]

My great thanks tho this post. Career in Indian air force is Awesome. You have given really
nice and useful information about Indian air force. I really appreciate your work.
I am sure many people will find it useful who want their career in air force.

[dip4444]

please tell me can i join indian navy or indian air force
my qulification is DIPLOMA IN AUTOMOBILE ENGINEERING
I M NOW 22 YEAR BIRH DATE IS 04-06-88

[geetikadhingra]

hey cn somebdy plz provide me wid CET (ground duties) previous years papers..!!!
i hv my CET on 24th nov 2010...n i so want to get into airforce...

[vershabansal110]

hi Rudra,
thank you for the valuable information you have provided..
can you plz tell me whether i am eligible to give the technical exam of indian air force as i am in 3rd year doing B-Tech( branch-IT)...