AFCAT 2 Syllabus 2026: Check Exam Pattern and Download Subject-Wise Topics PDF
Taking AFCAT 2026 is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for those who want to join the Indian Air Force. There are four major topics covered in the AFCAT exam which include General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning. Aspirants from technical branches have to appear in EKT as well.
The AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test, which is organized at the national level by the Indian Air Force. The test is conducted two times a year for selection in various departments such as Flying, Technical, and Ground Duties. Every year, hundreds and thousands of candidates take this exam to fulfill their desire of being a part of the armed forces. In order to ace AFCAT 2026, it is crucial for applicants to be aware of the syllabus and exam pattern. This article presents the complete AFCAT 2026 syllabus along with some preparation tips.
The AFCAT 2 Notification was released on the official website on May 20,2026. The exam will be conducted on August 8,2026.
AFCAT Syllabus 2026
The AFCAT 2026 syllabus includes four key areas, namely, General Awareness, English Language Verbal Ability, Numerical Ability and Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test. This test comprises 100 questions worth a total of 300 marks, The time limit is 2 hours. Besides, those who are going to apply for the Technical branch have to pass the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT).
AFCAT Exam Pattern 2026
The AFCAT 2026 examination is organized as a Computer Based Test (CBT). The examination paper comprises four different parts, namely General Awareness, English Comprehension, Numerical Ability, and Reasoning and Military Aptitude Test. The total marks for the test are 300 with 100 questions, and 2 hours is allocated to solve the test. Three marks will be awarded for each correct answer, whereas one mark will be deducted for each incorrect answer. If you are applying for a post in the Technical Branch, then you have to take another test called the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). Candidates can check the table below for complete understanding of AFCAT 2026 Exam pattern and marking scheme.
| Section | No. of Questions | Marks | Time Duration |
| General Awareness | 25 | 75 | No Specific Timing |
| Verbal Ability in English | 25 | 75 | No Specific Timing |
| Numerical Ability | 20 | 60 | No Specific Timing |
| Reasoning & Military Aptitude | 30 | 90 | No Specific Timing |
| Total | 100 | 300 | 2 hr |
Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)
Those who want to become officers in the Indian Air Force can carefully check the AFCAT Syllabus 2026 and especially for the Engineering Knowledge test. Interested candidates can go through the table below:
| Particulars | Details |
| Total Questions | 50 |
| Total Marks | 150 |
| Time Duration | 45 mins |
| Subjects | Mechanical / Electronics & Communication / Computer Science |
| Marks per question | 3 |
| Negative Marking | -1 per wrong answer |
AFCAT Syllabus 2026 Subject-wise
The syllabus for AFCAT 2026 comprises four core subjects. The syllabus aims to test the different competencies of the candidates. Here is the comprehensive list of subjects along with their key topics:
1. General Awareness
The aim of this part is to evaluate the knowledge of the candidate regarding various national and international affairs, history, geography, and science. This section holds high importance in terms of fact-based study.
-
History
-
Geography
-
Indian Polity
-
Economy
-
Science & Technology
-
Current Affairs
-
Sports
-
Art & Culture
-
Defence
-
Environment
2. Verbal Ability in English
This section assesses the capability of the candidate to master the English language: grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension.
-
Comprehension
-
Vocabulary
-
Sentence skills
-
Idioms & Phrases
-
One Word Substitution
-
Cloze Test
3. Numerical Ability
This section measures the aptitude in mathematics and arithmetic skills of the candidate. The questions are up to Grade 10-12 level.
-
Number System
-
Simplification
-
Percentage
-
Ratio & Proportion
-
Time & Work
-
Time, Speed & Distance
-
Algebra
-
Geometry
-
Statistic
4. Reasoning & Military Aptitude Test
This section evaluates the analytical skill of the candidate.
-
Verbal Reasoning
-
Non-verbal reasoning
-
Spatial Ability
-
Coding Decoding
-
Blood Relations
-
Direction Sense
-
Mathematical Operations
AFCAT Syllabus Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT)
Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT) is another test paper that is being administered for those who apply for the Technical Branch of the Indian Air Force. The test comes right after the AFCAT Written Test. The syllabus for the EKT consists of three streams; Mechanical, Electronics & Communication, and Computer Science. It is mandatory for candidates to write the stream according to their undergraduate subjects. There are 50 questions for the duration of 45 minutes with total marks of 150.
Stream 1: Mechanical Engineering
-
Engineering Mechanics
-
Thermodynamics
-
Fluid mechanics
-
Theory of Materials
-
Strength of Materials
-
Manufacturing processes
-
Material Science
-
Automobile engineering
-
Aircraft structure
Stream 2: Electronics & Communication Engineering
-
Basic Electronics
-
Digital Electronics
-
Communication systems
-
Signals & Systems
-
Microprocessors
-
Electromagnetic Theory
-
Control Systems
-
Radar & Navigation
-
Antenna & Wave Propagation
Stream 3: Computer Science Engineering
-
Programming Fundamentals
-
Data structures
-
Algorithms
-
Operating systems
-
Computer Networks
-
Database Management
-
Computer Organisation
-
Software Engineering
-
Cyber security
AFCAT Syllabus 2026 PDF
Candidates can download the AFCAT Syllabus 2026 PDF through the direct link given below and are advised to read it properly before applying for the AFCAT. Download the official syllabus using the link given below.
Download Complete AFCAT Syllabus 2026 PDF
AFCAT Syllabus 2026 Highlights
Interested candidates can check the key highlights table given below for a detailed understanding of the AFCAT Syllabus 2026.
| Particulars | Details |
| Conducting Body | Indian Air Force (IAF) |
| Exam Name | Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) |
| Exam Frequency | Twice a year (AFCAT 1 & AFCAT 2) |
| Exam Mode | Computer-Based Test |
| Total Questions | 100 |
| Total Marks | 300 |
| Exam Duration | 2 hours |
| Marks per question | 3 marks |
| Negative Marking | -1 mark per wrong answer |
| Subjects | General awareness, Verbal ability, Numerical ability, Reasoning & Military Aptitude |
| Aditional Test | Engineering Knowledge Test (Technical Branch) |
| Application Date (AFCAT 2) | May 20 - June 19, 2026 |
| Official Website | afcat.cdac.in |
Deepanshu Upadhayaya is an education journalist with expertise in covering recruitment examinations, government job notifications, and UPSC success stories. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organizations such as Times Network Digital and is currently associated with Jagran New Media, where he covers competitive examinations, recruitment drives, admit cards, results, and exam preparation-related content. A graduate of Motilal Nehru College, University of Delhi, Deepanshu brings a strong understanding of the education sector, through his accurate, timely, and reader-friendly approach. He also holds Master's degrees in Economics and Mass Communication. Apart from covering education news, Deepanshu enjoys singing, playing cricket, and reading books. He can be reached at deepanshu.upadhayaya@jagrannewmedia.com.
