AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test, whereas, CDSE stands for Combined Defence Service Examination. Both are pen-paper based tests and conducted for the young aspirants who wish to join the Defense forces of India.
Though the eligibility condition probably is the same for both the exams, but, they both differ a lot from each other in various other aspects. In order to join the Indian Air Force (IAF), candidates will need to appear for the written test followed by SSB to be enrolled in the Defence forces. In this article, we have explained how you can join IAF through AFCAT or CDS.
What is AFCAT?
Air Force Common Admission Test is a gateway exam conducted twice a year by Indian Air Force. It is held in offline mode. Aspirants have to first register for the exam, then appear for the written test followed by Air Force Selection Board Interview conducted for candidates who pass the written exam. Through AFCAT, aspirants can apply for three branches of the IAF which are Flying Branch, Technical Branch, and Ground Duty Branches. Both men and women are eligible to apply for this exam. To prepare for this exam, you may solve mock tests, practice AFCAT previous year papers, etc.
The exam is conducted in offline mode followed by SSB Interview and Medical test. Only unmarried young graduates can apply for this recruitment exam. One of the best ways to prepare for this govt recruitment is to, first of all, check the syllabus, exam pattern, get your basic concepts crystal clear, solve CDS previous year papers as much as possible.
Eligibility Criteria for AFCAT / CDS
In order to join the recruitment exam, aspirants should, first of all, ensure that they fulfill the eligibility criteria. This may not be verified at the time of the exam, however, at the time of document verification, you will need to submit the necessary documents to prove your eligibility.
Eligibility for AFCAT
- Should have secured minimum 50% marks in Maths & Physics at 10+2 level.
- Should be a graduate in any discipline from a recognized university with minimum 60% marks or equivalent.
- The age limit for the Flying branch is 19-23 years, for Technical it is 18-28 years, whereas, for Ground duties, the maximum age of a candidate should be 27 years.
Eligibility for CDS
- Should have secured minimum 50% marks in Maths & Physics at 10+2 level.
- Should have completed graduation (BE / BTech / BSc, etc) in any discipline by obtaining at least 60% marks or its equivalent.
- For the Indian Army, the maximum age limit of a candidate is 19-24 years. In the case of the Indian Air Force, it is 19-23 years and for the Indian Navy, it is 19-22 years.
How to Apply for Indian Air Force?
The Ministry of Defence releases recruitment for all kinds of courses in the Indian Air Force online at its official website, through leading dailies and Employment news. Aspirants aspiring to apply for any of these courses must read the notification very carefully and check their eligibility criteria. The process to apply for the Indian Air Force is very simple. Eligible aspirants need to fill in details in the application form and submit it before the last date. Once the form is submitted, successfully registered candidates are issued their admit card and then can appear for the written exam.
