Sakshi Education

Engineer as an Officer in Indian Air Force

Along with flying branch and Ground batch Indian Air Force recruits only Engineers in Technical Branch. Candidates short-listed after the initial selection procedure, go through a rigorous training regimen at one of the Air Force training establishments; National Defense Academy, Air Force Academy, Air Force Technical College and Flying Training Establishments. Thereafter, they are commissioned as officers and embark on a glorious and fulfilling career. As an Engineer, you can soar into a rewarding and challenging career in the Indian Air Force. You can even join the Technical Branch in your final or pre-final year of engineering through the University Entry Scheme

Technical Branch:
As an officer in the Technical Branch, you would be in charge of some of the most sophisticated equipment in the world. You can apply for the Technical Branch via any of the two schemes listed below:

Direct Entry Scheme
After you have completed your engineering, you can join the Technical Branch through the Direct Entry Scheme. Both men and women can use this mode of entry to apply to the Indian Air Force.
Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics)

Permanent / Short Service Commission
As an Aeronautical Engineer in the Electronics stream, you will be responsible for the communication and signals required on the Air Force station. You will also be 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.

To join the Aeronautical Engineering (Electronics) stream you must fulfill the following eligibility criteria:

Age: 18 to 28 years*
Marital Status: Single
Nationality: Indian
Gender: This is applicable to both men and women.

Educational Qualification (Aeronautical Engineer – Electronics):
First division (60% & above) BE / B.Tech in Electronics / Telecommunication / Electrical / Electrical Communication / Electronics & Communication / Instrumentation / Computer Science & Engineering or a combination of these subjects. OR Diploma in Electronics of Madras Institute of Technology OR B Tech in Radio Physics and Electronics / Optics and Opto Electronics OR MSc Degree in Physics (With Electronics) / Electronics / Computer Science / Computer Application / MCA with Maths, Physics and Electronics at graduation level or MSc. Tech in Electronics and Radio Engineering OR Section A&B Examination of the Associate Membership Examination of the Institute of Engineers (India) in Electrical, Electronics or Telecommunication subjects OR Graduate Membership Examination of the Institute of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers with subjects of Section A & full subjects of Section B by actual studies (Maths, Applied Electronics and Circuits, Principals of Communication Engineering, Transmission lines and Networks)

Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical)
Permanent / Short Service Commission:
After you join the Indian Air Force as an Aeronautical Engineer in the Mechanical stream, you could be placed at a position that requires you to be involved with preventive maintenance and servicing of aircraft or of common user and specialist application vehicles. You could also be involved in the safety and maintenance of firearms and ammunition at an Air Force Base.

To join the Aeronautical Engineering (Mechanical) stream, you must fulfill the following conditions:

Age: 18 to 28 years*
Marital Status: Single
Nationality: Indian
Gender: This is applicable to both men and women.

Educational Qualification (Aeronautical Engineer-Mechanical):
“First division (60% & above) BE / B.Tech in Aeronautical / Mechanical / Production / Industrial Production or a combination of these subjects OR Section A and B of Examination of Aeronautical Society of India by actual studies in Avionics / Communication streams OR Section A and B of Associate Membership Examination of Institution of Engineering (India) with Mechanical / Aeronautical subjects by actual studies OR Section A and B of Associate Membership Examination of the Aeronautical Society of India with Group I (Design and Production) or Group II (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) subjects by actual studies

Advertisement Schedule: February and August Every Year

Selection Procedure:
There is a 4 step selection procedure which is scientific and thorough. You can be a part of Air Force family going through this process and proving your mettle. For details about the procedure see the steps below:

Step 1 – Scrutiny of Applications
Step 2 – Testing Officer Like Qualities
Step 3 – Conducting of Medical Examinations
Step 4 – Preparing All India Merit List

Step 1 -Scrutiny of Applications
The selection procedure begins immediately after you send your application forms to us. All application forms are first checked for eligibility after which you will receive a call letter with further instructions. If seek entry into the Flying Branch through the NDA or CDSE, your applications need to be sent to UPSC, New Delhi. UPSC conducts a written test twice a year in April & August (NDA) and April & September (CDSE). Advertisements for the examinations are released about six months in advance. Qualifying in these exams take you to step two. If you apply for Short Service Commission Flying (Pilot) or as an NCC Senior Division ‘C’ Certificate holder, your application is processed by Air HQ and call letter issued by AFSBs.

If you have applied to the Technical Branch you will be required to appear the Engineering Knowledge Test (EKT). Similarly, for non tech ground duty branches, you would require to appear for a Common Entrance Test (CET). If you pass the EKT/CET, you move to the next step. Click here to see schedule of advertisements for various branches

Step 2 - Testing Officer Like Qualities

If you have successfully cleared Step 1, you will receive a call letter to report to any one of the Air Force Selection Boards 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. These tests are designed to gauge your potential and suitability as an officer in the Armed Forces. 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. These tests will be explained to you in detail before they are conducted at the Selection Board.

The following is the schedule for OLQ Tests:
Schedule Technical Branch

Day 1 Intelligence Tests/ Psychological Tests (Phase I)
Day 2 Group tests
Day 3 Group tests
Day 4 Interview
Day 5 Conference

Phase I of testing gets over on 1st day for all type of entries except NDA/CDSE/NCC/Direct entry for which it gets over on second day. Only those candidates who qualify in Phase I shall be retained at AFSB for further testing of Phase II. NDA/CDSE candidates who do not qualify the PABT will still be tested for their second/third choice.
At the conference held on the last day, all the assessors i.e. the Psychologist, Ground Testing Officer and the Interviewing Officer, discuss your personality and decide on recommending you or not. Those recommended by the AFSBs will require filling up certain documents at the Boards and subsequently moving to the next step.

Step 3 - Conducting of Medical Examinations :
If you have applied for the Technical or Ground Duty Branches and are found suitable, you may be asked to return home and await a call for a medical examination or be sent directly for the medical examination.

Step 4 -Preparing All India Merit List
An All India Merit List is compiled on the basis of your performance at the AFSB and subject to being medically fit. Based on the vacancies available, Air HQ would issue joining instructions to join Air Force Academy for the training.