An Indian Air Force officer protects the nation from all aerial threats and works in close contact with the other two arms of the Indian Armed Forces (Indian Navy and Indian Army) to safeguard the Indian territory from all threats. The Indian Air Force officer is also required to perform humanitarian search and rescue operations in event of a natural disaster.
Personal Competencies
You like helping people
You like working outdoors
You are keen to serve the country and demonstrate valour
You like to have clear instructions to follow
Entry Pathway
1. Complete 10+2 in any stream, preferably the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics)
2. You have to then appear for a written exam and then an interview. All candidates have to pass the physical and medical tests
OR
Complete a Bachelor’s degree in any science stream and appear for the Combined Defence Service Exam and interview. All candidates have to pass the physical and medical tests
OR
For technical entry, complete a Bachelor's degree (B.E./B.Tech) in Engineering after clearing entrance examinations such as JEE Advanced, JEE Main, MET, VITEEE, MHT CET, SRMJEE, COMEDK, UGET, KCET and so on. For entry into the Indian Armed Forces, you must clear various written examinations, an SSB interview and also various medical examinations, after which you can join the Officers Training Academy.
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
Where will you study?
Complete your Bachelor's degree from any recognised institution in India which offers the course required and check for UGC accreditation.
Defense institutions 1. National Defense Academy (NDA), Pune - The air force cadets have to undergo military training in the National Defence Academy. 2. IAF Academy, Telangana - IAF Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad is the premier academy for training air force cadets as well as members of the air wing of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
Fees
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 6,000 - 10,46,000* for the full course
*(The above mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from Institute to Institute)
Scholarships & Loans
Scholarships
• National Scholarship Portal - Please visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different Departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.* • Please visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI • Scholarships are also available in the Institutes based on merit
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
Loans
•VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA). •Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc. • All banks give education loans.
Where will you work?
Places of Work: You can find employment in the Indian Air Force in any of the five operational and two functional commands. An entry level officer is expected to work in any of the 3 branches within a section, i.e., the flying branch, the technical branch and the ground branch.
Work Environment: The work timings are typically 6 to 7 days a week for 8 to 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. You are expected to deal with challenging situations. Most of the work is outdoors.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field
Expected Growth Path
Flying officer → Flight Lieutenant → Squadron Leader → Wing Leader → Group Captain → Air Commodore → Air Vice Marshal → Air Marshal
Expected Income
The approx. salary of an Indian Air Force officer ranges between INR 56,100 - 1,10,000* per month.
Gunjan Saxena - One of the most well known flying officers in the country, Gunjan Saxena is also one of the most popular female IAF officers in the country. She decided to join the armed forces after completing her graduation from Delhi University Hansraj College. She is also a veteran in the 1999 Kargil War as well as one of the first woman to fly into a combat zone.*
Indian Air Force officer
NCS Code: NA | DF0021. Complete 10+2 in any stream, preferably the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics)
2. You have to then appear for a written exam and then an interview. All candidates have to pass the physical and medical tests
OR
Complete a Bachelor’s degree in any science stream and appear for the Combined Defence Service Exam and interview. All candidates have to pass the physical and medical tests
OR
For technical entry, complete a Bachelor's degree (B.E./B.Tech) in Engineering after clearing entrance examinations such as JEE Advanced, JEE Main, MET, VITEEE, MHT CET, SRMJEE, COMEDK, UGET, KCET and so on. For entry into the Indian Armed Forces, you must clear various written examinations, an SSB interview and also various medical examinations, after which you can join the Officers Training Academy.
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment
Complete your Bachelor's degree from any recognised institution in India which offers the course required and check for UGC accreditation.
Defense institutions
1. National Defense Academy (NDA), Pune - The air force cadets have to undergo military training in the National Defence Academy.
2. IAF Academy, Telangana - IAF Academy in Dundigal, Hyderabad is the premier academy for training air force cadets as well as members of the air wing of the Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard.
The approx. course fee ranges between INR 6,000 - 10,46,000* for the full course
*(The above mentioned figures are approximate numbers. This will vary from Institute to Institute)
Scholarships
• National Scholarship Portal - Please visit http://www.scholarships.gov.in. Under this portal there are Central Government schemes offered by different Departments, UGC/AICTE Schemes and State Schemes.*
• Please visit http://www.buddy4study.com for details on available scholarships. This is a gateway to scholarships starting from Class XI
• Scholarships are also available in the Institutes based on merit
*(Availability of these scholarships can vary from time to time)
Loans
•VidyaLakshmi, http://www.vidyalakshmi.co.in, is a portal for students seeking education loan. This portal has been developed under the guidance of the Department of Financial Services, (Ministry of Finance), Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Human Resource Development) and Indian Banks Association (IBA).
•Some states have student credit cards with low interest rates, for instance, West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, etc.
• All banks give education loans.
Places of Work: You can find employment in the Indian Air Force in any of the five operational and two functional commands. An entry level officer is expected to work in any of the 3 branches within a section, i.e., the flying branch, the technical branch and the ground branch.
Work Environment: The work timings are typically 6 to 7 days a week for 8 to 9 hours per day. Shift system is applicable. You are expected to deal with challenging situations. Most of the work is outdoors.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field
Flying officer → Flight Lieutenant → Squadron Leader → Wing Leader → Group Captain → Air Commodore → Air Vice Marshal → Air Marshal
The approx. salary of an Indian Air Force officer ranges between INR 56,100 - 1,10,000* per month.
Source - https://afcat.cdac.in/AFCAT/payAllowances.html
*These figures are indicative and subject to change
Experts from the field
Gunjan Saxena - One of the most well known flying officers in the country, Gunjan Saxena is also one of the most popular female IAF officers in the country. She decided to join the armed forces after completing her graduation from Delhi University Hansraj College. She is also a veteran in the 1999 Kargil War as well as one of the first woman to fly into a combat zone.*
Source - indiatimes.com/news/india/the-untold-story-of-the-first-women-warriors-of-kargil-gunjan-saxena-and-srividya-rajan-258983.html
*The above information is for training purposes only and will not be used for any commercial gains.
combat pilot, Indian air officer, Indian air force