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Engineering Jobs in Indian Air Force

If flying a supersonic jet is your childhood dream, then Indian Air Force (IAF) gives you a chance to not only fulfill your dream but also make an excellent career out of it. Young engineers can fly high in their career in the midst of supersonic jets, state-of-the-art technology in the IAF.

The aviation field is highly technical and scientific. With the revolution in computing sciences and the advancement in technology, to retain its edge IAF needs engineers and technical work force on a constant basis. Engineers have the option to apply for the Flying branch, Technical branch and the Ground Duty branch of the IAF.

Here is a list of various entry routes for engineers in IAF:

Flying Branch

The engineer in Flying Branch of the IAF is trained as a Fighter Pilot or a Helicopter Pilot or a Transport Pilot. The modes of entry into the Flying branch for engineers are through the Combined Defence Services Examination (only for men), Short Service Commission entry (for men and women) and NCC Special entry (only for men).

The following is the description of various entry modes of the flying branch -

Combined Defence Services Examination (CDSE) (for men only)

The Combined Defence Services Exam (CDSE), which is conducted twice a year by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) allow male engineers to get the Permanent Commission in the Air Force. Final year students are also eligible to apply.

Eligibility criteria:
Age:
19 to 23 years (at the time of commencement of course)
Nationality: Indian
Marital Status: Single
Gender: Men only
Educational Qualifications: Graduate (Three-year course with Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level) / BE / B.Tech. (Four-year course).
Advertisement Schedule: Advertisement released by UPSC in the months of June and October

Short Service Commission Entry (for men and women)

Both men and women engineers can enter through Air Force Common Admission Test (AFCAT) for Short Service Commission (SSC) in the Flying branch for 14 years. The Indian Air Force conducts AFCAT twice a year in February and September. This is a common admission test for entry to almost all the branches in IAF.

Eligibility criteria:
Age: 19 to 23 years
(Upper age limit for candidates holding valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) is relaxed up to 25 years.)
Marital Status: Single
Gender: Men and Women
Educational Qualifications: Graduates (three-year course) in any discipline with minimum 60% marks OR BE / B.Tech. with minimum 60% marks. Final year students are also eligible to apply.
Advertisement Schedule: Advertisements for AFCAT are released by the IAF in the months of June and December.

NCC Special entry (only for men)
Engineers are given Permanent Commission in the Flying branch of the Indian Air Force if they have Air Wing Senior Division ’C’ Certificate of the NCC. The NCC cadets have to apply for this entry through respective NCC Air Squadrons/DG NCC.

Eligibility criteria:
Age: 19 to 23 years
Marital Status: Single
Gender: Men only
Educational Qualifications: Graduate (three-year course) in any discipline with minimum 60% marks and have passed Physics and Mathematics at 10+2 level or BE / B.Tech. with minimum 60% marks. Final year students are also eligible to apply.

Technical Branch (Aeronautical Engineering Branch)

As an officer in the Technical branch or Aeronautical Engineering branch, an engineer would be in charge of the most sophisticated equipment in the IAF. Entry into the Technical branch is through University Entry Scheme and Aeronautical Engineering course both via AFCAT.

University Entry Scheme (UES) (only for men)

Engineers who wish to join Indian Air Force in pre-final year of engineering have an opportunity to opt for University Entry Scheme. The selection process is through AFCAT. The selected male candidates are granted Permanent Commission under the University Entry Scheme.

Eligibility criteria:
Age:
18 to 28 years
Educational qualification: For candidates studying in pre-final year of B.E / B.Tech. with minimum 60% marks.
Gender: For men only
Advertisement Schedule: December every year (through AFCAT)

Aeronautical Engineering Course
Engineering students upon after completion of their engineering degree or while in the final year of engineering can join in the Technical branch through AFCAT. Both men and women are eligible for this course where Permanent Commission is awarded for men and Short Service Commission for both men and women.

Age: 18 to 28 years
Educational qualification: BE / B.Tech. with minimum 60% marks

Advertisement Schedule - Advertisements for AFCAT are released by the IAF in the months of June and December.

Ground Duty Branches
An engineer can join as a graduate in the Ground Duty branches for managing human and material resources of the Indian Air Force. The Ground Duty branches include Administration branch, Accounts branch, Logistics branch, Education branch and the Meteorology branch. The selected candidates are granted Permanent Commission (for men) and Short Service Commission (for men & women).

Eligibility Criteria for Ground Duty Branches:
Age:

20 to 23 Years for Graduates
20 to 25 years for Post Graduates
Upper age limit is relaxed up to 26 years for Law Graduates (3 years course), up to 27 years for CA / ICWA / M.Ed. / PhD
Marital Status: Candidates below the age of 25 years must be unmarried.
Gender: Both men and women

More details click here
Published date : 03 Aug 2013 06:18PM

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