Frequently Asked Questions on IAF Airman in Group X and Group Y

The minimum age limit for enrolment in IAF as an Airman is 17 years on the date of enrolment and the maximum age limits are as follows:-

Selection Tests for enrolment as an Airman are conducted in two ways i.e., STAR and Rally. The difference between the two is given below.

1. STAR (Scheduled Test for Airmen Recruitment) – Candidates from all over India can apply for the Selection Test by registering their names as and when the advertisement is published in the Employment News and on IAF website https://airmenselection.cdac.in. STAR is conducted into two Phases:-

   1. Phase-I - This is a computer based ONLINE examination conducted by CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing).

   2. Phase-II - Shortlisted candidates as per their merit are called for Phase-II Selection Tests to be conducted at Airmen Selection Centres.

2. RALLY – Rallies are “On the spot selection test” conducted for candidates hailing from remote areas or under-represented areas to maintain demographic balance in IAF. The advertisement for the same is published in newspaper and also uploaded on the IAF website https://airmenselection.cdac.in.

You can check the employment news or CASB website https://airmenselection.cdac.in for correct and complete information.

The permissible age limit for enrolment in IAF is from 17 to 21 years as on date of enrolment. The Selection Test for enrolment is conducted in two cycles ie January to June and July to December. After completion of Selection Test all the qualified candidates undergo Medical examination in the month of July for Jan to Jun cycle and in the month of January for the Jul to Dec cycle. Thereafter Provisional Select List is published on 31 Oct for the Selection Tests held in the Jan-Jun cycle and on 30 Apr for the Selection Tests held in the Jul to Dec cycle last year. The whole process takes from 07 months to one year. Considering all the above mentioned aspects the Date of Birth block for Selections Tests scheduled to be conducted during an exam cycle i.e. Jan-Jun & Jul-Dec, is prepared.

Yes you are eligible, provided the Board/University is mentioned in the COBSE (Council of Board of School Education) list. The same can be checked in website www.cobse.org

You are eligible provided your aggregate and English marks in XII/ Intermediate is 50% or above with or without improvement.

No, there is no such waiver, each candidate has to appear and qualify all the stages of Selection Test

No, the candidate doesno get any additional marks for NCC ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ certificates in the Written Test. However, 3/4/5 marks are awarded for NCC A/B/C certificates respectively to the candidates who qualify all the stages of Selection Tests.

No, there is no age relaxation for airmen recruitment in IAF for Graduate/Post Graduate candidates or for any other courses

No, there is no reservation for anyone in the Selection Test for airmen recruitment in IAF. However, special recruitment drive for outstanding sportsmen as airmen in IAF is done as on required basis for which separate advertisement is published.

Result of the Online Selection Test will be provided on the login ID of the candidates and a list of candidates shortlisted for Phase-II Selection test will be published on IAF website https://airmenselection.cdac.in for the information of the candidates. Shortlisted candidates will be issued with Admit Card for Phase -II Selection Test which could be downloaded from their login ID.

No, only shortlisted candidates are issued with Admit Card for Phase-II Selection Test.

Shortlisting of candidate for Phase-II is done by applying cut-off to call a sizeable number of candidates for Phase-II testing at various Airmen Selection Centres. Candidate’s name appearing as having been shortlisted solely depends upon the performance of the candidates in the online Written Test. This list only depicts names of candidates who have qualified to appear in Phase-II testing i.e, the second phase of testing. The number of candidates figuring in this list is drawn considering the likely vacancies and wastage during subsequent stages of testing.

Merely obtaining passing marks in the STAR Phase-I Selection Test is not sufficient for issue of Admit Card for Phase-II Selection Test. Admit card for Phase-II Selection Test is issued to candidates who meet the cut off criteria applied for Phase-II Selection Test.

Candidates who have cleared the Selection Tests comprising of Written Test, PFT-I, PFT-II, Adaptability Test-I and Adaptability Test-II, and have undergone Medical Test (whether declared Fit or Unfit), have to secure place in Provisional Select List (PSL) published pertaining to the exam cycle in which one has cleared the Selection Test.

Provisional Select List (PSL) is a List of candidates prepared Group/Trade wise as per the merit of candidates who have cleared the Selection Test irrespective of whether he has been declared Fit, Unfit or Absent in Medical examination conducted for the enrolment of candidates in IAF. PSL is prepared based upon the tentative vacancy plus the standby to cater for shortfall which may arise on the date of enrolment. The dates of publishing of PSL for Selection Tests are mentioned in the respective advertisements. The display lists are also made available at concerned ASCs on the date of publishing of PSL. The dates for publishing of PSL are as follows:-

1. Jan – Jun Testing Cycle - 31 Oct (Same year)

2. Jul – Dec Testing Cycle - 30 Apr (Next year)

The Provisional Select List is displayed as per the merit position of the candidates and PSL includes more number of candidates than the actual vacancy to cater for deficiencies that may arise on the day of enrolment due to absenteeism, medical unfitness, unwillingness etc. PSL in respect of each Group/Trade are prepared separately for Schedule Test and Rallies. PSLs have a validity period of six months from its date of publication and the same is mentioned in Display List of each PSLs. On expiry of the validity of PSL, candidature of all the candidates who are not enrolled, will get cancelled automatically and they will not be considered for future enrolments in IAF against that Roll Number.

It is a list of candidates (published as per their Roll Number) who could not make it in PSL as they are low in merit.

Candidates whose names have figured in PSL, will be considered for enrolment subject to availability of vacancies, their merit position in PSL and their medical fitness. It is not necessary that all the candidates whose names figured in PSLs will be issued with Call Letters (Joining Letter). Candidates whose name though published in the PSL but are low in merit may not be called for enrolment either as Main or Stand by. Further, candidature of candidates who are not enrolled, will get automatically cancelled on expiry of the validity of PSL and thereafter they will not be considered for future enrolments in IAF against that Roll Number. Candidates as per their merit position in PSL and availability of vacancies are issued with Call Letters. Enrolment List is also published in public domain www.airmenselection.cdac.in twice a year on 10th June and 10th December for June/July and December/January enrolments respectively, for information of candidates. Candidate may check their status in above mentioned web address.

Merely clearing the Selection Tests does not guarantee appearing of names in the PSL. Names not appearing in the PSL denotes that you are low in merit. You can also check for the PSL Cut off marks printed on PSL to compare your individual scored marks in selection test.

Green Cards are issued to the candidates who pass the Medical Examination during Selection Tests. Issue of Green Card does not give any guarantee for enrolment in IAF. Medical Examination is one among the various criteria for enrolment and it only denotes medical Status of the candidates.

CSV stands for “Certificate Subject to Verification”. This is because, there is an anomaly in your documents/certificates. This was intimated to you at the time of Selection Test and an undertaking was given by you to clear the anomaly and produce corrected certificate(s) within the given timeframe. The indication of ‘CSV’ against your name in PSL denotes that you have to clear the CSV status within the stipulated time. The candidature of the candidates who failed to get the CSV cleared within the stipulated timeframe, gets automatically cancelled on the day of enrolment. However, keeping in view the procedural delay in Educational Boards, your candidature is not cancelled and your CSV status is maintained. You are advised to get the anomaly cleared by the date as mentioned on the first page of PSL, to avoid cancellation of candidature. If the CSV is not cleared, your candidature will get automatically cancelled on the day of enrolment.

To clear the CSV status, you have to report to Commanding Officer of any one of 14 Airmen Selection Centres (ASCs) which is located close to your place/convenient to you. You have to produce the following documents for clearance of CSV status:-

1. CSV Undertaking Certificate handed over to you at the time of Selection Test.

2. All Original Documents that you have produced in support of your qualification at the time of Selection Test.

3. Three sets of self-attested photocopies of these documents.

ASC will verify these documents. The photocopies will be retained by the ASC and the original documents after verification, will be handed over to you.

A copy of the PSL Display List will be available at the Airmen Selection Centre (ASC) under which you have appeared in the selection test. In case you have appeared in Recruitment Rally conducted by IAF, a copy of PSL Display List will also be available in District Collector’s /District Magistrate’s Office under whose jurisdiction the Rally has been conducted.

Call Letters are dispatched to candidates well in advance by Registered post in the self-addressed envelope as submitted by the candidates at the time of Selection Tests. Hence, you are advised to liaise with your post office for prompt delivery of Call letter. In case, you do not receive Call Letter before the reporting date, you can take print out of the page of enrolment list in which your name appears, from website https://airmenselection.cdac.in and report to the concerned ASC at the time and date mentioned therein. You are also advised to download the ‘Consent form’ (applicable only for the candidates below 18 years of age on the date of enrolment) and also follow the instructions given in the ‘Joining Instructions’ and ‘Instructions for candidates’ available on the website.

Yes, you have to report as directed in your Call Letter, else you will be marked as absent and your candidature against your Roll Number will automatically get cancelled. Thereafter you will not be considered for future enrolments against that Roll Number. Candidates are called as ‘Stand by’ to cater for shortfall which arises due to non-availability of Main candidates on the day of enrolment due to various reasons ie. Absenteeism, Unwillingness, Medical Unfitness etc.

At the time of enrolment of the candidate before final induction at the concerned ASC, a fresh medical examination is carried out to ascertain the fitness of the individual on the day of enrolment. Any shortfall in medical fitness vis-à-vis the entry medical standards will entail rejection even at this stage.

 No, you will not be considered. You have to report to CO, ASC on date and time as directed in your Call Letter. Enrolment is a time bound activity and it is to be completed as per schedule. If you do not report as directed in your Call Letter, you will be marked as ABSENT on the day of enrolment and the next eligible ‘STAND BY’ candidate as per merit, will be enrolled. Your candidature will get cancelled automatically and you will not be called for future enrolments in IAF against that Roll Number.

The PSL is published for a particular enrolment Intake with a validity period of 06 months from the date of its publication i.e. 30 Apr & 31 Oct. The candidates will get enrolled on the enrolment date of that particular Intake as per their merit position viz-a-viz availability of vacancy of that Intake. The leftover candidates will not be considered for future enrolments hence, they must apply afresh if they meet the eligibility criteria.

No, merely clearing the selection test or securing place in PSL does not give guarantee for enrolment in IAF. You have to undergo whole enrolment process and your enrolment will be subjected to availability of vacancy on the date of enrolment and your merit position.

No you will not be considered for future enrolments as the PSL in which your name figured is valid for only one Intake and it will get expired before enrolment for next Intake.

No, there is no such provision of lien for candidates called for enrolment as the Selection Tests are conducted for enrolment in a particular Intake only.