IAF airmen exams are conducted in two types – All India Selection Tests and Recruitment Rallies. Tests are conducted at the Airmen Selection Centers (ASCs) situation over India. Recruitment Rallies are conducted in selected areas of specified States or Union Territories of the country.
Why to Take the IAF Airman Exam?
The recruitment is of Group ‘X’ (Technical/Non-Technical & Educational Instructor) Trades, Group ‘Y’ (Technical/Non-Technical & Musician) Trades.
Airmen have high scope of career improvement. With the pay band, they are paid with grade pay and military service pay. Dearness Allowance is calculated on the total of pay band and grade pay and military service pay. Airmen have several allowances like Transport Allowance, Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance, Fly/Para Jumping Instructor Allowance, Leave Ration Allowance, Family Planning Allowance, High Altitude Allowance, Field Area/Modified Field Area Allowance etc. They are also provided with perquisites like ration, clothing, medical facilities, 90 days leaves, accommodation, educational concession to children, recreational facility, free transportation for school going children and Leave Travel Concession.
Airmen are under the coverage of Group Insurance Cover of Rs.25,00,000/- and they also enjoy the facility of Group Housing Scheme. For the family of airmen, few other facilities are provided by Air Force Wives Welfare Association.
IAF Airman Exam Eligibility
Read about IAF airmen exams
The educational qualification for Group X (Technical/Non-Technical) is passing 10+2 or equivalent with Mathematics, Physics and English or Three year Diploma in Engineering from any recognized Polytechnic Institute with minimum 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English. The age limit is 17-21 years.
For Group X (Education Instructor), graduation in Arts/Commerce/Science with B.Ed. or Post Graduation with B.Ed. is required. The age limit for Graduates is 20-25 and for Post Graduates is 20-28 years.
For Group Y (Technical/Non-Technical), passing in 10+2 or two years vocation course from any recognized Board with 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English is the requisite. The age limit is 17-21 years.
For Group Y (Medical Assistant), passing in 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English with 50% marks in aggregate and 50% marks in English is required. The age limit is 17-21.
For Group Y (Musician), passing in 10th or equivalent from recognized Board and proficiency in at least one of the musical instruments mentioned is required. The age limit is 17-25.
Candidates are required to meet the specified physical fitness standards.
IAF Airman Exam Pattern
The written test varies as per the group and trade.
For Group X (Technical) Trades, the examination is on English, Physics and Mathematics with the duration of 1 hour.
For Group X (Education Instructor) Trades, the exam is of two papers – an objective type and Descriptive type. The objective type covers General English, General Awareness and Current Affairs. The Descriptive type covers language comprehension and power of expression. The duration of the exams is 40 and 35 minutes continuously.
For Group Y (Non-Technical) Trades, the exam covers English and Reasoning & General Awareness. Duration of the test is 45 minutes. For Group Y (Musician) Trades, candidates are tested in English dictation and proficiency to play the musical instrument applied for.
Qualified candidates of written exam are eligible for Physical Fitness Test. The succeeded candidates get eligibility for interview. Candidate of Group X (Technical) who clear the interview have to undergo Trade Allocation Test.
The selected candidates are examined medically to get finalized.
How to Apply IAF Airman Exam?
All India Selection Tests (STs) invite applications through the notification in Employment News or Rozgar Samachar. The Board sends admit cards to eligible candidates.
For Recruitment Rallies, the notification with detailed information like eligibility criteria, rally venue and selection procedure are informed through local newspapers.
How to Prepare IAF Airman Exam?
- Read the newspaper regularly which improves General Awareness
- Knowledge of basic grammar and vocabulary would help in the language test
- Reading English News paper helps to improve vocabulary and the correct usage of words.
- Several publications are providing practice papers which would give the knowledge of questioning pattern
- Mock tests and previous papers help to improve the time management.