How to Join Indian Air Force After 12th: A Comprehensive Guide

03 April,2023  |  By Brainwonders

How to join Indian Air Force after 12th? What are the qualifications required to join the Indian Air Force? What are the eligibility requirements for NA & NDA Exam? How can one know all the intricacies of the NDA and NA exams? What are the necessary qualifications required to become an IAS Officer?

Are you willing to join the Indian Air Force after 12th? Or are you wondering about knowing all the necessary qualifications required for you to join the Indian Air Force? Then you are at the right place where you can get to know all the essential aspects of joining the Indian Air Force. 

Now the 12th Board results are out, they are the vital highlight of your school education, but it is also a milestone in taking the right direction to a successful career. As a result, Brainwonders introduces the much-anticipated Marks2Career Test Platform, which features extensively studied AI-driven results. For further information, see the link below: https://youtu.be/utXTzFvPJNc

How to Join Indian Air Force after the 12th: An Introduction 

Many of us would want a less conventional life, and those that do are incredibly admirable. This post will look at how to get into the air force after completing your 12th.

To join an IAF as an Officer, you have to complete your 12th class compulsory in Science Background with mandatory physics and mathematics subjects. That is the main criteria for the NDA & NA exams.

How to Join Indian Air Force after 12th: Skills and Abilities Required

1. Leadership: An IAF Officer usually works in coordination with his team, so he should have the ability to handle his team as well as perform all the commands in the unit by working cordially with his coordinates. As the unit leader, the IAF Officer looks after all the activities performed by his teammates and instructs them accordingly.
2. Loyalty: The most important thing for a soldier is to be loyal to his squad and his country. To be loyal means to keep your promises, duties, commitments or obligations.
3. Discipline: Discipline is also one of the crucial skills required to be on the part of an IAF officer. Since discipline adds more value to the personality development of an IAF officer, members of the units must have rigid discipline then only they can concentrate on the work. Having discipline is one of the significant answers to how to join Indian Air Force after 12th.
4. Courage: In the Indian Air Force, the individual has to venture out of all their securities and let go of the insecurities preventing them from doing things they usually wouldn't. Armed Force Personnel must have the capability and courage to face the battlefield in peacetime. If you are thinking of joining the Indian Air Force, you should have the courage because courage is an essential ability of an IAF officer.
5. Decision making: An individual in the field of the Air Force must have the ability to make prompt decisions during life and death circumstances. One can make rapid judgments in times of crisis, battle, or conflict.
6. Punctual: In the field of Defence, it becomes essential to have punctuality. Being punctual helps an individual to carry out the task during the stipulated period of time.

For those willing to join the Indian Air Force after the 12th as 'AIRMEN'

After completing Class 12 and applying to the Indian Air Force, you will be required to complete the Joint Basic Phase Training (JBPT), which consists of physical, medical, and vision tests.

You will be assigned a specific trade based on your educational qualifications and performance in the JBPT (if you are successful). You can be assigned to one of two sorts of trades (X & Y)

Group X:

TECHNICAL-

• Automobile
• Electronics
• Electrical
• Mechanical system
• Structures
• Propulsion
• Workshop (Smith)
• Workshop (mechanical)
• Weapons

Group Y:

TECHNICAL-

• Communication Technician
• Automobile Technician

NON-TECHNICAL-

• Admin
• Accounts
• Operations
• Meteorological
• Ground training
• IAF Police
• IAF Security
• Logistics
• Medical
• Environment Support Services

Apart from trade classification, mandatory training is imparted to you. In this training, you will get to know the essential discipline, educational training, etiquettes, weapon training, etc. After your basic training, you will be trained in specific trades. Furthermore, depending on your job duty as an airman, you will be assigned other jobs as well by the higher authorities.

How to Join the Indian Air Force after the 12th as 'AIRMEN'

For Group X (Technical):

Generally, your age should be between 17-21, then only you will be considered. You have to pass class 12th with Science stream with Physics, English and Mathematics subjects; the aggregate score needs to be above 50% and 50% marks in English. In addition, you need to complete three years of a Diploma program in Engineering in any of the below-mentioned streams from a polytechnics institute with a 50% aggregate score and 50% in English in Diploma or Matriculation if English is not the subject in Diploma.

ELECTRONIC/ELECTRICAL STREAM

• Electronics
• Applied Electronics
• Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
• Electronics & Communication Engineering
• Electronics (Fibre Optics)
• Electronics (Robotics)
• Electronics (Microprocessor)
• Electronics and Avionics
• Electronics & Telecommunication Engineering
• Industrial Electronics
• Electrical Engineering
• Electrical & Electronics Engineering

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STREAM

• Instrumentation Engineering / Technology
• Instrumentation and Control Engineering
• Telecommunication Engineering/Technology
• Information Technology
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science & Engineering
• Computer Science & Technology

MECHANICAL STREAM

• Mechanical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering (Production)
• Mechanical Engineering (Fabrication Tech)
• Mechanical Engineering (CAD/CAM Design & Robotics)
• Mechanical Engineering (Design & Drafting)
• Mechanical Engineering (Foundry Technology)
• Mechanical Engineering (Tool & Die)
• Mechanical (Advanced Manufacturing Technology)
• Mechanical Engineering (Machine Tool Maintenance and repairs)
• Mechanical Engineering (Refrigeration & Air Conditioning)
• Manufacturing Engineering/Technology
• Automobile Engineering
• Production Engineering
• Mechatronics Engineering

For Group Y (for all trades except Medical and musician):

Generally, your age should be between 17-21, then only you will be considered. You need to pass 12th in any stream with at least 50% aggregate marks and 50% marks in English. 

For Group Y (Medical Assistant):

Generally, your age should be between 17-21, then only you will be considered. You need to pass 12th Science with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) subjects with at least 50% aggregate marks and 50% marks in English. 

For Group Y (Musician)

Generally, your age should be between 17-25, then only you will be considered. You need to pass class 10th/class 12th with minimum pass marks from the recognised Board.

You should be excellent at playing at least one of the musical instruments.

How to Join the Indian Air Force after the 12th as 'OFFICERS'

If you want to become a Navy Officer after 12th class, there is only one route. This route will take you through the NDA & NA exams. This route is only for male candidates who have passed 12th class with Maths and Physics as their mandatory subjects.

Once you are shortlisted for Indian Air Force after NDA initial exam selection procedure, you will go through a rigid 3-year training at the National Defence Academy. After that, you will be positioned as the Permanent Commission Officer and posted at one of the Air Force stations.

How to Join Indian Air Force after 12th: Eligibility criteria for NDA & NA 

NDA exam is conducted twice a year in all main cities throughout India.

Age: Between 16.5 to 19.5 years

Gender: Only men

Educational Qualification: 12th with Physics and Mathematics (final year students can also apply)

Marital Status: The candidate should be unmarried

Nationality: You should be an Indian Citizen or Nepalese/ Tibetan/ Bhutanese. If you are a migrant from East African Countries, you are eager to settle in India; you are eligible for the NDA exam.

Visual Standards: One must have 6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in another.

Physical Standards: You must be physically fit as per the guidelines set by IAF. For more information about Physical standards, go through the chart mentioned below.

Height and Weight Standard for Air Force:

Height (cm.)	Weight in Kgs. 16-17 years	Weight in Kgs. 17-18 years	Weight in Kgs. 18-19 years
152	42.5	44	45
155	45.3	45.3	47
157	45	47	48
160	46.5	48	49
162	48	50	51
165	50	52	53
167	51	53	54
170	52.5	55	56
173	54.5	57	58
175	56	59	60
178	58	61	62
180	60	63	64.5
183	62.5	65	66.5

About NDA & NA exam

NDA exam is a two-tier exam conducted twice a year. Only unmarried male candidates are willing to pursue their careers in the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Apart from gender and marital status, the candidates should fit all the eligibility criteria before appearing for the exam. 

There are two stages to clear the NDA exam:

In addition to your personality, your intelligence will be evaluated throughout the interview. This is achieved in two distinct stages.

1. If you do well enough on the written portion of the NDA exam, you will go on to the stage 1 test on the first day that you report to the Selection Centres.

2. If you do well enough in the first test, you will be invited to participate in the second one. If you are successful in the first step, you will need to provide your birth certificate as well as the following pass certificates:

(i)A copy of the original Matriculation pass certificate or its equivalent in support of DOB.

(ii) An original certificate of completion of the 12th grade or its equivalent as evidence of educational qualification

All of the applicants who were successful in the written examination will be required to participate in the AFSB interview, which will take place over five days and include many rounds.

Information Regarding NDA & NA: The Final Selection

Your performance on the written test, as well as the interviews conducted by the AFSB, will determine whether or not you are granted entrance to Air Force wings if you are ultimately chosen.

Your ultimate allocation will be done according to the number of openings available, considering your eligibility, medical fitness, and the merit-cum-preference system.

How to Join Indian Air Force after 12th: Pays & Allowances for Officers

1. Even before you are commissioned as an Air Force Officer, you begin earning a monthly stipend of Rs. 56,100 throughout the last year of your training term. This is in addition to any other payments you may be receiving.

2. If a commission is awarded, the following pay and allowances will become payable:

• The pay in the pay band is Rs 56,100 per month (this applies to all branches) (you will be placed in Level 10 in the Pay Matrix of 7th CPC: 56,100-1,10,700)
• The monthly payment for military service is Rs 15,500.
• Other allowances are also admissible, such as the Children's Education Allowance, the Transport Allowance, the HRA, etc.

3. The newly commissioned officers in the Flying and Technical Branches are eligible for the following allowances in addition to their base pay:

• Allowance for Flying for Officers in the Flying Branch
• Officers in the Technical Branch are eligible for the Technical Allowance.

How to Join Indian Air Force after 12th: Pays & Allowances for Airmen

When you are receiving training, you will be given a stipend that is equal to Rs. 14,600 a month.

Upon successful completion of training, the beginning gross payments are at the lowest point on the pay scale, which includes military pay.

Service Pay (MSP), Group Pay (which is only applicable to Group' X' Trades), and Dearness Allowance (DA) will be calculated as follows:

(a) Group 'X' Trades: Rs.33,100/- per month + Dearness allowance (as applicable). This amount is subject to increase in the following years depending on the individual's career growth.

(b) Group Y Trades: Rs. 26,900/- per month + Dearness allowance (as applicable). This amount may increase in the following years, depending on the individual's career growth.

Other forms of compensation and allowances:

In addition to those mentioned above, other payments & allowances may also be acceptable at different times and in various circumstances, including as

• Transport Allowance
• Composite Personal Maintenance Allowance (CPMA)
• Leave Ration Allowance (LRA)
• High Altitude Allowance
• Field Area/Modified Field Area Allowance
• HRA
• Children Education Allowance/ Hostel Subsidy etc.

Pays and allowances: Perks according to existing rules

• Ration
• Clothing
• Medical facilities
• Accommodation
• CSD facilities (also known as canteens)
• Leave (60 days Annual and 30 days Casual in a Calendar year as a privilege, subject to service exigencies)
• Facilities for leisure and recreation
• Provision of transportation for students attending school
• Leave Travel Concession (LTC)

How to Join Indian Air Force after 12th: Conclusion

Now, you must have a picturesque idea about how to join Indian Air Force after 12th. After joining the Indian Air Force, becoming a combat-worthy Officer demands effort, persistent lightheadedness, exceptional talent, immense determination, and honest commitment. During the whole of your training, you will be required to persevere through various challenges, the vast majority of which will be cruel.

As a result, it is very important to evaluate yourself to determine whether you are qualified for a career in the Air Force. Do you honestly think you're up to the challenge? The use of career planning and advice is an essential instrument in order to map down the right career. We at Brainwonders help the students by providing guidance and assistance through proper career counselling. So if you find yourself in confusion about whether you fit in this career or any other, make sure to visit Brainwonders. We are here to assist you!

Frequently asked questions on How To Join Indian Air Force

Q.1 What is the process to join Indian Air Force after 12th?

Ans: The only way that you can Join Indian Air Force is by giving an NDA exam after 12th at an officer position.This exam is conducted by  the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) to recruit unmarried male candidates into Army, Navy, and Air Force

Q.2 Will I be able to study after joining Indian Air Force?

Ans: No, you will not be allowed to continue with your education during your training period. However, you can continue with your studies after completing your training.