Saloni Gusain | Updated: May 23, 2022 15:11 IST
AFCAT stands for Air Force Common Admission Test. It is an exam conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to recruit eligible candidates into the Air Force. The recruitment is done in three branches- the Flying branch, Ground Duty (Technical) branch, and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branch. Candidates who wish to get into the Ground Duty (Technical) branch need to appear for an additional exam called the AFCAT EKT (Engineering Knowledge Test) exam. In this article, we will establish the AFCAT vs EKT differences.
The main difference between AFCAT and EKT is that AFCAT is for all three branches of the Indian Air Force while EKT is only for the technical branch. Remember, that the AFCAT exam is common for both technical and non-technical branches. However, the two exams have different eligibility requirements as well as different examination patterns. Let us dive into these differences one point at a time.
Overview of Difference between AFCAT and EKT
Take a look at the main differences between AFCAT vs EKT exam.
| Parameter | AFCAT | EKT |
|---|---|---|
| Recruitment branch | Flying branch Ground Duty (Technical) Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branch | Ground Duty (Technical) |
| Educational Qualification | Graduation in any discipline | B.Tech |
| Age Limit | 20-24 years | 20-26 years |
| Maximum Marks | 300 | 150 |
| Questions | 100 | 50 |
| Duration | 2 hours | 45 minutes |
| Sections | General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Reasoning, and Numerical Ability and Military Aptitude Test | Fundamental Engineering, Specialization Topics, and Allied Engineering |
| Negative Marking | 1 mark | 1 mark |
The eligibility criteria for an exam is the minimum requirement that has to be fulfilled by a candidate. Failure to satisfy the eligibility criteria results in disqualification. The importance of eligibility criteria is to make sure that candidates are fit for the role in terms of academic qualification, age, etc. What is difference between AFCAT and EKT eligibility criteria? Let us talk about them one by one.
| Read about the HP D.El.Ed Entrance Exam | Get details of the KLI Recruitment | Know the differences between SSC CHSL vs SSC MTS |
| Check updates on the RRB Group D Admit Card | TNPSC Combined Engineering Services Recruitment | Know about CUET PG Admit Card |
Aspirants of the flying branch have to be between 20 to 24 years of age. While aspirants of the Ground Duty branch must be between 20 to 26 years of age. This means that the age limit eligibility for the EKT exam is 20 to 26 years of age.
| Exam | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| AFCAT | 20-24 years (Flying branch) |
| EKT | 20 to 26 years |
The minimum educational requirements for the AFCAT and EKT exam are given as follows.
| Exam | Minimum educational qualification |
|---|---|
| AFCAT | 50% marks in Maths and Physics at 10+2, and Minimum three years degree in any discipline with a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent from a recognized University, or A minimum of four years degree of BE/B.Tech with a minimum of 60% marks from a recognized University, or A minimum of 60% marks in Section A and B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers or Aeronautical Society of India from a recognized University |
| EKT | A minimum of 50% mark in Maths and Physics at 10+2, and Minimum four years of graduation/integrated post-graduation in Engineering/Technology from a recognized University, or A minimum of 60% marks in Section A and B exam of Associate Membership of Institution of Engineers or Aeronautical Society of India or Graduate membership exam of the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers from a recognized University in the following streams: Applied Electronics & Instrumentation Communication Engineering Computer Engineering/Technology Computer Engineering & Application Computer Science and Engineering/Technology Electrical and Computer Engineering Electrical and Electronics Engineering Electrical Engineering Electronics Engineering/ Technology Electronics Science and Engineering Electronics Electronics and Communication Engineering Electronics and Computer Science Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering Electronics and/or Telecommunication Engineering (Microwave) Electronics and Computer Engineering Electronics Communication and Instrumentation Engineering Electronics Instrument & Control Electronics Instrument & Control Engineering Instrumentation & Control Engineering Instrument & Control Engineering Information Technology Spacecraft Technology Engineering Physics Electric Power and Machinery Engineering Infotech Engineering Cyber Security For the post of Aeronautical Engineer (Mechanical), the streams are as follows: Aerospace Engineering Aeronautical Engineering Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Mechanical Engineering Mechanical Engineering and Automation Mechanical Engineering (Production) Mechanical Engineering (Repair and Maintenance).Mechatronics Industrial Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Production and Industrial Engineering Materials Science and Engineering Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Aerospace and Applied Mechanics Automotive Engineering Robotics Nanotechnology Rubber Technology and Rubber Engineering |
As mentioned above, candidates who apply for the technical posts, have to appear for the EKT exam. A candidate who qualifies the AFCAT exam but not the EKT exam will not get recruited for the technical posts. The exam pattern is as follows.
| Heading | AFCAT | EKT |
|---|---|---|
| Section | General Awareness, Verbal Ability, Reasoning, and Numerical Ability and Military Aptitude Test | Fundamental Engineering, Specialization Topics, and Allied Engineering |
| Duration | 2 hours | 45 minutes |
| Questions | 100 | 50 |
| Marks for each question | 3 | 3 |
| Negative Marking | 1 | 1 |
| Total marks | 300 | 150 |
Thank you for reading this article. We hope this was informative. For any queries, kindly reach out to us.
AFCAT is an exam conducted by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for recruitment in the branches of- the Flying Branch, Ground Duty (Technical) branch, and Ground Duty (Non-Technical) branch. Among these branches, the technical branch requires an additional exam called EKT.
No, EKT is only for candidates who wish to join the technical branch of the Indian Air Force.
No, in order to get recruited in the technical branch, both AFCAT and EKT are to be cleared.
EKT is compulsory for aspirants for technical posts.
AFCAT is conducted for 2 hours while the EKT exam is conducted for 45 minutes.