The AFSB interview is the first step to becoming an officer in the Indian Air Force. It checks a candidate’s personality, motivation, and general awareness to ascertain the 15 OLQs in them. If you are going to appear for an AFSB interview soon, here are 15 Indian Air Force questions for AFSB that you must know answers to.
Why Should I Know About IAF?
Once you clear the complete AFSB interview process, you will be serving as a flying officer in the IAF. Now, if you are planning to invest your time into an organization, you must know it like the back of your hand.
Therefore, the interviewing officer often asks candidates basic Indian Air Force questions for AFSB, which helps him distinguish serious candidates from the non-serious ones. To avoid casting a dull impression, you must read about the organization and your choice of branch in detail.
Indian Air Force Questions for AFSB
Let us look at some major Indian Air Force questions for AFSB and their answers to build a strong foundation.
Basic Indian Air Force Questions for AFSB
Before we delve into the details, we should know about the basics. This is especially important for freshers, who often face questions on the basics.
Q1. What is the insignia/crest of the Indian Air Force?
The insignia of the IAF comprises a blue circular ring with the words Bharatiya Vayu Sena written in Devanagri script. Above the ring sits the Lion Capital of Ashoka, and below the ring is the motto scroll with Nabha Sprisham Deeptam written on it. In the middle lies the IAF eagle in flight.
Q2. When was the IAF founded?
The Indian Air Force was founded on 8th October, 1932 as the Royal Indian Air Force. It dropped the title of “Royal” when India became a Republic in 1950. October 8 is celebrated as the Indian Air Force day every year.
Q3. What is the motto of the IAF?
The motto is “Nabha Sprisham Deeptam,” meaning Touch the Sky with Glory. It was adopted from the chapter 11, verse 24 of the Bhagavada Gita.
Q4. What is the world ranking of the Indian Armed Forces?
The Global Firepower Index ranks the Indian Armed Forces as the fourth strongest military in the world, after the US, Russia, and China.
Important Appointments
The list of Indian Air Force questions for AFSB is incomplete without the notable commanders of the organization. You must know these well.
Q5. Who was the first Indian Chief of Air Staff (CAS)?
The first Indian CAS was Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, OBE.
Q6. Who is the current CAS?
The CAS as of July 2026 is Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM. He is the 28th IAF Chief.
Q7. Who is the Vice Chief of Air Staff (VCAS)?
The VCAS as of July 2026 is Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, PVSM, AVSM, VM, VSM. He is the 51st IAF Vice Chief.
Q8. Who is the only Marshal of the Indian Air Force?
The IAF’s highest-ranking officer is Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh, DFC. He was the CAS during the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Organizational Structure
The structure of IAF’s organization tells you how it functions in a hierarchy. Sometimes, the IO may also grill you on these set of Indian Air Force questions for AFSB:
Q9. What is the organizational structure of IAF?
The organizational structure of the Indian Air Force is as follows:
Q10. What are the commands of the IAF?
The Indian Air Force has seven commands, out of which five are operational and two are functional commands:
- Western Air Command, New Delhi
- Eastern Air Command, Shillong, Meghalaya
- Southern Air Command, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
- South-Western Air Command, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Central Air Command, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
- Training Command, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Maintenance Command, Nashik, Maharashtra
Q11. What is the rank structure of the Indian Army?
The rank structure of the Indian Air Force is as follows:
Q12. Who is the only Param Vir Chakra (PVC) awardee of the Indian Air Force?
The only PVC awardee of the IAF is Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC, who was part of No. 18 Squadron (Flying Bullets). He was posted in Srinagar during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and took down two F86 Sabre Jets of PAF single-handedly with his GNAT aircraft. He was outnumbered 6:1.
Indian Air Force Questions for AFSB: Aircraft Used
The aircraft are an inseparable identity of the Indian Air Force, and candidates must know of some of them for their SSB interview. All those opting for flying branch must study in-depth.
Q13. Name some Indian Air Force aircraft.
The Indian Air Force’s aircraft are majorly of four kinds:
- Fighter Jets: Sukhoi Su-30 MKI, HAL Tejas, Mirage 2000, and Dassault Rafale among others
- Helicopters: HAL Dhruv, Chinook, HAL LCH Prachand, and Mi-17 among others
- Transport Aircraft: C-17 Globemaster III, C-130J Hercules, and Dornier Do-228 among others
- Jet Trainers: HAL HTT-40, HAL HJT-16 Kiran, and BAE Hawk Mk 132.
Q14. How does an airplane fly?
An airplane flies using the Bernoulli’s principle, which states that the speed of a molecule in a fluid is inversely proportional to the pressure it exerts on the object. Hence, the wings of an airplane are such that they are curved from the top and flat from the bottom. When air molecules come in contact with the wings, two things occur:
- Above the wing, since the path is curved, molecules pass with higher speed and create a vacuum.
- Below the wings, since the path is flat, molecules hit against it and create pressure, forcing it to lift.
This causes an airplane to fly.
Q15. Name the aerobatic display teams of the Indian Air Force.
The Indian Air Force has two display teams:
- Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT): It came up in 1996 and its HQs are in Bidar AFS, Karnataka. It involves nine aircraft which fly in the main display formation.
- Sarang Helicopter Display Team: It was formed in 2003 and is based in Sulur AFS, Tamil Nadu.
Indian Air Force Questions for AFSB: Final Thoughts
You must know these 15 Indian Air Force questions for AFSB interview. Knowing these answers will add to your credibility as an aspirant and cast a positive impression. Hence, do not miss out on them. You can also learn about Indian Army questions here. Best of luck!
