AAI JE ATC Eligibility 2026: Qualification, Age Limit and Relaxation

Before you spend months on Physics and Mathematics, make sure your degree, age and English background actually qualify you. AAI JE ATC eligibility has three core parts: a science or engineering degree that included Physics and Mathematics, English proficiency at 10+2 level, and an upper age limit of 27 years with category relaxations. Many candidates are rejected at the verification stage, after clearing the CBT, because one of these was misread.

The rules below are taken from the Airports Authority of India's last Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control) advertisement, No. 02/2025/CHQ, in which age was counted as on 24 May 2025, the closing date. No new ATC advertisement had been verified by 5 November 2026, so expect the next one to restate these rules with its own reference date, and check it before applying.

Table of Contents

Eligibility at a Glance

Educational Qualification

AAI accepts two routes. Both must be full-time regular degrees from a recognised university or institution.

Route 1: B.Sc With Physics and Mathematics

A three-year full-time regular Bachelor's degree in Science with Physics and Mathematics. In practice this means both subjects should appear in your degree curriculum. A B.Sc in Physics (Honours) with Mathematics as a subsidiary or general subject usually fits, as does a B.Sc in Mathematics with Physics. A B.Sc in Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science without Physics and Mathematics in the degree does not.

Route 2: Engineering Degree in Any Discipline

A full-time regular Bachelor's degree in Engineering in any discipline, with Physics and Mathematics as subjects in any one of the semesters of the curriculum. Most four-year B.E./B.Tech programmes in India include engineering physics and engineering mathematics in the first year, so most engineering graduates qualify through this route regardless of branch.

Points to Check on Your Mark Sheets

• Subject names: Your mark sheets should show Physics and Mathematics (or clearly named papers such as Engineering Physics and Engineering Mathematics). Keep the semester mark sheets that show them ready for verification.

• Mode of study: The degree must be full-time and regular. Distance, correspondence or part-time degrees do not meet the wording of the advertisement.

• Result timing: Your qualification should be complete by the date set in the advertisement. If you are in your final year, read the advertisement's wording on result dates before applying.

• Minimum percentage: Published summaries of the 2025 advertisement do not mention a minimum aggregate percentage for this post. Confirm this in the next advertisement.

English Proficiency Requirement

Candidates must have minimum proficiency in both spoken and written English of 10+2 standard. The advertisement defines this as having passed English as a subject in either Class 10 or Class 12.

This rule is not a formality. Air traffic control uses English as the standard language for radio communication, and the voice test after the CBT checks your speech. Under the 2025 advertisement, as reproduced in published summaries, selected candidates also had to reach ICAO English language proficiency Level 4 during training, and not doing so could lead to termination. If spoken English is a weak area, start working on it alongside your CBT preparation.

Age Limit

The upper age limit is 27 years. In the 2025 cycle, age was counted as on 24 May 2025, the closing date for applications, and the date of birth recorded in the matriculation (Class 10) certificate is the one accepted.

The date-of-birth window is calculated from the age limit and reference date for illustration. The next advertisement will set its own reference date, so recalculate your eligibility when it is released.

Age Relaxation by Category

Note on combined relaxations: how PwBD relaxation combines with SC, ST or OBC relaxation follows government rules as stated in the advertisement, so read that clause before assuming a combined figure. EWS candidates do not get an age relaxation; the EWS category affects reservation only.

Category Certificates and Special Cases

A valid certificate is what turns a category claim into an actual relaxation or reserved seat. Most problems at verification come from certificates in the wrong format or with the wrong date.

OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)

OBC candidates need a non-creamy layer certificate in the central government format, issued within the validity window stated in the advertisement. A state-format certificate, or one issued too early, can lead to the candidate being treated as unreserved, which may push them over the age limit or below the cut-off for their category.

EWS

EWS candidates need an income and asset certificate valid for the financial year specified in the advertisement. The EWS category gives access to reserved posts (30 in the 2025 cycle) but no age relaxation or fee exemption.

SC and ST

SC and ST candidates need a caste certificate in the prescribed central government format. They get 5 years of age relaxation and are exempt from the application fee.

PwBD

Relaxation applies only where the post is identified as suitable for the candidate's disability category. In the 2025 cycle, the 7 PwBD posts were reported under PwBD category C, with no posts for the other PwBD categories, so check the advertisement's suitability table before applying under PwBD. A valid disability certificate is required.

Government Employees and AAI Apprentices

Candidates already in government or PSU service must submit a no-objection certificate at verification, and pay protection for eligible candidates follows government guidelines as described in the advertisement. Candidates who have completed one year of apprenticeship training in AAI are exempt from the fee.

Nationality, Medical and Other Conditions

• Nationality: Candidates should be Indian nationals.

• Medical fitness: Candidates must meet the medical standards prescribed for ATC, checked in the physical medical examination. Eyesight, colour perception and hearing matter for this job, so read the medical annexure of the advertisement carefully.

• Psychoactive substances: A confirmed positive result in the psychoactive substances test leads to disqualification.

• Psychological fitness: Candidates must clear the psychological assessment.

• Service bond: The 2025 advertisement, as reproduced in published summaries, required selected candidates to sign a surety bond of Rs. 7 lakh to serve AAI for at least three years after training.

• Posting: Selected candidates can be posted anywhere in India.

• Attempts: No limit on the number of attempts has been reported; the age limit is the practical cap.

Who Is Not Eligible

These are the most common reasons candidates turn out to be ineligible, often after clearing the CBT:

• Degree without Physics or Mathematics: For example, a B.Sc in Chemistry and Biology, or a B.Sc in Computer Science where Physics was not part of the degree.

• Non-regular degree: A degree earned through distance, open or part-time mode.

• Other qualifications: B.Com, B.A. and BCA graduates, and diploma holders who do not also hold the required full-time degree.

• Over-age without valid relaxation: Including OBC candidates whose non-creamy layer certificate is not valid as of the date specified.

• Mismatched records: A date of birth or name in the form that does not match the matriculation certificate.

• Medical or test failure: Not meeting the medical standards, a positive psychoactive substances test, or not clearing the voice test or psychological assessment.

Worked Eligibility Examples

Once you have confirmed you are eligible, the next step is the CBT. The AAI JE ATC exam pattern guide explains its structure, and you can start timed practice with AAI JE ATC mock tests on Testkart, where section-wise analysis shows whether Part A or Part B needs more work. Testkart also has AAI JE ATC study notes for Physics and Mathematics revision.

Application Fee and Documents

The fee is paid online and is non-refundable. Keep these documents ready for the application and for verification:

• Identity and age: Matriculation certificate and a valid photo ID.

• Qualification: Degree certificate and all semester or year mark sheets, especially those showing Physics and Mathematics.

• Category: SC, ST, OBC (NCL), EWS or PwBD certificate in the prescribed format, where applicable.

• Employment: No-objection certificate if you are a government or PSU employee, and discharge certificate for Ex-Servicemen.

• Uploads: A recent photograph and signature in the format specified in the advertisement.

The final rules are always those in the official advertisement on https://www.aai.aero/.