AAI JE ATC Syllabus 2026: Topic-Wise Guide for Part A and Part B

The AAI JE ATC syllabus covers six subjects split across two parts of a single computer-based test: four general sections in Part A and Physics with Mathematics in Part B. The Airports Authority of India uses this one paper to shortlist candidates for its Junior Executive (Air Traffic Control) post, so knowing exactly what to study, and in what order, saves weeks of preparation.

AAI names the subjects and their weightage, and publishes a syllabus on its recruitment pages, but the topic lists below are built from that official outline and from questions asked in recent papers. Use them as a working checklist, not as an official list. This page is based on the 2025 cycle (Advertisement No. 02/2025/CHQ), as no new ATC advertisement had been verified by 5 November 2026.

Table of Contents

Syllabus at a Glance

Part B is usually split roughly evenly between Physics and Mathematics in recent papers, but AAI states it as one combined block of 60 marks. For timing, marking and the later stages, see the AAI JE ATC exam pattern guide.

Key Points to Know Before You Start

• Part B is the deciding half: Physics and Mathematics carry 60 of the 120 marks, and toppers separate themselves here.

• Expect Class 11 and 12 depth: Most Part B questions test NCERT-level concepts applied quickly, not long derivations.

• English is weighted heavily: At 20 marks it is the largest Part A section, and the same skills are tested again in the voice test.

• No reported negative marking: Recent cycles have had no penalty for wrong answers, so breadth of coverage pays.

• Watch for outdated pages: Some websites still show 150 questions or a separate technical section. Follow the latest AAI advertisement.

Part A Syllabus: English Language

The English section checks reading speed, grammar and vocabulary at roughly Class 12 level. Questions are short, so a strong candidate can finish this section in 12 to 15 minutes.

Grammar rules give the quickest return, because the same ten or twelve rules explain most errors. Vocabulary builds slowly, so start it in week one and keep it going daily.

Part A Syllabus: General Intelligence and Reasoning

Reasoning questions are mostly verbal, with a few non-verbal items. The level is moderate, and speed matters more than difficulty.

• Verbal reasoning: Analogy, classification (odd one out), number and letter series, coding-decoding, blood relations, direction sense, ranking and order.

• Logical reasoning: Syllogism, statement and conclusion, statement and assumption, cause and effect.

• Arrangements: Linear and circular seating arrangement, simple puzzles, calendar and clock.

• Non-verbal reasoning: Mirror and water images, paper folding, figure series, embedded figures, Venn diagrams.

Start with series, coding-decoding and blood relations; they come up often and are easy to master with practice. Leave long puzzles for last in the exam.

Part A Syllabus: General Aptitude and Numerical Ability

This section is school arithmetic tested under time pressure. Science and engineering graduates usually find the concepts easy, so the gain comes from speed and clean calculation.

Part A Syllabus: General Knowledge and Awareness

Only 10 marks come from this section, so it needs steady, light effort rather than heavy study. Two areas deserve priority for an ATC aspirant.

• Current affairs: National and international events of the last 8 to 12 months, government schemes, appointments, awards, sports and summits.

• Aviation awareness: AAI's role and structure, major Indian airports, DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, international bodies such as ICAO, and basic aviation terms.

• Static GK: Indian history, geography, polity, economy, everyday science, important days and books and authors.

Keep a one-page monthly current affairs note. It is easier to revise 12 short notes than one long file in the final week.

Part B Syllabus: Physics

Physics questions are mostly concept-based numericals at Class 11 and 12 level. Questions on units, formulas and direct applications are common, so a strong formula sheet goes a long way.

Mechanics

• Basics: Units and dimensions, errors in measurement, vectors and scalars.

• Motion: Kinematics in one and two dimensions, projectile motion, relative velocity.

• Laws and energy: Newton's laws, friction, circular motion, work, energy and power, conservation of momentum, collisions.

• Rotation and gravitation: Centre of mass, moment of inertia, torque, gravitation, satellites and escape velocity.

• Properties of matter: Elasticity, fluid pressure, buoyancy, viscosity, surface tension.

Heat, Waves and Optics

• Heat: Thermal expansion, calorimetry, heat transfer, kinetic theory of gases, laws of thermodynamics.

• Oscillations and waves: Simple harmonic motion, wave motion, sound, Doppler effect, resonance.

• Optics: Reflection, refraction, lenses and mirrors, total internal reflection, interference, diffraction, polarisation.

Electricity, Magnetism and Modern Physics

• Electricity: Electrostatics, capacitors, current electricity, Ohm's law, Kirchhoff's laws.

• Magnetism: Magnetic effects of current, electromagnetic induction, alternating current, electromagnetic waves.

• Modern physics: Photoelectric effect, atomic models, nuclear physics, radioactivity, semiconductors and basic electronics, communication systems.

Electromagnetic waves and communication systems are worth extra attention, because radio communication is central to air traffic control and these chapters are short to revise.

Part B Syllabus: Mathematics

Mathematics follows the Class 11 and 12 syllabus closely, with a few questions reaching first-year college depth in calculus and matrices.

Calculus and coordinate geometry are the largest areas of the Mathematics syllabus, so build them early. Probability and statistics are short topics that return marks quickly in the final month.

Where the Syllabus Overlaps

Some topics help in more than one section. Study them once and use them twice.

Is There a Syllabus for the Voice Test and Later Stages?

No topic syllabus is published for the stages after the CBT. The voice test checks clarity of speech, pronunciation and fluency in English, so regular reading aloud and speaking practice is the most useful preparation. The psychoactive substances test, psychological assessment, medical examination and background verification are qualifying checks, not subject tests. Selected candidates were also required, under the 2025 advertisement, to reach ICAO English language proficiency Level 4 during training, which is another reason to keep working on spoken English.

Books and Study Resources

Fewer sources revised well work better than many sources read once. Pick one book per section and stay with it.

How to Cover the Syllabus: A 16-Week Plan

1. Weeks 1 to 6, foundations: Physics mechanics and Maths algebra and calculus on alternate days. Add 30 minutes of English and 20 minutes of current affairs daily.

2. Weeks 4 to 10, Part A build-up: Cover reasoning and numerical ability topic by topic, 45 minutes a day, alongside the rest of Physics (heat, waves, optics, electricity) and Maths (geometry, trigonometry, matrices).

3. Weeks 8 to 12, topic tests: Take short topic-wise tests after each chapter and 20-minute sectional tests twice a week.

4. Weeks 11 to 14, Part B depth: Modern physics, probability and statistics, mixed problem sets, and previous year papers for both parts.

5. Weeks 13 to 16, full mocks: Two to three full-length mocks a week under the 120-minute limit, with same-day analysis and error-log revision.

Before the next advertisement arrives, check the syllabus section on the official website at https://www.aai.aero/ for any change in subjects or weightage.