Updated 28 October 2026: fee and eligibility rechecked against the official programme page.
The IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program is a 20-month, full-time course run by a partner flying training academy with IndiGo. It takes beginners through ground school, a Commercial Pilot Licence and Airbus A320 training. The academy sets the programme fee and a separate ADAPT assessment fee; confirm the current amounts on the official programme page. Applicants need 10+2 with at least 51% individually in Physics, Mathematics and English, and must be 18 to 40. A cadet seat does not guarantee a job: you still have to clear every training phase, and cadets who leave partway still owe fees for stages already delivered. To compare it with other routes, see our guide to airline-linked cadet programmes and how we provide cadet support during training. Airlines planning their own intake can read about our cadet programme for airlines and operators.
What is the IndiGo cadet pilot programme?
The IndiGo cadet pilot programme is an airline-linked training route: you pay a partner academy to train you from zero hours to a Commercial Pilot Licence and then A320 training, and IndiGo takes part in selecting cadets at the start. It is not a scholarship and not paid employment. The cadet, usually with family funds or an education loan, pays the programme fee. Several academies have run IndiGo cadet intakes, and their fees and entry rules differ, so check the academy named on the official IndiGo careers page. Compare it with other airline cadet programmes in India before you choose.
Who can apply to the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program?
10+2 with at least 51% (or Grade Point 6 / Grade C1 in CBSE) individually in Physics, Mathematics and English. NIOS mark sheets are accepted at the same 51%. Foreign qualifications need an AIU equivalency certificate.
Age 18 to 40
A valid DGCA Class I medical certificate
A valid Indian passport (this partner academy's requirement). Other IndiGo partner academies we checked on 28 October 2026 accept Indian nationals or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) whose passport gives an unrestricted right to live and work in India, so OCI holders should confirm with the specific academy before paying the assessment fee. See our cadet programme comparison.
A Criminal Record Check (CRC) basic disclosure certificate
A BMI certificate in the 18–25 range from a NABL-accredited hospital or lab
Written and spoken English fluency. The academy states that candidates with visible tattoos will not be considered.
No prior aviation qualification is required; the programme is designed for beginners
Source: official programme page, checked 28 October 2026. Confirm current criteria with the academy before applying.
What does the IndiGo cadet programme cover?
It's a full-time, roughly 20-month programme covering ground school for the DGCA and WPC examinations, Commercial Pilot Licence flight training, multi-engine training, simulator training, and then Airbus A320 training with Multi Crew Coordination (MCC) and Jet Orientation Training (JOT) at a training organisation approved by IndiGo. The A320 is the aircraft type IndiGo operates. Flight training runs at the academy's own air bases, on a fleet that includes Cessna 172, Piper Archer DX, Tecnam P2010 and Diamond DA42 aircraft.
IndiGo pilot training cost: how much does the cadet program cost?
The partner academy sets the programme fee and a separate ADAPT assessment fee. Confirm the current number directly with the academy before budgeting, since programme fees are reviewed and can change between intakes. For comparison, see what an A320 type rating costs on its own.
On top of the programme fee, budget for your DGCA Class 1 medical, document costs, travel to the selection and training bases, and living costs during the 20 months. Many families fund the IndiGo cadet pilot program cost with an education loan; loans of up to ₹1 crore are available, subject to lender approval. Our pilot training loans guide explains how lenders assess an application.
How does IndiGo cadet selection work?
Selection is multi-stage and assesses more than academics — technical aptitude, psychological stability, communication skills and airline readiness are all tested before an offer is made. IndiGo panellists take part in selection, which is why the programme is a stronger airline pathway than self-funded training. Your progress still depends on clearing every training phase. That is the core trade a cadet programme makes: a longer, more selective front door, in exchange for a more defined route towards an airline role.
Cadet program IndiGo: is it hard to get in?
Yes, it is competitive. The selection tests aptitude, psychology, communication and airline readiness as well as academics, and IndiGo does not publish how many applicants are accepted. Prepare as you would for an airline assessment: revise 10+2 Physics and Mathematics, practise aptitude tests, and get your DGCA Class 1 medical done early so a medical issue does not surface after you have paid. Our guide to how to become a pilot in India covers the steps that come first.
Is a cadet programme better than self-funded training?
A cadet programme is not automatically the better choice — it's a different trade-off. Self-funded training costs less upfront in most cases, keeps your airline options open at the end, and doesn't require clearing an airline's own selection bar before you've flown a single hour. A cadet seat trades that flexibility for a more structured route towards one airline, provided you clear every stage. Which one fits depends on your finances, risk tolerance and how confident you already are that airline flying, specifically, is the right path.
5 mistakes to avoid before applying to the IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program
Applying without first confirming you have at least 51% individually in Physics, Mathematics and English
Treating an old published fee as fixed, instead of confirming the current fee directly with the academy
Underestimating the selection process — psychological and aptitude stages eliminate as many candidates as academics do
Assuming a cadet seat guarantees a JFO role regardless of performance through all 20 months
Not comparing the full cost and timeline against self-funded training before committing either way
The IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program rewards applicants who treat it as a genuine selection process, not a paid course they're guaranteed to complete — cadets who are dropped partway through still owe the fees for stages already delivered, which is a real financial risk worth weighing before you apply and budgeting around, not something to discover partway through the programme once the first instalment has already been paid.
If you're weighing a cadet programme against self-funded training, our education-loan application help page explains how we support self-funded students with financing. Get in touch if you want help comparing the two for your own situation.
FAQ: IndiGo Cadet Pilot Program
Q: How much does the IndiGo cadet pilot program cost?
A: The partner academy publishes the complete programme fee and a separate ADAPT assessment fee on its official programme page. Confirm the current fee with the academy before budgeting.
Q: What percentage is needed for the IndiGo cadet program?
A: At least 51% (or Grade Point 6 / Grade C1 in CBSE) individually in Physics, Mathematics and English in 10+2, according to the partner academy.
Q: What is the age limit for the IndiGo cadet pilot program?
A: The partner academy lists an age range of 18 to 40. For general DGCA age rules, see our pilot age limit in India guide.
Q: How long is the IndiGo cadet pilot program?
A: The partner academy describes it as a full-time, 20-month programme.
Q: Does the program include A320 training?
A: Yes. After the CPL, cadets move to Airbus A320 training with MCC and JOT at a training organisation approved by IndiGo, according to the partner academy.
Q: What is the IndiGo cadet pilot programme?
A: An airline-linked training route in which a partner academy trains beginners to a Commercial Pilot Licence and A320 training, with IndiGo taking part in selection. The cadet pays the programme fee; it is not a scholarship and does not guarantee a job.
Q: Is it hard to get into the IndiGo cadet program?
A: It is competitive. Selection covers aptitude, psychological and communication assessments as well as academics, and IndiGo does not publish acceptance rates. Getting your Class 1 medical first and practising aptitude tests helps.
Q: Can I get a loan for the IndiGo cadet pilot program?
A: Many families use education loans. Loans of up to ₹1 crore are available, subject to lender approval, and lenders usually release money against the academy's fee schedule.