AAI Common Cadre Syllabus 2026 –
The AAI Common Cadre recruitment conducted by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is one of the most competitive non-technical PSU exams in India.
Although the paper does not include any technical or domain subject, the cutoff remains very high, making it essential for aspirants to clearly understand the exact syllabus and exam structure.
Career Wave Institute provides a 100% correct, verified, and detailed explanation of the AAI Common Cadre syllabus, based strictly on CBT-based recruitment trends.
1. What is AAI Common Cadre?
AAI Common Cadre refers to non-technical Junior Executive level posts where selection is done through a Computer Based Test (CBT).
Key Characteristics
· Non-Technical exam
· No Engineering / Domain subject
· Open to candidates from any graduation background
· Competitive due to high attempts & no negative marking
Common Posts Covered
· Junior Executive (Administration / Common Cadre)
· Junior Executive (HR, Finance, Official Language)
(Only when recruitment is CBT-based, not GATE-based)
2. AAI Common Cadre Exam Pattern (CBT)
Parameter | Details |
Exam Mode | Computer Based Test |
Total Questions | 150 |
Total Marks | 150 |
Time Duration | 2 Hours |
Question Type | MCQ |
Negative Marking | ❌ No |
Sections in the Exam
1. English Comprehension
2. General Intelligence & Reasoning
3. Quantitative Aptitude
4. General Awareness
Also check-Exam Pattern
⚠️ Important Clarification
There is NO technical or domain-specific subject in AAI Common Cadre.
3. AAI Common Cadre Syllabus – Section-wise Detailed Breakdown
1) English Comprehension (35 Questions)
This section tests reading ability, grammar, and vocabulary usage.
Topics Covered
• Vocabulary
• Grammar
• Sentence Structure
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Correct Usage of Words
• Spot the Error
• Fill in the Blanks
• Synonyms / Homonyms
• Spellings
• Detecting Mis-spelt Words
• Idioms & Phrases
• One Word Substitution
• Improvement of Sentences
• Active and Passive Voice
• Direct and Indirect Narration
• Shuffling of Sentence Parts
• Shuffling of Sentences in a Passage
• Cloze Passage
• Comprehension Passage
• Paragraph-based Questions
• Book or Story-based Paragraph
• Current Affairs-based Paragraph
• Report-based Paragraph
• Editorial-based Paragraph
Preparation Focus
Grammar + vocabulary + RC practice can make this a high-scoring section.
2) General Intelligence & Reasoning (40 Questions)
This section is logic-based and scoring with regular practice.
Topics Covered
• Semantic Analogy
• Symbolic / Number Analogy
• Figural Analogy
• Semantic Classification
• Symbolic / Number Classification
• Figural Classification
• Semantic Series
• Number Series
• Figural Series
• Problem Solving
• Word Building
• Coding & Decoding
• Numerical Operations
• Symbolic Operations
• Trends
• Space Orientation
• Space Visualization
• Venn Diagrams
• Drawing Inferences
• Punched Hole / Pattern Folding and Unfolding
• Figural Pattern Folding and Completion
• Indexing
• Address Matching
• Date and City Matching
• Classification of Centre Codes / Roll Numbers
• Small and Capital Letters / Numbers Coding
• Decoding and Classification
• Embedded Figures
• Critical Thinking
• Emotional Intelligence
• Social Intelligence
Preparation Focus
Speed and accuracy are crucial due to high cutoff pressure.
3) Quantitative Aptitude (40 Questions)
This section checks basic arithmetic skills, not advanced mathematics.
Topics Covered
• Whole Numbers
• Decimals
• Fractions
• Relationship Between Numbers
• Percentage
• Ratio & Proportion
• Square Roots
• Averages
• Interest
• Profit and Loss
• Discount
• Partnership Business
• Mixture and Alligation
• Time and Distance
• Time & Work
• Basic Algebraic Identities of School Algebra
• Elementary Surds
• Graphs of Linear Equations
• Triangle and its Various Kinds of Centres
• Congruence and Similarity of Triangles
• Circle and its Chords
• Tangents
• Angles Subtended by Chords of a Circle
• Common Tangents to Two or More Circles
• Quadrilaterals
• Regular Polygons
• Right Prism
• Right Circular Cone
• Right Circular Cylinder
• Sphere
• Hemispheres
• Rectangular Parallelepiped
• Regular Right Pyramid with Triangular or Square Base
• Trigonometric Ratios
• Degree and Radian Measures
• Standard Identities
• Complementary Angles
• Heights and Distances
• Histogram
• Frequency Polygon
• Bar Diagram
• Pie Chart
Preparation Focus
Concept clarity + regular calculation practice is enough to score well.
4) General Awareness (35 Questions)
This section includes static GK + current affairs, with special relevance to aviation awareness.
Topics Covered
• Current Events
• Everyday Observation and Experience
• Scientific Aspects of Daily Life
• India and Its Neighbouring Countries
• History
• Culture
• Geography
• Economic Scene
• General Policy
• Scientific Research
Preparation Focus
Static GK + aviation-related awareness gives a clear edge.
4. What is NOT Included in AAI Common Cadre Syllabus
· ❌ Engineering subjects
· ❌ Technical / Domain syllabus
· ❌ Subject-specific professional papers
This exam is purely non-technical.
👉 Understanding syllabus alone is not enough; strategy matters.
5. Career Wave Institute – How We Cover AAI Common Cadre Syllabus
At Career Wave Institute, preparation is cutoff-oriented, not casual.
What Students Get
· Complete syllabus coverage (section-wise)
· Topic-wise practice questions
· Full-length 150-question CBT mocks
· Section-wise score benchmarks
· Weekly performance analysis
· Attempt strategy (no negative marking advantage)
· Cutoff-focused revision plans
Smart Study Strategy Based on Syllabus
Section | Daily Focus |
English | Grammar + Vocabulary |
Reasoning | Puzzles + Logic |
Quant | Arithmetic fundamentals |
GA | Static + Current + Aviation |
Target
· Attempt: 140–150 questions
· Accuracy: 80%+
· Safe Score: 130+
6. AAI Common Cadre – Topic-wise Weightage & Priority List
This is written with correct information, aligned to recent CBT trends (2022–2023) and high-cutoff reality (120–130+).
AAI Common Cadre Topic-wise Weightage (Expected)
⚠️ Note: Exact weightage is not officially declared by AAI.
The distribution below is based on previous CBT papers, student recalls, and cutoff behaviour, and is used by Career Wave Institute for preparation planning.
1) Section-wise Weightage Overview
Section | Questions | Weightage |
English Comprehension | 35 | ~23% |
Reasoning & Intelligence | 40 | ~27% |
Quantitative Aptitude | 40 | ~27% |
General Awareness | 35 | ~23% |
Total | 150 | 100% |
👉 Reasoning + Quant = 54% of the paper
👉 These two sections decide the cutoff.
2) English Comprehension – Topic-wise Weightage & Priority
Topic | Approx. Questions | Priority |
Reading Comprehension | 6–8 | 🔴 High |
Error Spotting / Sentence Correction | 6–7 | 🔴 High |
Fill in the Blanks | 4–5 | 🟠 Medium |
Cloze Test | 4–5 | 🟠 Medium |
Vocabulary (Syn/Ant, One-word) | 5–6 | 🟠 Medium |
Idioms & Phrases | 3–4 | 🟡 Low |
Voice / Narration | 2–3 | 🟡 Low |
English Priority Order
1. Grammar (Error spotting + sentence correction)
2. Reading Comprehension
3. Vocabulary
4. Idioms / Voice / Narration
3) Reasoning & Intelligence – Topic-wise Weightage & Priority
Topic | Approx. Questions | Priority |
Puzzles (Linear/Circular) | 10–12 | 🔴 High |
Seating Arrangement | 6–8 | 🔴 High |
Coding–Decoding | 5–6 | 🔴 High |
Syllogism | 4–5 | 🟠 Medium |
Blood Relations | 3–4 | 🟠 Medium |
Direction Sense | 3–4 | 🟠 Medium |
Series / Analogy | 3–4 | 🟡 Low |
Venn Diagram | 2–3 | 🟡 Low |
Reasoning Priority Order
1. Puzzles + Seating
2. Coding–Decoding
3. Syllogism
4. Blood Relation + Direction
5. Series / Venn
👉 This section is the biggest scoring weapon.
4) Quantitative Aptitude – Topic-wise Weightage & Priority
Topic | Approx. Questions | Priority |
Percentage | 6–7 | 🔴 High |
Ratio & Proportion | 5–6 | 🔴 High |
Profit & Loss | 5–6 | 🔴 High |
Average | 4–5 | 🔴 High |
Time & Work | 4–5 | 🟠 Medium |
Time, Speed & Distance | 4–5 | 🟠 Medium |
SI & CI | 3–4 | 🟠 Medium |
Mensuration (2D/3D) | 3–4 | 🟡 Low |
Data Interpretation | 3–4 | 🟡 Low |
Quant Priority Order
1. Percentage
2. Ratio–Proportion
3. Profit & Loss
4. Average
5. Time & Work / TSD
6. Mensuration / DI
👉 Arithmetic dominance is very strong in AAI Common Cadre.
5) General Awareness – Topic-wise Weightage & Priority
Topic | Approx. Questions | Priority |
Current Affairs (6–12 months) | 12–14 | 🔴 High |
Static GK | 7–8 | 🔴 High |
Aviation & AAI Awareness | 5–6 | 🔴 High |
Polity (Basics) | 3–4 | 🟠 Medium |
Economy (Basics) | 3–4 | 🟠 Medium |
Geography / History | 2–3 | 🟡 Low |
General Science | 2–3 | 🟡 Low |
GA Priority Order
1. Current Affairs
2. Aviation & AAI awareness
3. Static GK
4. Polity & Economy
5. Science / History / Geography
6) Overall Priority Matrix (Most Important Section First)
Rank | Area | Why |
1 | Reasoning | Highest accuracy + speed scoring |
2 | Quantitative Aptitude | Arithmetic-heavy, predictable |
3 | English | Stable, grammar-driven |
4 | GA | Unpredictable but supportive |
7. Career Wave Institute – Priority-Based Strategy
At Career Wave Institute, preparation is aligned as:
· 🔴 First focus: Reasoning + Quant (daily practice)
· 🟠 Second focus: English (grammar + RC)
· 🟡 Support focus: GA (daily revision + aviation)
Safe Attempt Strategy
· Attempt: 140–150 questions
· Accuracy target: 80–85%
· Score target: 130+
Final Student Insight
v Do not try to study everything equally.
AAI Common Cadre is a priority-driven exam.
Students who follow topic-wise weightage + priority crack it.
Students who prepare randomly struggle despite hard work.
AAI Common Cadre syllabus is simple but highly deceptive.
The exam is non-technical, but the cutoff makes it one of the toughest PSU exams.
Students who:
· Understand the syllabus correctly
· Practice full-length mocks
· Prepare with cutoff awareness
👉 Clear the exam confidently.
Students who rely on assumptions or old data often miss selection by a few marks.
