AAI Manager (Information Technology) 2026 Free Guess Paper

The AAI Manager IT 2026 post has only five vacancies. This is one of the smallest openings in the current Airports Authority of India drive. The Computer-Based Test for this post falls on October 26, 2026. Candidates now have a fixed window to convert three years of IT experience into a Group-A government role.

TL;DR

• AAI has opened five Manager (Information Technology) posts under Advertisement No. 12/2026/CHQ/DR-CBT.
• The CBT for this post runs on October 26, 2026, alongside Manager (Engineering-Civil), Manager (Operations), and Manager (Corporate Planning).
• The exam carries 120 marks over 120 minutes, with no negative marking.
• Candidates need a B.E./B.Tech in Computer Science, IT, or Electronics, or an MCA, plus three years of post-qualification IT experience.
• Selected candidates enter the pay scale of ₹60,000-₹1,80,000, with an approximate annual CTC of ₹21 lakh.
• The maximum age limit is 32 years, and the application fee is ₹1,000 for general, OBC, and EWS candidates.

AAI Manager IT 2026: The Vacancy Picture

AAI released this notification on July 22, 2026, for 389 total posts across Manager and Junior Executive grades. The Manager IT post holds five seats out of 260 Manager vacancies. This small count places the post among the most competitive in the drive, alongside Manager (Law) at two seats and Manager (Corporate Planning) at one seat.

A low vacancy count changes exam strategy. Candidates cannot rely on a wide merit spread to cover small errors. Every mark in the CBT carries more weight when only five posts are open nationwide.

Eligibility Rules That Filter Out Most Applicants

AAI sets a strict bar for the Manager IT post. A candidate needs a full-time B.E./B.Tech in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, IT, or Electronics, or a full-time MCA. This qualification alone does not clear the eligibility bar.

AAI also asks for three years of post-qualification experience in one of these fields: database management and administration, data center operations and networking, ERP management and administration, data analytics, software application development as a team lead, or web development and maintenance as a team lead. A fresh graduate does not qualify for this post, regardless of academic record.

The age limit adds a second filter. A candidate must be 32 years or younger as of September 7, 2026. SC/ST candidates get a 5-year relaxation. OBC non-creamy-layer candidates get 3 years. This combination of a degree, three years of specific IT experience, and an age cap under 32 narrows the applicant pool sharply compared to entry-level exams.

Exam Pattern: What the CBT Actually Tests

AAI runs the Manager IT CBT as an objective, multiple-choice test in English and Hindi. The exam lasts 120 minutes and carries 120 marks, with one mark for each correct answer. AAI applies no negative marking for wrong or unattempted questions.

The absence of negative marking changes how a candidate should approach the paper. A blank answer earns the same zero marks as a wrong answer. A candidate gains nothing by skipping a question and loses nothing by guessing. This makes full attempt, not selective attempt, the correct exam-day approach for this test.

Part A and Part B: The Split That Decides the Score

AAI structures the Manager IT paper into two parts. Part A tests general knowledge, reasoning, quantitative aptitude, and English. Part B tests technical knowledge tied to the IT discipline. Sources on the 2026 cycle report this split at roughly 50% Part A and 50% Part B for the Manager IT post, though some report a 30/70 split favoring technical content across Manager posts generally. AAI has not published the discipline-wise syllabus document for Manager IT at the time of this analysis, so exact section weightage may shift before the exam.

This split means a candidate cannot pass on technical depth alone. A weak score in reasoning or English pulls down the total even if the IT section score is strong. A study plan needs to cover both halves, not just the professional subject.

Likely Technical Domains for Part B

AAI has not released a confirmed topic list for the Manager IT syllabus. The experience criteria in the notification point to the technical domains AAI values for this post: database management and administration, data center operations, networking, ERP systems, data analytics, and software or web application development. A candidate preparing for Part B should treat these six areas as the core zone, since they match both the eligibility criteria and the standard technical scope of similar Manager (IT) exams run by other public sector bodies.

Selection Stages After the CBT

The CBT is the first stage, not the final one. AAI shortlists candidates from the CBT score, then moves them through application verification. Manager-post candidates, including Manager IT, then sit for a personal interview. AAI does not require a physical test for this post, unlike Manager (Fire Services), which adds physical and driving tests.

A strong CBT score does not guarantee selection on its own. The final merit list combines CBT performance with interview marks. A candidate needs to prepare for both stages from the start, not treat the interview as an afterthought once the CBT result arrives.

Salary and Cost: What the Post Pays

Compensation is a major reason this post draws experienced IT professionals away from private-sector roles. AAI places Manager IT in the Group-A, E-3 pay scale of ₹60,000-₹1,80,000, with a 3% annual increment. The approximate annual CTC is ₹21 lakh, once dearness allowance, perks at 35% of basic pay, house rent allowance, provident fund, and gratuity get added.

This CTC places the post ahead of most state-level IT manager roles and close to mid-level private-sector packages, with the added weight of job security and a defined pension-linked retirement structure. For a candidate weighing this post against a private IT management role, the fixed pay progression and low deduction structure work in AAI’s favor over a long career span.

Competition Context: Why Five Seats Change the Game

AAI last ran a large-scale Manager and Junior Executive drive in 2018, covering 908 vacancies across all disciplines, including IT-linked posts. That cycle drew heavy competition even for larger vacancy counts, based on the scale of applicant discussion the exam generated at the time. A five-seat post in 2026 draws a similar or larger applicant base against a far smaller seat count. This ratio pushes the qualifying score higher than a mid-size post like Manager (Finance), which has 34 seats to fill.

A candidate should not benchmark this exam against high-vacancy posts. The math changes when only five names make the final list nationwide.

Selection Strategy: Building a Plan Around the October Date

The CBT date sets a fixed endpoint. A candidate has a defined number of weeks from the notification date to the October 26, 2026 test. A working professional balancing a job and CBT preparation needs a plan split into three phases: concept revision for Part A subjects, technical practice for the six IT domains listed in the experience criteria, and full-length timed mock tests in the final two weeks.

Since AAI applies no negative marking, mock practice should focus on speed and full attempt, not caution. A candidate who leaves questions blank in practice tests builds the wrong habit for exam day. Every mock session should end with all 120 questions attempted, timed strictly at 120 minutes.

Common Questions

Is there negative marking in the AAI Manager IT 2026 exam? No. AAI does not deduct marks for wrong or unattempted answers in the CBT.

What is the age limit for AAI Manager IT 2026? The maximum age is 32 years as of September 7, 2026, with relaxation for reserved categories.

How many vacancies are open for AAI Manager IT in 2026? AAI has notified five vacancies for this post.

What is the application fee for AAI Manager IT 2026? The fee is ₹1,000 for general, OBC, and EWS candidates. Women, SC/ST, PwBD, and AAI employees pay no fee.

Does AAI Manager IT require work experience? Yes. Candidates need three years of post-qualification experience in IT fields such as database administration, networking, ERP, data analytics, or software development.

What is the salary for AAI Manager IT? The pay scale is ₹60,000-₹1,80,000, with an approximate annual CTC of ₹21 lakh.

What This Means Going Forward

The Manager IT post rewards candidates who already hold real IT experience over those chasing a first government job. The low vacancy count means the qualifying score will sit higher than most other Manager posts in this cycle. A candidate with the right experience profile should treat the six-week run-up to October 26 as a fixed sprint: lock the technical domains tied to the experience criteria, close gaps in Part A subjects, and drill full-length no-negative-marking mocks. AAI is likely to keep running Manager IT recruitment in small batches going forward, given the steady but narrow demand for this role across its airport network, so a candidate who misses this cycle should expect the next opening to carry a similar seat count and a similar bar.