SSC CGL & CHSL photo and signature size
SSC (Staff Selection Commission) exams — CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD Constable and the rest — all go through the same One-Time Registration (OTR) system, which is why the photo and signature specification is shared across every SSC exam form rather than changing exam to exam. Get it right once during OTR registration and it carries forward to every SSC form you apply to afterward.
SSC photo & signature specification
| Item | Dimensions | File size |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 200 × 240 px | 20–50 KB |
| Signature | 160 × 60 px | 10–20 KB |
Notice the signature's KB ceiling is unusually tight compared to most other Indian exam forms — 20KB is a small budget, so a signature scanned at high resolution needs real compression rather than just a resize, or it'll still land well over the cap.
Why OTR makes this a one-time task
SSC's One-Time Registration means your photo, signature and personal details are captured once and then reused for every SSC exam application afterward — CGL this year, CHSL next, MTS the year after — without re-uploading. That also means it's worth getting the photo genuinely right the first time: a photo that's technically within the size limit but poorly lit or outdated will follow you through every subsequent SSC form until you actively go back and update your OTR profile.
Common OTR upload mistakes
- Signing digitally or typing a signature — SSC wants a photograph of a handwritten signature on paper, not a stylus/mouse-drawn one.
- Photo older than the stated validity window — SSC notifications typically specify the photo shouldn't be older than a few months at the time of registration.
- Signature too compressed — squeezing under 20KB with an aggressive compressor can blur the ink to the point of looking blank; a purpose-built signature tool that auto-crops to the ink first avoids this.
How to prepare both correctly
Use the SSC Photo Resize tool for the photograph and the SSC Signature Resize tool for the signature — both are pre-set to SSC's exact pixel and KB targets, so you just upload the source photo and download the OTR-ready file.
Updating your OTR profile when a photo is genuinely outdated
SSC's OTR system allows a profile update, but it isn't unlimited — some update fields (like a candidate's photo and signature) have restrictions on how often they can be changed, precisely because these details are used to verify identity across exams, sometimes years apart. If your OTR photo is genuinely several years old, it's worth checking the current OTR correction window and rules before an application deadline rather than assuming a same-day update is always possible.
Because of this, treating the OTR photo as a long-lived, semi-permanent record rather than something to be quickly redone is the more reliable approach — take the time to get a genuinely good, well-lit, correctly-sized photo the first time, since it will likely represent you across several years of SSC applications.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to redo my photo for every SSC exam I apply to?
No — once your OTR profile has a valid photo and signature, they carry forward automatically to CGL, CHSL and other SSC exam applications, unless SSC specifically asks you to update your profile.
What happens if my old OTR photo doesn't meet the current size rule?
SSC periodically asks registrants to update photos that predate a specification change — check your OTR profile status before a new application window opens.
Can the same signature file be reused for a bank exam form too?
The pixel/KB numbers usually differ between SSC and bank exam portals (like IBPS), so re-run it through that portal's own target rather than assuming the SSC file will fit.
Can I update my OTR photo any time I want?
Not always freely — some OTR fields have limits on how often they can be changed, so check the current correction window rather than assuming an instant update.