UPSC photo and signature size — full guide
Every UPSC application — Civil Services (CSE), CDS, NDA, CAPF, ESE and the rest — goes through the same One-Time Registration (OTR) portal, so the photo and signature specification below applies uniformly rather than changing between individual UPSC exams. Always confirm the exact numbers in the current official notification, since these can shift from year to year, but this is the working default the tool ships with.
Typical requirement
| Item | Format | Size (typical) | File size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | JPG/JPEG | 3.5 × 4.5 cm (approx 200 × 230 px) | 20 KB – 200 KB |
| Signature | JPG/JPEG | 3.5 × 1.5 cm (140 × 60 px) | 20 KB – 100 KB |
What UPSC's OTR portal actually checks
Beyond the raw pixel/KB numbers, UPSC's upload widget checks the file is a genuine JPEG (not a renamed PNG or HEIC with a .jpg extension), and that the aspect ratio roughly matches what's expected for a headshot. A photo that passes the KB check but was saved with the wrong file extension can still fail — always let the resize tool re-export the file rather than just renaming an existing one.
Photo and signature — separate rules, easy to mix up
The photo and signature go through the same upload step in most UPSC forms, which is exactly why they get confused: people occasionally upload the signature file into the photo slot's KB checker or vice versa, since both are small JPEGs sitting in the same folder. Keeping the two files clearly named (like upsc-photo.jpg and upsc-signature.jpg) before uploading avoids this entirely.
How to make them
- Use the UPSC Photo Resize tool for the photo.
- Use the UPSC Signature Resize tool for the signature.
- Download both and upload to the UPSC portal.
Everything runs in your browser — your photo and signature are never uploaded to us.
A note on the interview/DAF stage
Candidates who clear the written stage of a UPSC exam like the Civil Services Examination fill a Detailed Application Form (DAF) ahead of the interview, and this stage can ask for the photo and signature again, sometimes alongside additional recent photographs for the interview panel's records. The same size specification generally applies, but since the DAF stage carries higher stakes than the initial application, it's worth re-checking the current DAF instructions rather than reusing an old file purely from memory.
If your original OTR photo is more than a year or two old by the time you reach this stage, consider a fresh, well-lit retake rather than resubmitting the original — a current photo is generally the safer choice at this stage of the process.
Frequently asked questions
Does the same photo work for CSE, CDS and NDA forms?
Yes — since all UPSC exams share the same OTR profile system, one correctly-sized photo and signature carry across every UPSC exam form you apply to.
What if my photo passes the KB check but the form still rejects it?
Check the actual file type first — a PNG or HEIC file renamed to .jpg with the extension changed but not re-encoded can still be rejected even though the KB size looks fine.
Can I use a scanned signature instead of a photographed one?
Yes, either works as long as the final image is under the KB cap and the ink is legible — a flatbed scan and a well-lit phone photo both compress similarly well.
Do I need a new photo for the DAF/interview stage?
Check the current DAF instructions — a photo more than a year or two old is generally worth refreshing even if the size specification hasn't changed.