UPSC and SSC photo and signature size (2026)
Updated 2026-09-20
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.
Indian exam portals enforce file-size limits automatically and reject anything outside them, which is why "photo 20 to 200 KB" and "signature under 50 KB" are among the most searched upload rules in the country. For the UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 the online application asks for a JPG photograph between 20 and 200 KB and a JPG signature between 20 and 100 KB, each 350 to 500 pixels on a side, plus two new rules: a live photo captured by webcam during the application, and a "triple signature" sheet scanned as one image. Staff Selection Commission (SSC) forms use a stricter JPEG limit of 50 KB for the photo, with a small signature file.
The figures below come from coaching-institute and tool-site summaries of the 2026 notifications, cited in each row, because the commissions publish them inside the application portal rather than on a public page. Read the instructions on upsconline.nic.in or ssc.gov.in for your specific exam and year before uploading; pixel rules in particular change between notifications.
Requirements at a glance
| Requirement | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| UPSC photo | JPG, 20 to 200 KB, about 350 to 500 px, face about 75% of the frame | Vajiram & Ravi (third-party summary of the 2026 notification) |
| UPSC signature | JPG, 20 to 100 KB, 350 to 500 px, black ink; triple signature on one sheet for 2026 | Vajiram & Ravi (third-party summary) |
| UPSC live photo | Webcam capture during the application, matched against the uploaded photo | Vajiram & Ravi (third-party summary) |
| UPSC official portal | Confirm the current year's instructions inside the application | upsconline.nic.in |
| SSC photo | JPEG, under 50 KB (usually 20 to 50 KB); pixel size varies by notification | ResizeEasy (third-party guide) |
| SSC pixel sizes quoted by tools | 200 x 230 px per one tool page; 100 to 200 px per another; sources conflict | ToolzerHub (third-party) |
| SSC official portal | Read the notification for your exam and year | ssc.gov.in |
| Pixels vs KB confusion | A 413 x 531 px photo can be 284 KB or 40 KB; compress to the KB limit after sizing | Careers360 forum thread |
Open the tool with these settings
Keeps JPG output and the highest quality that fits; the result card shows the exact size.
Crop tightly to the signature first so the file compresses well.
JPEG only; the tool reduces pixels automatically if quality alone cannot reach 50 KB.
All tools linked here run in your browser; the photo is never uploaded to GivenTool.
UPSC CSE 2026: photo, signature and the new rules
Photograph: JPG, 20 to 200 KB, roughly 350 to 500 pixels wide and high, colour, recent, with the face filling about three-quarters of the frame against a light background, and the applicant's name and the date of the photo printed beneath it on some notifications (check yours). Signature: JPG, 20 to 100 KB, 350 to 500 pixels, signed in black ink on white paper and scanned or photographed without shadows.
Two 2026 additions trip people up. First, the portal captures a live photo through your webcam during registration and compares it with the uploaded photograph, so upload a real, recent, unedited photo of yourself. Second, the signature file must show your signature three times, one below the other, on the same sheet ("triple signature"), scanned as a single image; that image still has to land inside the 20 to 100 KB window.
SSC (CGL, CHSL, GD, MTS): JPEG under 50 KB
SSC's one-time registration and exam forms accept JPEG only and reject photos over 50 KB (the lower bound is usually 20 KB). The pixel requirement is stated differently across notifications and third-party guides: some quote a 3.5 x 4.5 cm print size, others 200 x 230 px, others a 100 to 200 px range for the signature. Because sources conflict, treat the KB limit as the hard rule and the pixel size as something to read from the notification for your exam. A portrait around 400 to 600 px high at 80% JPEG quality lands comfortably under 50 KB.
A common confusion, visible in forum threads, is between pixels and kilobytes: a 413 x 531 px photo can be 284 KB or 40 KB depending on JPEG quality. The pixel size is the dimensions; the KB size is what the compressor changes. Resize to the pixel size first, then compress to the KB limit.
Step by step
Start from a good photo: plain light background, face centred, taken recently. Crop it to a portrait roughly 3:4 (for example 450 x 600 px) with the image resizer in exact-pixel mode, or leave it if the portal only states KB limits.
Open the compressor with the target for your form: 200 KB for the UPSC photo, 100 KB for the UPSC signature, 50 KB for SSC. The tool finds the highest JPEG quality that fits and only reduces pixels if it must. Check the result size in the card; it should be under the limit and, for UPSC, above the 20 KB minimum (a 400-pixel photo is rarely below that).
For the signature, scan or photograph the sheet in good light, crop tightly to the signature(s), and compress with the 100 KB (UPSC) or 50 KB (SSC) target. Signatures compress very well because most of the image is white.
Frequently asked questions
My UPSC photo is 15 KB. Is that a problem?
Yes, the window is 20 to 200 KB. Very small files usually mean the image is tiny or heavily compressed. Start from a larger original (at least 400 px on the short side) and compress with the 200 KB target; the tool aims just under the limit, so the result will be well above 20 KB.
What is the UPSC triple signature?
For CSE 2026 the signature image must show your signature three times, stacked vertically on one white sheet, scanned as a single JPG within 20 to 100 KB. Sign in black ink, keep the three signatures similar, and crop the scan to the sheet.
Does SSC want 20 to 50 KB or just under 50 KB?
Guides quote both. The upper limit of 50 KB is the one the portal enforces; staying above 20 KB avoids a rejection for an unreadable photo. A 400 to 600 px portrait at normal quality is usually 30 to 48 KB.
Are pixels or KB more important?
Both are checked when the portal states both, but the KB limit is enforced everywhere. Set the pixel size first (image resizer), then the KB size (compressor); doing it the other way round wastes quality.
Can I edit the photo to fix the background?
Cropping and compressing are fine. Do not retouch the face, and for UPSC remember the live webcam capture is compared with the upload: an edited or old photo can fail the match.
Is my photo uploaded to GivenTool?
No. Compression runs in your browser; the file is sent only when you upload it to the commission's portal yourself.
This guide summarises published requirements for convenience. It is not legal advice and GivenTool is not affiliated with any government. The issuing authority's page is the only authoritative source.
Last checked: 2026-09-20. Verify with the official source before submitting.