UPSC CDS 2026 Photo & Signature Size — Resize Free

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What you'll need

Need just one file? Tap it.

Unverified — sizes from secondary sources. Check the official notice before uploading. Notice: Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 (Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II, dated 20.05.2026) · checked 22 Oct 2026 ·Source we used

Upload sizes

Photograph 20–200 KB

JPG
- Recent colour passport-style photo
- Plain white background
- Face covers about 75% of the photo, both ears visible
- No signature, name or date written on the photo
- Must match your live photo and your look at the exam
Signature (three times) 20–100 KB

350–500 × 350–500 px · JPG
- Sign three times, one below the other, on plain white paper
- Black ink only
- All three signatures in one square image, 350–500 px each side
- Same signature all three times, clear and legible
- Sign three times, one below another, in a single image.
Photo ID card 20–200 KB

PDF
- PDF file only, all pages in one file
- Clear and readable; no cut edges
- The same ID whose number you enter in the form
Note: 20–200 KB per secondary guides; OTR guides describe the ID as a PDF. Check the field on the form.

UPSC CDS 2026 document sizes
Document	Size	File size	Format	DPI	Rules
Photograph	Any (keep your crop)	20–200 KB	JPG	—	Recent colour passport-style photo Plain white background Face covers about 75% of the photo, both ears visible No signature, name or date written on the photo Must match your live photo and your look at the exam
Signature (three times)	350–500 × 350–500 px	20–100 KB	JPG	—	Sign three times, one below the other, on plain white paper Black ink only All three signatures in one square image, 350–500 px each side Same signature all three times, clear and legible Sign three times, one below another, in a single image.
Photo ID card	—	20–200 KB	PDF	—	PDF file only, all pages in one file Clear and readable; no cut edges The same ID whose number you enter in the form Note: 20–200 KB per secondary guides; OTR guides describe the ID as a PDF. Check the field on the form.

Upload errors and how to fix them

These are the messages the UPSC CDS portal shows. Each one has a fix.

Error: Image size should be between 20 KB and 200 KB: Fix: The CDS photo must be at least 20 KB. Tiny WhatsApp-forwarded photos fail; use the original camera photo and Auto-fit.
Error: Signature image dimensions should be between 350 and 500 pixels: Fix: The three-signature image must be square-ish and 350–500 px on each side. SahiSize locks the crop to a square and outputs 500×500 when possible.
Error: Only one signature found: Fix: UPSC wants the signature three times in one image. A single signature is a common reason for a defective application.
Error: Live photo does not match uploaded photo: Fix: Take the live photo in similar light and with the same glasses/beard as the uploaded photo. If you changed your look, upload a new photo first.

About the UPSC CDS upload rules

CDS applicants are usually graduates, and many have already used the UPSC portal for NDA or the Civil Services exam. That helps, but reusing old files is where most CDS problems start.

Reusing files from NDA or CSE

Your One-Time Registration profile is shared, so the photo there is the one CDS uses. Ask yourself:

Is the photo still recent? If it was taken years ago for NDA, take a new one. Each application captures a live photo that is compared with it.
Is the signature image the three-signature version? Every UPSC form needs three signatures, one below the other, in one square image of 350–500 px per side, 20–100 KB.
Is your photo ID still valid? Use an ID you will carry to the centre, and check the size the form asks for.

Making fresh files quickly

Photo: white background, face about 75% of the frame, both ears visible, nothing written on it. JPG, 20–200 KB.
Signature: draw a 6×6 cm square, sign three times inside in black ink, photograph, and choose CDS here. The crop is locked to a square.
ID: photograph or scan the card flat. Guides describe it as a PDF; check the field type on the form.
Update the OTR profile first, then fill the CDS application.

What stays the same across UPSC exams

The limits for CDS are the same as NDA and CSE, so one good set of files works for all three while your look does not change.

Signature and ID for a second attempt

If your OTR still holds a single-signature image from an older form, replace it before you apply: CDS checks for all three signatures in one roughly square image.
Many CDS applicants are final-year students whose only photo card is a college ID. Name one of the government photo IDs the notice lists instead, and carry that same card to the exam.

Timing

CDS is held twice a year. Notifications usually come out around December and May.

If the portal still rejects it

If the live photo does not match, retake it in the same kind of light as your uploaded photo, without glasses you did not wear in it. If the signature fails, check that it has all three signatures and is close to square.

UPSC CDS size FAQ

What is the photo size for CDS?

JPG, 20–200 KB, recent colour photo on a white background with your face filling about 75% of the frame and both ears visible.

How do I do the three signatures for CDS?

Sign three times one below the other on plain white paper with black ink, then crop to a square and upload one image of 350–500 px per side, 20–100 KB. Our guide screen shows a sample.

Is the photo used for the OTR profile reused for every UPSC exam?

Yes, the One-Time Registration profile is shared across UPSC exams, but each application also captures a live photo that must match it. Update the photo in OTR if your look has changed.

Can my photo be older than six months?

Use a recent photo that matches how you look today. A mismatch with the live photo or at the exam centre causes trouble.

Which photo ID can I upload?

The ID you enter in the form (Aadhaar, voter ID, passport, PAN, driving licence etc.). Upload a clear scan in the size the form asks for (we have not confirmed it from the notice yet, so check the notice) and carry the same ID to the exam.

Can I use my NDA photo for CDS?

Only if it is still recent and you look the same. Both run through the UPSC OTR profile, so updating the photo there updates it for CDS too.