UPSC Photo Resize for CSE 2026: Photo Size and Three Signatures
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What you'll need
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UPSC photo resize, done right: the UPSC CSE 2026 form takes a JPG photo of 20–200 KB and one image with your signature written three times. This page lists the UPSC photo size and signature rules, and the kit below makes both files on your phone.
Unverified — sizes from secondary sources. Check the official notice before uploading. Notice: Civil Services Examination, 2026 (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 04.02.2026) · checked 22 Oct 2026 ·Source we used
UPSC photo size and signature size
-
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.
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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.
| Document | Size | File size | Format | DPI | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | Any (keep your crop) | 20–200 KB | JPG | — |
|
| Signature (three times) | 350–500 × 350–500 px | 20–100 KB | JPG | — |
|
| Photo ID card | — | 20–200 KB | — |
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 Civil Services (CSE) portal shows. Each one has a fix.
- Error:
Image size should be between 20 KB and 200 KB
- Fix: The UPSC 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.
UPSC photo upload: what the form checks
UPSC’s Common Application Form has one requirement no other exam shares: you sign three times, one below the other, and upload all three in a single image. That image must be roughly square, 350–500 pixels on each side, and 20–100 KB.
How to make the three-signature image
- Draw a square of about 6×6 cm on plain white paper.
- Inside it, sign three times with a black pen, one signature below the other. Keep them the same size and style.
- Photograph the square from straight above in daylight.
- Choose UPSC CSE here. The crop locks to a square; place the corners on your drawn box. SahiSize outputs up to 500×500 px and fits it to 20–100 KB.
One signature, or three signatures side by side, is not what the notice asks for.
The photo
- Recent, in colour, white background.
- Your face fills about 75% of the frame and both ears are visible.
- Nothing written on it: no name, date or signature.
- File: JPG, 20–200 KB. UPSC gives no pixel size, so SahiSize keeps a 3.5×4.5 cm shape.
OTR: do it once, carefully
UPSC uses a One-Time Registration profile shared by its exams. The photo and photo ID you upload there carry over, and each application then captures a live photo that is compared with them. If you have grown a beard or changed glasses since you registered, update the OTR photo before you apply.
Photo ID
Upload the ID whose number you enter in the form, 20–200 KB. OTR guides describe it as a PDF; check the field on the form. Carry the same ID to the exam.
Timing
The CSE notification usually comes out around January–February, with prelims later in the year. The same Common Application Form also covers the Forest Service prelims.
If the portal still rejects it
If the signature image fails on dimensions, it is probably not square enough or is under 350 px on a side; crop again from the original photo. If the photo fails, check it is at least 20 KB; small forwarded images are often below that.
UPSC photo FAQ
What is the photo size for UPSC CSE?
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 UPSC CSE?
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.
Does the IFS (Forest Service) form need separate uploads?
No. CSE and IFoS prelims share the same Common Application Form, so the same photo, three-signature image and ID are used.
How do I do the UPSC photo upload from a phone?
Make the photo here, save it, then pick it from Files or Gallery in the OTR profile or the application form. Upload the saved file as it is; sending it through WhatsApp first shrinks it below 20 KB.
Can I reuse my UPSC CSE photo for NDA or CDS?
Yes, if it is still recent. UPSC NDA and CDS forms take the same JPG photo of 20–200 KB through the same One-Time Registration profile.