UPSC photo and signature size
The KB limits are in every UPSC notice, most recently the Engineering Services Examination 2027 notice of 16 September 2026. The pixel limits are in UPSC’s technical FAQ for the online application.
| Upload | Pixels | File size | Notice says |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photo | 600 × 750 (our size) | 20–300 KB | JPG, 20 to 300 KB, 550 to 1000 px each side, three-quarters of the image your face |
| Signature (signed 3 times) | 500 × 500 (our size) | 20–300 KB | JPG, 20 to 300 KB; sign three times, one below the other, black ink on plain white paper |
| Live photo | – | – | Captured in the Common Application Form, in addition to the uploaded photo |
Sources: UPSC’s ESE 2027 notice (Appendix-IIA and Notes 2–4), its technical FAQ (PDF) and the FAQ page on upsconline. The two FAQs disagree on pixels: the PDF says 550–1000 px for the photo and 350–500 px for the signature, the web page says 350–1000 px for both. Our photo size, 600 × 750, meets both. Our signature size, 500 × 500, meets both.
Checked against the official notices on by Sandesh Karwa. Rules change between exams and years: if your notice says something different, the notice wins.
How to resize your photo and signature for UPSC
- Take the photo against a plain light wall in daylight, facing the camera. UPSC wants three-quarters of the image to be your face, so frame from the top of your head to just below the chin.
- Sign three times on plain white paper with a black pen, one signature below the other, and photograph the sheet from straight above.
- Choose the file above. “UPSC · Photo” is already selected; switch to “UPSC · Signature (signed 3 times)” for the signature, or Custom 500 × 500 as explained above.
- Drag the frame so your face, or all three signatures, fill it.
- Click Resize and download. Each file lands between 20 and 300 KB. Upload them in the Common Application Form, check the preview, then confirm.
Good to know
- Confirm carefully. After you click Confirm Upload, the system doesn’t let you change the photo or signature. Use Reload Photograph or Reload Signature until the preview is clear.
- Pixel size is not why UPSC rejects. Its FAQ says it is concerned with identifying you at the exam hall from your images, “and not to cancel the candidature based on the size or colour of ink used”. A poor-quality photo or signature, though, can be rejected.
- The live photo is separate. You still upload a photo file; the live capture is an extra check. Keep your look the same for every stage.
- Photo ID is a PDF, not an image. If yours is too big, shrink it with Compress PDF.
Your photo and signature stay on your device
The photo and signature are cropped and saved inside this browser tab, using your browser’s own canvas. Your face and signature together are what someone needs to pose as you, so they shouldn’t sit on a stranger’s server. The page’s security policy tells your browser to block uploads, so the files can’t leave your device even by accident. The only requests you’ll see are a few to Google Analytics, our visit counter, which never receives your files. Privacy policy
Questions
What is the UPSC photo size in KB and pixels?
A JPG between 20 KB and 300 KB. UPSC’s technical FAQ (PDF) asks for 550 to 1000 pixels on each side, with three-quarters of the image showing your face. This tool makes a 600 × 750 px photo inside that range.
How do I upload the UPSC signature signed three times?
Sign three times, one below the other, on plain white paper in black ink, and photograph or scan it as one image. Upload it as a JPG between 20 KB and 300 KB. UPSC’s PDF FAQ limits the signature to 350–500 px on each side, so 500 × 500 px is a safe size.
Will UPSC reject my form if the pixel size is wrong?
UPSC’s FAQ says it uses your images to identify you at the exam hall, not to cancel candidature over size or ink colour. The upload page does check the KB range, and a poor-quality image can lead to rejection.
Do I still need to upload a photo if UPSC takes a live photo?
Yes. The ESE 2027 notice asks you to upload your photograph and also capture a live photograph while filling the Common Application Form.