SSC CGL Photo and Signature Size 2026: KB, Pixels, Format

For SSC CGL, the signature must be a JPG or JPEG file between 10KB and 20KB, sized about 6.0cm wide by 2.0cm tall. There is no photo to upload: the application module captures your photo live through a webcam or the mySSC app while you fill the form.

What SSC CGL actually asks for

Most pages that rank for this query still describe an old-style photo upload, because that is how SSC forms used to work for years. The SSC CGL 2026 notice, published on the new ssc.gov.in portal, splits the process into two parts: One Time Registration (OTR) and the exam application. Only the signature is a file you scan and upload. The photograph is captured live at the time you fill the application, not uploaded from your gallery, and the notice is explicit that a pre-existing photo will not be accepted.

This distinction matters because a lot of candidates waste time trying to resize an old passport photo to some pixel size they saw on a coaching blog, when the actual requirement is simply to sit in front of a camera and follow the on-screen prompts.

Document	Format	File size (KB)	Dimensions	Other rules
Signature	JPG/JPEG	10KB to 20KB	About 6.0cm (width) x 2.0cm (height)	Must be clear, not blurred or miniature, or the application is rejected
Photograph	Captured live (no file upload)	Not applicable	Full frontal face inside the camera frame	No cap, mask or glasses/spectacles; good light and plain background
OTR documents (only if you do not give an Aadhaar number)	As per portal instructions	As per portal instructions	-	Proof of name, date of birth, address and gender, plus a photograph, uploaded at OTR

Source: SSC Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 notice, ssc.gov.in (published 21 May 2026). Para 9.6 gives the signature as about 6.0cm x 2.0cm, while Annexure-IV of the same notice says about 4.0cm x 2.0cm, so a tight crop of your signature at roughly that height fits either reading as long as the file is 10-20KB.

OTR vs the application form: what happens where

Your One Time Registration is a one-time step that stays valid for every SSC exam you apply to later, so it is worth getting right the first time. If you complete OTR with Aadhaar-based authentication, the Commission will not reject your form on the ground that your photo or signature does not meet the prescribed standard, and you also skip producing extra ID proof and a fresh colour photograph at the exam centre.

Candidates who skip Aadhaar authentication still need to complete OTR using another accepted ID document, and in that case the photo and signature rules are enforced strictly, with no relief if a file falls outside the prescribed range.

1. Complete OTR on ssc.gov.in with your mobile number, email and Aadhaar number (recommended) or another accepted ID proof.
2. Verify your mobile number and email with the OTP sent to each.
3. Open the CGL application form after OTR and fill your personal, educational and category details.
4. When prompted, allow camera access and let the module capture your live photo.
5. Follow the on-screen framing: face the camera at eye level, keep your face fully inside the marked area, and remove any cap, mask or glasses.
6. Upload your scanned signature (10-20KB, JPG format, about 6.0cm x 2.0cm) when the form asks for it.
7. Preview the form, check the photo and signature previews are not blurred, then submit.

How to get the signature file right on your phone

Sign on plain white paper with a dark pen or ink, photograph it in good, even light, then crop tightly around the signature so there is no extra white border eating into your file size. If the file lands above 20KB, compress it; if it lands below 10KB the scan is usually too small or too heavily compressed to look clear, and the notice specifically flags "miniature" signatures as a rejection reason.

• Android: crop the signature in your phone's gallery editor to roughly a 3:1 width-to-height rectangle, then use a resizer to hit the exact KB range.
• iPhone: open the photo, tap Edit and use the crop tool the same way, then compress before uploading through Safari or the mySSC app.

What if the live photo capture fails

A dim room, a webcam that autofocuses slowly, or a phone camera held too close are the most common reasons the live capture step does not go smoothly. Move to a well-lit spot facing a window or a bright lamp, hold the phone or laptop at eye level on a stack of books if needed, and keep a plain wall behind you rather than a cluttered room. If you are using the mySSC app instead of a laptop webcam, make sure the app has camera permission enabled in your phone's settings before you start the application step, not after.

Common mistakes that get an SSC CGL form rejected

• Uploading a signature that is a screenshot instead of a genuine scan or photo of ink on paper; if you are unsure whether your crop is close enough, the 200x230 pixel resizer preset also works for other exam forms that still expect a fixed pixel photo.
• Wearing glasses, a cap or a mask during the live photo capture.
• Pointing the live camera at an old printed photograph instead of your actual face; the notice says such applications are rejected outright.
• Leaving a thick white border around the signature, which pushes both the file size and the aspect ratio outside the prescribed range.
• Waiting until the last day to discover a webcam or camera permission problem, with no time left to fix it before the window closes.

If you are not Aadhaar-authenticated, double check both files before final submission, since the only chance to fix mistakes after the last date is the paid correction window (29 June to 1 July 2026 in the CGL 2026 notice, Rs 200 for the first correction and Rs 500 for the second), and nothing can be changed after it closes. For the general document tools you may need alongside your SSC application, the government form tools section has resizers, PDF compressors and signature makers in one place.

Tools for this

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Staff Selection Commission, Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 Notice (checked 2026-09)

Rules and limits change. Always check the latest official notification or portal before you submit a form.