UPSC Civil Services Photo and Signature Size 2026
For UPSC Civil Services 2026, upload a JPG photo of 20KB to 200KB on a plain white background with your face covering at least 75% of the frame, and also capture a live photo in the CAF. The signature, signed three times one below the other in black ink, is a JPG of 20KB to 100KB and 350-500 pixels.
FixDoks is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body, exam board or recruitment agency. Requirements change, so always confirm them in the latest official notification.
For UPSC Civil Services 2026, the photo is a JPG between 20KB and 200KB, with your face covering at least three quarters of the frame on a plain white background, and the signature is a JPG between 20KB and 100KB, 350 to 500 pixels. You upload the photo and also capture a live photo in the Common Application Form (CAF), and you sign three times, one below the other, in black ink.
What we confirmed directly from the notification
The UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notice (applications closed on 24 February 2026) states, under "Live Photo Capture for filling up of Common Application Form (CAF)", that applicants are required to upload their photograph and also capture their live photograph while filling up the CAF, and that both the uploaded photograph and the live photograph captured must be clear, as per the instructions on the Commission's website. Separately, under "Uploading of Signature", the notice states that applicants are required to sign three times, one below the other, on a plain white paper using black ink, and upload the same while filling up the CAF, with signatures that must be clear and legible.
This upload-plus-live-capture combination is different from SSC's process, which we cover in our SSC CGL guide: SSC only captures a live photo with no upload, while UPSC asks for both an uploaded photo and a live capture together.
| Document | Format | File size (KB) | Dimensions | Other rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph (uploaded) | JPG, colour | 20KB to 200KB | Face must cover at least 75% (3/4th) of the photo | Plain white background, both ears visible, not signed; file named "photo" |
| Live photograph | Captured in the CAF | Not applicable | - | Must be clear, as per the portal instructions |
| Signature (three signatures, one image) | JPG | 20KB to 100KB | Between 350 and 500 pixels | Signed three times, one below the other, black ink on plain white paper; file named "signature" |
| Photo ID (Aadhaar or other) | JPG | 20KB to 200KB | - | File named "id_card" |
| Certificates (matriculation, caste, disability, name change) | 50KB to 300KB | - | Each file must use the exact file name UPSC specifies |
Source: UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 notice (No. 05/2026-CSE, dated 4 February 2026) for the live capture and three-signature rules, and the "Instructions for uploading documents" PDF under Instructions and FAQs on upsconline.nic.in (checked September 2026) for the formats, KB ranges and file names. The portal says a document will not upload if any other file name, format or size is used.
Prepare your photo and triple signature file with the UPSC photo and signature resizer, which saves a 20-200KB photo.jpg and a 20-100KB, 450 x 450 px signature.jpg with the file names the portal wants, then fine-tune to an exact KB target with the resize photo to 100KB tool if needed.
UPSC photo and signature resizer
Photo: colour JPG, 20 to 200 KB, saved as photo. Signature: JPG, 20 to 100 KB, 350 to 500 px, saved as signature.
Runs in your browser. Your file never leaves your device. Open the full UPSC Photo & Signature Resize page
Step by step: preparing your UPSC documents
- Take a recent, clear colour photograph against a plain white background, cropped so your face covers at least 75% of the frame, and save it as a JPG named "photo" between 20KB and 200KB.
- Sign three times, one directly below the other, on a single sheet of plain white paper using black ink only; the notice asks for black ink, so do not use blue.
- Scan or photograph the three signatures together as one image, then crop tightly with a small margin.
- Resize the signature image to 350-500 pixels and 20KB to 100KB, save it as a JPG named "signature", and check both files against the limits in the table above.
- Upload the photograph, then complete the separate live photo capture step within the CAF when prompted.
- Upload the triple-signature image, and preview both entries carefully before final submission, since UPSC's notice states that no correction or withdrawal is allowed after submission.
The notice explicitly says no correction, alteration or modification of any field is allowed after the Application Form is submitted, and applications cannot be withdrawn afterward. Double check your photo and signature uploads especially carefully before you hit submit.
The photo rules UPSC spells out
UPSC's upload instructions are unusually specific about the photo, and they include sample photos that were rejected. The main points: use a recent colour photo on a plain white background; your face must cover at least three quarters (75%) of the photo; look straight at the camera with your head in the centre and both ear lobes visible; eyes open, natural expression, no shadows, and no glare on glasses. Sample photos where the face covers less than 3/4, the face is turned sideways or upside down, the photo is blurred, or the face is so close that the ear lobes are cut off are all shown as rejected. Photos in uniform, with dark backgrounds, or with coloured or dark glasses are not accepted, and the photo must not be signed.
File names matter too. UPSC asks you to save the photo as "photo" and the signature as "signature" (both JPG), and says the upload will fail with any other file name, format or size. Rename your files before you open the form.
You will still see older pages quoting a 20KB to 300KB photo with your name and date printed at the bottom. That came from UPSC's July 2024 examination FAQ; the current portal instructions use the limits above and do not ask for a caption. Our post on the UPSC photo with name and date explains the change, and the UPSC three-signature format guide walks through the signature image step by step.
Common mistakes
- Assuming only a live capture is needed, and skipping the separate photo upload step that UPSC's notice specifically requires alongside it.
- Signing only once instead of three times, one below the other, which does not meet the stated signature instruction.
- Using blue ink instead of black for the signature.
- Keeping a phone-style file name like IMG_2031.jpg; UPSC says the upload fails unless the file is named exactly "photo" or "signature".
- Cropping the photo too loosely, so the face covers less than three quarters of the frame, which UPSC's own samples show as rejected.
- Submitting the form without a final review, when the notice is explicit that no correction is possible afterward.
Preparing well ahead of the application window
Since the notice is explicit that no correction is possible after submission, prepare both your photo and your triple-signature image well before the application window opens, rather than rushing through this step on the closing day alongside a slow, high-traffic portal. Take the photo and sign the paper at least a few days in advance, check both against the current CAF instructions calmly, and only then sit down to actually fill and submit the form.
Checklist before you submit
- Photo uploaded and live capture completed, both clear.
- Signature signed three times in black ink on plain white paper, scanned as one image.
- Photo JPG 20KB to 200KB, signature JPG 20KB to 100KB and 350-500 pixels, with the exact file names.
- Entire form reviewed carefully, since no correction is allowed after submission.
Tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Does UPSC need a live photo capture like SSC, or an uploaded photo?
Both. UPSC's notice specifically requires applicants to upload a photograph and also separately capture a live photo during the Common Application Form, unlike SSC, which only does a live capture with no upload.
How many times do I need to sign for UPSC?
Three times, one below the other, on a single sheet of plain white paper in black ink, scanned or photographed together as one image.
Can I use blue ink for my UPSC signature?
No. The Civil Services 2026 notice asks you to sign three times on plain white paper using black ink, and UPSC's upload instructions also say to sign with a black pen.
What is the exact KB limit for the UPSC photo?
UPSC's "Instructions for uploading documents" on upsconline.nic.in give the photo as a JPG between 20KB and 200KB and the signature as a JPG between 20KB and 100KB, 350 to 500 pixels. The face must cover at least 75% of the photo.
Can I correct my photo or signature after submitting the UPSC form?
No, the official notice states that no correction, alteration or modification is allowed after submission, and the application cannot be withdrawn either.
Sources
- UPSC Civil Services Examination 2026 Notice (No. 05/2026-CSE) (checked 2026-09)
- UPSC Online: Instructions for uploading documents (checked 2026-09)
- UPSC Examination FAQ, July 2024, Q.11 (older 20-300KB and name and date rule) (checked 2026-09)
Rules and limits change. Always check the latest official notification or portal before you submit a form.