Almost every Indian government and competitive-exam application makes you upload a photograph and a signature within strict size limits — and a surprising number of applications are rejected at scrutiny for nothing more than a wrongly sized or wrongly scanned image. This guide gives you the exact pixel dimensions, KB limits and format for the major exams, the scanning mistakes that cause rejections, and the fastest way to meet each spec.
Exact specs by exam (2026)
| Exam | Photo dimensions | Photo size | Signature size | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC (CSE) | 350×350 to 1000×1000 px | 20–300 KB | 20–100 KB | JPG |
| SSC (CGL/CHSL) | ≈ 275×354 px | 20–50 KB | 10–20 KB | JPG |
| IBPS PO / Clerk | 200×230 px | 20–50 KB | 10–20 KB | JPG |
| SBI PO / Clerk | 200×230 px | 20–50 KB | 10–20 KB | JPG |
UPSC: the one with extra signature rules
For the UPSC Civil Services application, both the photograph and signature must be JPG and measure a minimum of 350×350 pixels and a maximum of 1000×1000 pixels. The photo file runs roughly 20–300KB; your face should fill about 75% of the frame against a plain background. The detail that catches people out: UPSC asks you to sign your name three times, one below the other, in black ink on a plain white sheet, then scan all three signatures together as a single image. Read the exact wording in the official UPSC photo & signature instructions before you upload.
Prepare it in one step with our UPSC Photo Resize tool, which crops to the accepted square range and compresses under the limit.
SSC CGL/CHSL: now a live photo
Recent SSC cycles capture the photograph live via webcam during the application, but you still upload a scanned signature separately. The signature should be around 4.0 cm × 2.0 cm, signed in black ink on white paper, kept to roughly 10–20KB and saved as JPG. If your exam version still allows an uploaded photo, target about 275×354 pixels at 20–50KB. Confirm the current process on the official SSC portal. Our SSC Photo Resize tool handles the photo and Signature Resize to 20KB handles the signature.
IBPS & SBI bank exams: the same files work for both
Bank recruitment through IBPS (PO, Clerk, RRB, SO) and SBI uses near-identical specs: a photograph of 200×230 pixels at 20–50KB and a signature of 140×60 pixels at 10–20KB, both JPG. Because the requirements match, a photo and signature prepared correctly once will usually pass across both IBPS and SBI applications — prepare them with the SBI PO Photo Resize or IBPS PO Photo Size tools and reuse the files. The official guidelines live on ibps.in.
How to resize for any exam in under a minute
- Pick the tool that matches your exam (UPSC, SSC, IBPS, SBI) so the crop ratio is correct.
- Upload your front-facing photo — it's cropped to the right shape and compressed under the KB limit.
- Scan your signature and run it through Signature Resize to 20KB (or 10KB / 5KB).
- Download both JPGs and upload them to the application form.
Every tool runs entirely in your browser — your ID photo and signature are processed on your device and never uploaded or stored.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the photo size for UPSC application?
- The UPSC photograph must be a JPG between roughly 20KB and 300KB, with dimensions from 350×350 px up to 1000×1000 px, on a plain background with the face filling about 75% of the frame.
- What is the signature size for SSC and bank exams?
- For SSC CGL/CHSL and for IBPS/SBI bank exams the signature is typically 10–20KB as a JPG, signed in black ink on white paper. IBPS/SBI specify roughly 140×60 pixels.
- Why does the portal reject my photo even though it looks fine?
- The most common causes are the wrong format (a PNG renamed .jpg), a file outside the KB range, wrong pixel dimensions, or a signature written in capital letters. Match the exact spec for your exam and re-save as a true JPG.
- Can I use the same photo and signature for IBPS and SBI?
- Usually yes — IBPS and SBI use the same 200×230 px / 20–50KB photo and 140×60 px / 10–20KB signature specs, so files prepared for one normally pass the other. Still verify against the specific notification.