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UPSC Photo and Triple Signature Upload Rules Explained

Updated 16 October 2026 · 4 min read

The Union Public Service Commission has moved its applications to a Common Application Form (CAF) on upsconline.nic.in, and the photo and signature rules changed along the way. Older guides on the internet still mention a 20–300 KB range, a name and date printed under the photo, and a "not older than 10 days" rule. The current CAF instructions read differently. This guide explains what the instruction sheet on the UPSC portal says right now and how to prepare files that pass the first time.

UPSC ka naya form teen baar sign maangta hai – ek ke neeche ek, ek hi image mein.

Important: UPSC updates these instructions. Before you apply, open "Instructions and FAQs → Instruction for filling the form → Photos and Signature" on upsconline.nic.in and follow that version.

The photograph

The UPSC instruction sheet asks for:

• A colour photo in JPG format, 20 KB to 200 KB, saved with the file name photo.
• A plain white background.
• Your face covering about 75% (three quarters) of the photo, frontal view, head in the centre, both ears visible, eyes open.
• A natural expression – no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows.

It also lists what is not accepted: a dark background, a photo in uniform, eyes hidden behind coloured or dark glasses, glare on spectacles, hair covering the face, and a signed photograph.

The 75% face coverage is the rule people most often get wrong. A typical passport photo with a lot of shoulder and empty space above the head will not meet it. Crop closer so the face – from top of the head to the chin – fills most of the frame. Our article on passport size photo dimensions in India explains head-to-frame proportions.

Live photo capture

The Civil Services 2026 notification states that applicants must upload their photograph and also capture a live photograph while filling the CAF. In other words, the portal takes a picture through your webcam or phone camera in addition to the uploaded file. Prepare for it:

• Sit facing a window or a bright white light so your face is evenly lit.
• Use a plain, light wall behind you.
• Remove caps and dark glasses, and avoid reflections on spectacles.
• Look the same as in your uploaded photo – UPSC asks candidates to keep their appearance consistent at every stage of the exam.

The triple signature

This is unusual compared with other exams. The instructions say:

1. Sign your own signature three times, vertically, one below the other, on plain white paper using black ink.
2. Leave enough gap between each signature.
3. Scan all three in a single image.
4. The image must be clear, sharp, well-lit, contain exactly three signatures, be properly oriented, and be on plain white paper with no lines or colours.
5. Save it as JPG with the file name signature, 20 KB – 100 KB, with image dimensions of 350–500 pixels.

Applications whose signature files do not meet the specifications are rejected, according to the instruction sheet.

Tips for a good triple-signature image

• Sign all three in the same style. They are used for identity comparison, so do not experiment.
• Use a pen with a firm, dark line – gel or felt-tip black works well. Faint ballpoint lines vanish after compression.
• Keep the three signatures roughly the same width and centred, so the image is a neat tall rectangle.
• Do not include ruled lines, your name, or any other mark.

For the scanning itself, see how to scan your signature with a phone and how to make a signature look clean.

Getting the KB right

The photo has a wide range (20–200 KB), so a good quality JPG of a cropped face will usually fit easily. The signature range of 20–100 KB has a minimum that catches people out: an aggressively compressed signature might fall below 20 KB. If your file is too small, save again at a higher JPG quality or with slightly larger dimensions within the 350–500 pixel limit. Our guide on reducing image KB without losing quality explains how quality, dimensions and KB are linked.

Naming the files

UPSC specifically asks for the names photo and signature. On a phone, the gallery editor often saves files with long names like IMG_20261016_154522.jpg. Rename them before uploading. On Windows, right-click → Rename; on Android, use the Files app.

A checklist before final submission

• Photo: JPG, 20–200 KB, white background, face about 75%, ears visible, no glare.
• Signature: JPG, 20–100 KB, 350–500 px, exactly three black-ink signatures stacked vertically.
• Live photo taken in good light, matching your uploaded photo.
• Preview checked on the portal; nothing cut off, stretched or rotated.

Keep the same photo files safe. You may need prints of the same photograph for later stages, and consistency matters.

Source: UPSC "Instructions for photo and signature upload" on upsconline.nic.in and the Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2026 notification. Crop Desk is an independent tool and is not linked to UPSC.