UPSC photograph specifications
| Requirement | What UPSC’s instructions say |
|---|---|
| Type | Latest passport size photograph, in colour |
| File format and name | JPG, saved with the file name “photo” |
| File size | 20–200 KB |
| Face coverage | The face must cover at least 75% (three quarters) of the photo |
| Background | Plain white, with no shadows on the face or background |
| Pose | Frontal view, head in the centre, looking directly at the camera, both ears visible, eyes open, natural expression |
| Not accepted | Dark background, uniform, eyes hidden by coloured or dark glasses, hair over the eyes, a signed photo |
| Pixel dimensions | Not specified in the current instructions |
Source: UPSC’s Instructions for uploading the photo and signature on upsconline.nic.in (dated February 2026), which the Civil Services Examination 2026 notice (Examination Notice No. 05/2026-CSE, 04.02.2026) refers candidates to under “Instructions and FAQs > Photos and Signature”.
Older UPSC rules were different. The FAQ for UPSC’s earlier One-Time Registration portal (upsconline.gov.in) gave 20–300 KB and 350 × 350 to 1000 × 1000 pixels for the photo. If you are applying through an older portal or an exam notice that states its own values, follow those. Rules can change from one cycle to the next, so always check the instructions shown when you apply. KBSnap is an independent tool and is not affiliated with UPSC.
Why the preset uses 3.5 × 4.5 cm
UPSC’s current instructions set a format, a file name and a KB range, but no pixel size. The resizer still needs a size to work with, so this page opens at 3.5 × 4.5 cm at 300 DPI, which is 413 × 531 pixels: the usual Indian passport photo shape, matching UPSC’s request for a passport size photograph.
That size also sits inside the 350–1000 pixel range from UPSC’s older FAQ, and at 413 × 531 px the JPG lands well inside 20–200 KB without visible compression. If the form or your notice names a pixel size, type it into the width and height fields instead.
Getting 75% face coverage
Face coverage is the rule most photos fail. UPSC’s instructions show sample photos and reject most of them for the same reason: face coverage less than 3/4th of the photo. A typical passport photo shows a lot of shoulder and background; a UPSC photo needs to be closer than that.
- Take the photo against a plain white wall in even light, with someone else holding the phone at eye level, about an arm’s length or a little more away.
- Look straight at the camera with both ears visible and your head level. Tilted or turned faces are rejected as misaligned.
- Crop in your gallery app so your face, from just above the hair to just below the chin, fills about three quarters of the picture. Leave a little space around the ears: UPSC also rejects photos where the face is too close, out of frame or the ear lobes are cut off.
- Add the cropped photo here. Crop to fill trims any extra width or height evenly from the edges, so a centred face stays centred.
- Check the result before you download. If your face looks small in the preview, crop tighter and add the photo again.
Sample rejection reasons in UPSC’s instructions
UPSC’s sample table gives these reasons for rejecting photos:
- Face coverage less than 3/4th of the photo, including when the photo is simply too small.
- Incorrect face alignment: the face should be looking directly at the camera.
- Misaligned face.
- A blurred photo, often together with poor face coverage.
- Face too close to the camera, out of frame, with the ear lobes not visible.
The do’s and don’ts add a dark background, a photo in uniform, eyes hidden under coloured or dark glasses, shadows on the face or background, hair covering the eyes, glare on eyeglasses, and a photo with your signature on it.
KBSnap does not change or remove backgrounds and does not check face coverage, so these depend on how the photo is taken and cropped.
The live photo is matched with this one
Alongside the uploaded photo, UPSC now makes a live photograph mandatory for every examination application. You capture it from your device’s webcam, or by scanning a QR code on the screen and using your phone. It should be taken in good light and clearly show your face.
The instructions say the live photo is matched with the passport size photo you upload, and if a mismatch is detected you will not be allowed to proceed with the application. So upload a recent photo that looks like you do today: same glasses or no glasses, similar hairstyle, no heavy filters.
Where the photo goes on the UPSC portal
The UPSC online application portal has four modules: account creation, Universal Registration, the Common Application Form (CAF) and the examination-specific module. The photo, the live photo and the signature are all part of the Common Application Form, which is shared by every UPSC examination you apply for.
The CAF also asks for a signature in a specific format: three signatures one below the other, in black ink, scanned into a single image. The UPSC signature resizer is set up for that. For photo ID or certificate uploads, compress PDF and JPG to PDF help with file size and format.