UPSC triple signature specifications
| Requirement | What UPSC’s instructions say |
|---|---|
| Number of signatures | Exactly three, in a single image |
| Arrangement | Vertically, one below the other, with an adequate gap between each |
| Ink and paper | Black ink on plain white paper, with no lines or colours |
| Image quality | Clear, sharp and well-lit, not blurred or dark; upright, not rotated or upside down |
| File format and name | JPG, saved with the file name “signature” |
| File size | 20–100 KB |
| Image dimensions | 350–500 pixels |
Source: UPSC’s Instructions for uploading the photo and signature on upsconline.nic.in (dated February 2026), and Note 3 of the Civil Services Examination 2026 notice (No. 05/2026-CSE, 04.02.2026), which asks applicants to sign three times one below the other in black ink.
The instructions add that applications with signature files that do not meet these specifications will be rejected. UPSC’s requirements have changed before, and its older registration FAQ gave different limits (20–300 KB and 350–1000 pixels), so check the instructions shown on the portal when you apply. KBSnap is an independent tool and is not affiliated with UPSC.
What “350–500 pixels” means for this preset
UPSC gives the image dimensions as a single range, 350–500 pixels, without saying whether that applies to the width, the height or both. The preset makes an image 400 pixels wide and 500 pixels tall, so both sides fall inside the range whichever way it is read.
The upright shape also suits the content. Three signatures stacked with gaps make a block that is roughly as tall as it is wide, or a little taller, so they fill a 400 × 500 px frame well. If the portal or your notice states exact dimensions, enter them in the width and height fields instead.
How to make the UPSC signature image
- Use plain white paper with no ruled lines, and a black pen. A ballpoint or gel pen with a firm line works best.
- Sign three times, one below the other. Use your normal signature each time, keep them roughly the same size, and leave a clear gap of a line or two between them so they don’t touch.
- Photograph the page upright with the phone held flat above it, in daylight or a bright room, with no shadow over the paper. The first signature should be at the top.
- Add the photo here. Auto-crop trims the paper around all three signatures and cleanup turns the paper white. If thin strokes fade, lower the clean-up strength.
- Check the preview: three signatures, stacked, upright, sharp and clearly separated. Then download the JPG.
- Rename the file to signature.jpg and upload it in the signature section of the Common Application Form.
Use paper and a pen rather than the Draw option: the instructions ask for signatures on plain white paper in black ink, scanned into a single image.
Signature rejections in UPSC’s sample table
UPSC’s instructions include accept and reject examples. These are the reasons given for rejection:
- Signatures arranged horizontally, side by side. They must be one below the other.
- Blue ink used. Only black ink is accepted for all three signatures.
- Only one signature provided. Exactly three must be present in one image.
- A non-signature image uploaded.
- Insufficient spacing between signatures. There must be a clear gap.
- A blurred or unclear image.
- Ruled or lined paper used.
- Coloured paper used.
- An image that is rotated or inverted.
Some of these the tool can help with: background cleanup turns off-white paper plain white, and Black ink makes greyish strokes solid. Others it can’t fix: if you signed in blue, sign again in black, and if the signatures are side by side, redo the page. The tool doesn’t rotate images, so photograph the page the right way up.
Tips for clear signatures at 400 × 500 px
- Fill the page width sensibly. Three average signatures stacked with gaps fit the frame well. Very long signatures leave white space above and below; that is fine as long as all three are clear.
- Keep the margin small. Auto-crop leaves a small border. If the block looks small in the frame, lower the margin slider.
- Avoid flash glare. A shiny ink line under a flash can look broken. Daylight from a window is better.
- Sign the same way every time. The same signature appears on your application and is compared at later stages, so keep it consistent.
The photo for the same form
The Common Application Form also asks for a passport size photo (JPG, 20–200 KB, face covering at least 75% of the picture, plain white background) and a live photo captured from your webcam or phone, which UPSC matches with the uploaded photo. The UPSC photo resizer prepares the uploaded one.