UPSC Examination Overview
The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) conducts India's most prestigious competitive examinations, including the Civil Services Examination (CSE) for IAS, IPS, and IFS officers; the Indian Forest Service (IFoS) examination; the Combined Defence Services (CDS) exam; the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) exam; and several engineering and medical services exams.
With crores of applicants across its various examinations, UPSC has strict document verification procedures. Photo and signature errors that go unnoticed during the Prelims application can cause serious issues during Mains registration or the Interview stage.
What Makes UPSC Photo Requirements Different
UPSC has one uniquely distinctive requirement that catches most candidates off guard: the photograph is square (350×350 pixels), not the portrait rectangle (like NEET's 3.5×4.5 cm) used by most other exams.
This means if you upload a portrait-format photo to the UPSC portal, either the system will reject it, or your face will appear stretched or squeezed. This is the single most common UPSC photo mistake.
The second distinctive feature: UPSC often requires the name and date to be written on the reverse side of the physical photograph that you bring for the Mains application. This does not apply to the digital upload — but is easy to forget when rushing to submit physical documents.
Photograph Specifications
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Pixel Dimensions | 350 × 350 pixels (square format) |
| File Format | JPG / JPEG only |
| File Size | 20 KB to 300 KB |
| Background | Plain white |
| Face Coverage | Face clearly visible, centered |
| Expression | Neutral, mouth closed, eyes open |
| Recency | Within last 6 months |
| Spectacles | Allowed if worn regularly; no glare |
| Cap/Hat | Not allowed |
| Physical Print | Name + Date on reverse for Mains stage |
Signature Specifications
| Parameter | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Pixel Dimensions | 140 × 60 pixels (landscape) |
| File Format | JPG / JPEG |
| File Size | 10 KB to 40 KB |
| Background | White paper |
| Ink | Black or dark blue ink |
| Style | Running handwriting, not block capitals |
| Consistency | Must match signatures at interview and joining |
UPSC Exam-wise Photo Requirements
The square photo requirement is consistent across most UPSC examinations:
| UPSC Exam | Photo Format | File Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSE (IAS/IPS/IFS) | 350×350 px square | 20–300 KB | Prelims + Mains both require photo |
| IFoS (Indian Forest Service) | 350×350 px square | 20–300 KB | Same as CSE |
| CDS (Combined Defence) | 350×350 px square | 20–100 KB | Check specific notification |
| CAPF AC | 350×350 px square | 20–100 KB | Physical fitness also considered |
| EPFO/APFC | 200×230 px portrait | 20–50 KB | Uses standard portrait format for this exam |
Step-by-Step Photo Preparation
- Take a centered, square-oriented photo: When taking the photo, ask the person photographing you to step back slightly to capture more of your upper body — this gives you more to work with when creating a square crop. You should be centered horizontally in the frame.
- Upload to MyExamPhoto: Go to MyExamPhoto's UPSC preset. The tool will automatically crop and resize your photo to 350×350 px while keeping your face centered.
- Verify file size: UPSC has a generous range (20–300 KB), so most resized photos will fit easily. Aim for 80–200 KB for good quality.
- Prepare signature: Sign on white paper with a black pen. Use the Signature Resizer to crop to 140×60 px and compress to 10–40 KB.
- Print physical copies: For the Mains application, you'll need printed photos. Have them printed at a studio and write your name and date on the reverse side of each print.
Before You Upload Your Photo
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