Photo upload requirements vary by exam, cycle, and sometimes by application stage. This table consolidates the current 2025–2026 specifications for the five most-applied-for central exams. Verify against the current official notification before submitting — these figures reflect what was published at the time of this article.
Note: Requirements are reviewed and sometimes revised each notification cycle. The specs below reflect 2025–2026 notifications. Always cross-check against the current official notification PDF before submitting.
Comparison Table
| Exam | File Size | Dimensions | Background | Photo Age | Live Capture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPSC | 20–200 KB | No fixed size — face fills ≥ 3/4 of frame | White or light plain | Within last 6 months | Yes — webcam/mobile during application |
| SSC CGL | N/A (file upload not required) | Captured via webcam or mobile in-portal | Plain background during live capture | Current (live capture) | Yes — OTR registration uses live capture only |
| NEET | 10–200 KB | 3.5×4.5 cm (~413×531 px at 300 dpi) | White | After 01 Jan 2026 | Yes — Aadhaar-linked step separate from file upload |
| JEE Main | 10–200 KB | 3.5×4.5 cm (~413×531 px at 300 dpi) | White | Recent | Yes — Aadhaar-linked step separate from file upload |
| IBPS PO | 20–50 KB | 3.5×4.5 cm (~413×531 px at 300 dpi) | Plain white | Recent | Yes — live webcam capture in addition to file upload |
All five exams require JPEG format. PNG is rejected across all portals — even a PNG renamed to .jpg will fail format validation.
UPSC Civil Services
UPSC requires a JPEG photo between 20–200 KB, with no fixed aspect ratio. The key framing rule is that your face must fill at least 3/4 of the photo area — a face that is small relative to a large background will be rejected. Use a white or light plain background, ensure the photo was taken within the last 6 months, and confirm 80% face coverage with no cap or glasses. For 2026, UPSC added a requirement that the signature be three vertical repetitions of your signature on one plain white sheet in black ink, scanned as a single image (20–100 KB). The portal also requires a live webcam or mobile photo capture during the application, matched against the uploaded file — both the file upload and the live capture are mandatory.
See the full UPSC photo upload guide →
SSC CGL
SSC CGL 2026 changed its photo submission entirely: there is no passport photo file to upload at the OTR registration stage. Instead, the portal captures a live photo via your webcam or mobile camera during registration. Prepare your environment before opening the portal — good lighting, plain background, no cap or glasses, face fully visible. The signature is still a file upload: 10–20 KB, JPEG, blue or black ink in running handwriting on plain white paper. If you need a passport photo file for document verification or admit card at a later stage, the image cropper (Passport 3.5:4.5 preset) and compress image tools are still useful — but that file is for a later stage, not OTR registration.
See the full SSC CGL photo upload guide →
NEET UG
NTA's NEET UG 2026 application requires two photo uploads: a passport-size (3.5×4.5 cm) and a postcard-size (4"×6"). Both must be JPEG, 10–200 KB, taken after 01 January 2026, with at least 80% face coverage against a white background. The passport photo should have the candidate's name and date printed at the bottom — NTA recommends this for identity verification at the exam hall. The signature upload is separate: 4–30 KB, JPEG, blue or black ink on white paper. Note that the 2026 NTA application also includes an Aadhaar-linked identity verification step with live photo capture; this happens on the NTA portal and is separate from the file uploads.
See the full NEET photo upload guide →
JEE Main
NTA updated JEE Main file size limits for 2026: the photo maximum was reduced from 300 KB to 200 KB (minimum remains 10 KB), and the signature maximum was increased from 50 KB to 100 KB. The passport-size photo (3.5×4.5 cm, JPEG, white background) is the same format as NEET — if you prepared one for NEET, it meets JEE Main specs too. The signature is different: JEE Main requires a wide landscape strip (3.5×1.5 cm, wider than tall) in blue or black ink on plain white paper. Do not crop the signature into a square. The application also includes an Aadhaar-linked live photo capture step, separate from the file upload.
See the full JEE Main photo upload guide →
IBPS PO
IBPS PO uses a tighter file size window than NTA exams: the passport-size photo must be 20–50 KB (not just under 200 KB), and the signature must be 10–20 KB. Both are JPEG only — the portal validates actual file format, so a PNG renamed to .jpg will fail. The photo is standard passport portrait (3.5×4.5 cm, ~413×531 px at 300 dpi) with a plain white background and 80% face visible. IBPS PO 2026 also includes a live webcam capture during application in addition to the passport photo file upload, so have your webcam ready. Note that IBPS also requires a separate scanned left thumb impression (10–20 KB, JPEG) — this is a third upload slot distinct from the photo and signature.
See the full IBPS PO photo upload guide →
How to Prepare Your Photo for Any of These Exams
Two browser tools handle the full preparation workflow. No uploads, no accounts, no waiting.
Step 1 — Crop with the image cropper
Set the required aspect ratio for your exam:
- NEET, JEE Main, IBPS PO: use the Passport 3.5:4.5 preset (portrait rectangle)
- UPSC: use Free mode, position so your face fills at least 3/4 of the frame
- SSC CGL: no crop needed for registration — live capture only
Centre the face, ensure forehead-to-chin fills the majority of the frame, and export.
Step 2 — Compress with compress image
Bring the file size into the required range for your exam:
- UPSC: target 100 KB (well within 20–200 KB)
- NEET / JEE Main: target 100 KB (within 10–200 KB)
- IBPS PO: target 50 KB (the upper limit of the 20–50 KB range)
Both tools run entirely in your browser. Your photo doesn't leave your device.
A Note on Recency Requirements
Several 2025–2026 notifications now require a "recently taken" photo — typically within 6 months, and in some cases a live-capture photo taken during the registration window itself.
UPSC explicitly states the photo must be taken within the last 6 months. NEET specifies the photo must be taken after 01 January 2026. SSC CGL and IBPS PO use in-portal live capture (in full or in addition to file uploads), which is by definition current. JEE Main requires a "recent" photo without a fixed date cutoff but includes Aadhaar-linked live verification.
The implication: a stored photo from a year or two ago may meet the file size and dimension specs but still cause rejection if it pre-dates the recency window. Check the current official notification for the exam and cycle you are applying in before using a saved photo. When in doubt, retake.
For the live-capture step present in all five 2025–2026 applications, prepare your environment before opening the portal: even light, plain background, face forward, no accessories. The live step is non-repeatable mid-session on most portals — a failed live capture often requires restarting the application.