SSC CGL Photo & Signature Size Requirements
Get your SSC CGL application photo to exactly 20–50 KB in passport format — no rejections, no retakes.
SSC CGL's portal is strict about both file size and photo format. The photo must be a passport rectangle (taller than it is wide — 3.5×4.5 cm), not a square. Many candidates get rejected for uploading a square crop used for other exams. The signature must be on white paper in blue or black ink and compressed to 10–20 KB.
Tools for SSC CGL
Step 1: Crop photo to passport ratio (3.5:4.5)
Select the Passport 3.5:4.5 preset. SSC requires a portrait rectangle, not a square.
Step 2: Compress photo to 50 KB
SSC CGL accepts photos from 20 KB to 50 KB. 50 KB is the safest target — maximum quality within the limit.
Step 3: Compress signature to 20 KB
SSC signature range is 10–20 KB. 20 KB is the upper limit and gives slightly better quality.
Official requirements
| Document | Size | Dimensions | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | 20–50 KB | 3.5×4.5 cm (portrait rectangle, ~413×531 px at 300 dpi) | JPEG / JPG only |
| Signature | 10–20 KB | Variable (crop tightly to signature) | JPEG / JPG only |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Uploading a square (1:1) photo — SSC CGL requires a portrait rectangle (3.5 cm wide × 4.5 cm tall). Square photos are rejected.
- File size above 50 KB — SSC's portal is strict. Even 51 KB causes an upload error.
- PNG instead of JPEG — SSC only accepts JPG. A PNG renamed to .jpg is detected and rejected.
- Signature on lined, printed, or light-blue paper — background must be plain white.
- Signature that fills only a tiny part of the image — crop tightly around the signature to reduce file size without losing quality.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the SSC CGL photo format the same as an ordinary passport photo?
- Yes — it uses the same 3.5×4.5 cm passport-size rectangle used in Indian passports and most government applications. This is a portrait format, taller than it is wide. Use the Passport 3.5:4.5 preset in the crop tool.
- What is the exact pixel size for an SSC CGL photo?
- SSC does not mandate a specific pixel size — only the file size (20–50 KB) and the 3.5×4.5 cm aspect ratio. At standard DPI of 300, this is approximately 413×531 pixels. The crop tool's Passport preset targets these dimensions.
- Can I use the same photo for SSC CGL and IBPS PO?
- Yes. Both SSC CGL and IBPS PO require the same passport-format photo (3.5×4.5 cm) compressed to 20–50 KB in JPEG. One well-prepared photo works for both.
- My photo looks good but the portal says it's the wrong size. What do I do?
- Check three things: (1) Is it JPEG, not PNG? (2) Is the file size between 20 and 50 KB — not just the pixel dimensions? (3) Is the ratio closer to 3:4 portrait rather than 1:1 square? All three conditions must be met.
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