UPSC NDA & CDS Photo & Signature Size 2026
The UPSC NDA & CDS photo must be a square image, at least 350 × 350 px, 20–300 KB, JPG, on a white background. The signature is three signatures stacked vertically on one sheet, 20–100 KB. UPSC's OTR portal checks dimensions automatically and rejects anything undersized. Use the free tool below to hit the exact size, right in your browser.
Exam specifications change between cycles. Always confirm the exact photo and signature requirements in your official notification PDF before you submit. This tool prepares your file; it can't guarantee acceptance.
UPSC NDA & CDS 2026 photo & signature specifications
| Document | Dimensions | File size | Format & notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photograph | Square, 350–1000 px each side | 20–300 KB | JPG, white background, ~75% face, name + date at bottom |
| Signature | Square (~350 px) | 20–100 KB | JPG, three signatures stacked vertically, black ink |
Specifications can change between cycles — the name-and-date rule in particular has varied. Always confirm the exact requirements in the official notification at upsconline.nic.in before submitting.
Why NDA & CDS is different
NDA and CDS are the entry routes to India's defence academies — NDA for younger candidates straight out of school into the Army, Navy, and Air Force wings, and CDS for graduates heading to the IMA, OTA, and the naval and air force academies. After the written exam comes a five-day SSB interview and strict medical standards, and the photograph you upload now follows you through those stages, so it needs to be a clean, current likeness.
On the upload itself, the trap unique to UPSC is the square format and the 350-pixel minimum. The OTR portal rejects any photo under 350 × 350 px with an "invalid dimensions" error, and most ordinary compressors shrink the image below that while reducing the file size. UPSC also needs three signatures on one sheet, not one. The tool above holds the square shape and size for you.
Top reasons UPSC NDA & CDS images get rejected
Photo under 350 × 350 px. The OTR portal rejects undersized images with an "invalid dimensions" error. Keep both sides at 350 px or more.
Single signature instead of three. UPSC needs three signatures stacked vertically on one sheet, scanned as one image.
Rectangular photo. UPSC is unusual in requiring a square photo — a standard passport rectangle is rejected.
File size out of range. Photo outside 20–300 KB or signature outside 20–100 KB is rejected. The tool above keeps both in range.
Missing name or date. If your notification requires the name and photo date printed at the bottom, an image without them can be rejected.
How to resize your photo & signature for UPSC NDA & CDS
- On this page, UPSC NDA / CDS is already selected. Choose Photo or Signature.
- For the signature, first sign three times, stacked vertically, on one white sheet in black ink, then scan it. Upload and crop to the square shape.
- Click Resize & compress — the tool outputs a square JPG in the 20–300 KB range for the photo and 20–100 KB for the signature.
- Print your name and the photo date at the bottom of the photo if your notification requires it. Then submit at upsconline.nic.in.
UPSC NDA & CDS photo & signature — FAQ
What is the photo size for UPSC NDA & CDS 2026?
The UPSC NDA and CDS photograph is a square image — at least 350 × 350 px and up to 1000 × 1000 px — between 20 KB and 300 KB, in JPG format, on a plain white background with the face filling about 75% of the frame. Recent notifications require your name and the date the photo was taken printed at the bottom.
How many signatures does UPSC NDA & CDS need?
UPSC requires three identical signatures stacked vertically on one plain white sheet, signed in black ink, then scanned as a single JPG image between 20 KB and 100 KB. A single signature is rejected — you must provide all three on one sheet.
Why does UPSC reject my photo with an 'invalid dimensions' error?
UPSC's OTR portal rejects any photo smaller than 350 × 350 pixels. Many online compressors shrink the image below that while reducing file size, which triggers the error. Keep both width and height at 350 px or more — the tool on this page holds the correct square dimensions while compressing.
Is NDA & CDS the same upload system as UPSC CSE?
Yes. UPSC uses one OTR system with the same square-photo and triple-signature rules across Civil Services, NDA, and CDS. If you have applied for one, the image format is familiar — but always resize to the spec in the specific notification you are applying under.
Do I print my name and date on the UPSC photo?
Recent UPSC notifications for NDA and CDS require the candidate's name and the date the photograph was taken to be printed clearly at the bottom of the photo. This rule has changed between cycles, so confirm it in your current notification.
Is my photo uploaded to a server?
No. This tool runs entirely inside your browser. Your photo and signature never leave your device, so nothing is uploaded anywhere.