Form Templates & Guidelines
Reference specifications for common government exams and applications. Use our tools to prepare your documents.
Central Government
UPSC Civil Services (IAS/IPS)
Premier exam for IAS, IPS, IFS and other Group A services
Organization: Union Public Service Commission
Photo Specification
350 x 350 to 1000 x 1000 px (our preset: 413 x 531), 20-300 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
350 x 350 to 1000 x 1000 px (our preset: 700 x 350), 20-300 KB, JPG format
SSC CGL (Combined Graduate Level)
Recruitment for Group B and Group C posts
Organization: Staff Selection Commission
Photo Specification
200 x 230 px, 20-50 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
140 x 60 px, 10-20 KB, JPG format
SSC CHSL
Higher Secondary Level exam for LDC, DEO, PA/SA posts
Organization: Staff Selection Commission
Photo Specification
200 x 230 px, 20-50 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
140 x 60 px, 10-20 KB, JPG format
Banking
IBPS PO/Clerk
Probationary Officer and Clerk recruitment for PSU banks
Organization: Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
Photo Specification
200 x 230 px, 20-50 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
140 x 60 px, 10-20 KB, JPG format
SBI PO/Clerk
Direct recruitment for SBI branches
Organization: State Bank of India
Photo Specification
200 x 230 px, 20-50 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
140 x 60 px, 10-20 KB, JPG format
Railway
RRB NTPC
Non-Technical Popular Categories including Station Master, Goods Guard
Organization: Railway Recruitment Boards
Photo Specification
3.5 x 4.5 cm @ 300 DPI, 20-50 KB, JPG
Signature Specification
2 x 7 cm, 10-30 KB, JPG format
RRB Group D
Track Maintainer, Helper, and other Group D posts
Organization: Railway Recruitment Boards
Photo Specification
3.5 x 4.5 cm @ 300 DPI, 20-50 KB, JPG
Signature Specification
2 x 7 cm, 10-30 KB, JPG format
Entrance Exam
GATE
Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering for M.Tech admissions and PSU jobs
Organization: IITs (Rotating)
Photo Specification
200 x 230 px, 50-200 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
140 x 60 px, 4-30 KB, JPG format
ID Documents
Indian Passport
Indian passport application and renewal
Organization: Ministry of External Affairs
Photo Specification
3.5 x 4.5 cm @ 300 DPI, 10-300 KB, JPG
Signature Specification
Not required digitally
Aadhar Card
Aadhar enrollment and update
Organization: UIDAI
Photo Specification
350 x 440 px, 20-50 KB, JPG format
Signature Specification
Not required digitally
Last updated
Government recruitment agencies and national examination boards enforce stringent digital asset specifications for candidate registration. Commissions such as the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Staff Selection Commission (SSC), Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), and Railway Recruitment Boards (RRB) mandate exact pixel dimensions, aspect ratios, file size bounds, and background aesthetics for photographs and signatures.
An upload that misses these notification guidelines can be rejected. This reference directory details photo and signature parameters across major recruitment tests, with tools to prepare each file. Check every figure against your own exam's notification before you submit.
How it works
1. Select your target recruitment board or credential notice
Locate your upcoming examination category (Central Government, Banking, Railway, or Entrance Exam) to review its latest published parameters.
2. Review official dimensions, file size limits, and ink specifications
Check required physical dimensions in centimeters or pixels, allowable KB limits (e.g. 20 KB to 50 KB), and approved signature ink rules.
3. Transform candidate documents using specialized tools
Click the integrated action links to load your image directly into our Photo Resizer or Signature Creator with matching presets.
4. Verify final compliance using Document Checker
Confirm that exported files strictly comply with height, width, file weight, and format limits before final submission.
When you'd use it
UPSC Civil Services examination document preparation
Prepare a photograph and a black-ink signature within the UPSC One Time Registration (OTR) FAQ limits: JPG, 20 to 300 KB each, from 350×350 to 1000×1000 pixels.
SSC CGL and CHSL recruitment registration
Format 200 × 230 pixel facial portraits and 140 × 60 pixel signatures within the rigid 20–50 KB and 10–20 KB thresholds.
Banking sector probationary officer and clerk filings
Meet IBPS and State Bank of India intake criteria, ensuring running handwriting signatures and shadow-free white background portraits.
Railway recruitment board technician and NTPC drives
Generate high-resolution 300 DPI scans for RRB technical applications requiring 3.5 × 4.5 cm photos and 2 × 7 cm signatures.
GATE entrance and National Testing Agency compliance
Calibrate engineering entrance and postgraduate admission photos to meet strict 50–200 KB multi-tier upload constraints.
Converting physical dimensions to digital pixels across DPI standards
Government notifications frequently state photo requirements in centimeters (such as 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm) while web upload portals validate files by pixel dimensions. Understanding the mathematical relationship between physical measurement and digital resolution is essential.
The standard formula is Pixels = (Centimeters / 2.54) × DPI. At standard print resolution of 300 DPI, a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo corresponds to approximately 413 × 531 pixels. However, many portals (including SSC and IBPS) resample images to 200 × 230 pixels to optimize server storage and bandwidth. Our tools handle both physical millimeter/centimeter presets and exact pixel target dimensions seamlessly.
Primary causes of photograph rejection in competitive recruitment
Automated facial recognition systems deployed at exam venues compare admit card photographs against live webcam captures. Consequently, recruitment notices mandate clear facial visibility: candidate faces must occupy between 70% and 80% of the vertical frame from chin to crown.
Common rejection causes include dark, patterned, or outdoors backgrounds instead of a smooth, uniform white or light grey backdrop; side profiles or tilted heads; wearing caps, dark sunglasses, or spectacle frames that produce flash glare over eyes; and uploading low-resolution mobile selfies cropped from social media.
Signature compliance rules: cursive script versus block capitals
Signatures on application portals serve legal identification purposes. Candidate notices for SSC, IBPS, and State PSCs explicitly warn that signatures executed in ALL CAPITAL or block letters will be summarily rejected.
Signatures must be written in smooth, natural running handwriting. Candidates should sign with fresh black or dark blue ink on smooth white unlined paper. When cropping the signature, ensure that the white paper borders are tight around the text so the actual signature occupies the full 140 × 60 pixel frame without excessive empty margins.
Frequently asked questions
Why do government recruitment portals enforce strict photo specifications?
Recruitment boards utilize biometric facial recognition systems at test centres. Clear facial illumination, white backgrounds, and the required aspect ratio help automated matching recognise the candidate.
Can I submit a signature written in capital letters for SSC or IBPS?
No. Official recruitment notices explicitly declare that signatures written in capital letters are invalid and will lead to application cancellation. Always sign in your natural running cursive handwriting.
What ink colour is required for government exam signatures?
Black ink. The UPSC One Time Registration FAQ asks for a signature on white paper, preferably with a black ink pen, and black is strongly recommended for SSC, IBPS, and RRB portals because it gives the most contrast against white paper when scanned.
How do I calculate pixel dimensions from centimeters for online forms?
Use the formula Pixels = (cm / 2.54) × DPI. For a 3.5 × 4.5 cm photo at 300 DPI, the dimensions are 413 × 531 pixels. Our Photo Resizer automatically applies these conversions.
What background colour is acceptable for competitive exam photos?
Recruitment boards require a clean, flat white or off-white light background. Coloured, patterned, or textured backdrops are frequent triggers for application rejection.
Are the guidelines on this page officially binding?
These guidelines represent the published standards of major recruitment boards. However, candidates must always inspect the official employment notification of their specific exam cycle for any sudden procedural revisions.