🏛️ Verified 2026 Master Handbook
India Govt Document Specifications Guide
Official dimensions, DPI, file sizes, and strict formatting rules for 40+ exams and government portals.
⭐ Universal Golden Rules (Works Everywhere):
📷 Photo: JPG/JPEG, Colour, Solid White Background, 20–50 KB
✍️ Signature: Black ink on white paper, Running hand, 10–20 KB
📄 Certificates: PDF/JPEG, 200 DPI True Colour, 100–300 KB
1. 🇮🇳 Competitive Exams (SSC, UPSC, IBPS, Railways, NTA)
| Exam / Portal | Photograph Specifications | Signature Specifications | Thumb / Declaration | Key 2026 Rules & Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Staff Selection Commission (SSC) CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD, CPO, JE, Steno |
Online OTR: LIVE webcam capture. DV / Physical: 3.5×4.5 cm (200 DPI), 20–50 KB (~275×354 px). |
4.0 × 2.0 cm 10 KB – 20 KB Black ink, running hand. |
N/A for online submission. |
OTR Live Rule If Aadhaar authenticated at OTR, no rejection on photo. No spectacles. Crop for SSC |
|
Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) Civil Services (CSE), NDA, CDS, CAPF, ESE |
350×350 to 1000×1000 px 20 KB – 300 KB (JPG only) 3.5×4.5 cm (300 DPI: 413×531 px). |
3.5 × 1.5 cm (~350×150 px) 20 KB – 100 KB (some down to 10 KB) Black ink only. |
N/A |
Mandatory DOP Name + Date of Photo (DOP) printed at bottom strip. Taken within last 6 months. No glasses. Crop for UPSC |
|
Banking Exams (IBPS / SBI / RBI) PO, Clerk, SO, RRB Officer & Assistant |
200 × 230 px 20 KB – 50 KB White background. |
140 × 60 px 10 KB – 20 KB Black ink only. |
Thumb: 240×240 px (20–50 KB, 200 DPI). Declaration: 800×400 px (50–100 KB). |
Strict Specs NO glasses allowed (post-2023 rule). Running hand signature strictly. |
|
Railways (RRB Apply) NTPC, Group D, ALP, JE, RPF |
3.5 × 4.5 cm (~276×354 px) 20 KB – 100 KB White background. |
3.5 × 1.5 cm (~140×60 px) 10 KB – 20 KB Black or dark blue ink. |
N/A |
Both ears clearly visible. No spectacles/cap. Always cross-check CEN Annexure. Crop for RRB |
|
National Testing Agency (NTA) NEET UG, JEE Main, CUET |
Passport: 10–200 KB (3.5×4.5 cm). Postcard: 4×6 inch (10–200 KB). |
3.5 × 1.5 cm 10 KB – 100 KB White background. |
Fingers/Thumbs: 10 KB – 200 KB (NEET). Certificates: 50–300 KB PDF. |
80% face coverage against white background. Name + DOP at bottom. NTA Studio |
2. 🪪 Core Identity Documents (Passport, Parivahan, PAN, Voter ID, Aadhaar)
| Document / Portal | Photo Size & Resolution | Signature Specifications | Key Guidelines | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Passport Seva (GPSP 2.0) passportindia.gov.in |
EXACT 630 × 810 px (7:9 Aspect Ratio) ≈35×45 mm at ~450 DPI · 10 KB – 250 KB (JPEG) |
~600 × 200 px (3:1 Ratio) Under 100 KB · Black/Blue ballpoint |
ICAO Standard Strictly NO glasses (Sept 2025 rule). 80-85% face coverage. 12 upload attempts max before restart. |
Passport Studio |
|
Sarathi Parivahan (Driving Licence / LL) sarathi.parivahan.gov.in |
~35 × 45 mm (420 × 525 px) STRICT 10 KB – 20 KB (Aim: 15–18 KB) |
~256 × 64 px (Landscape) STRICT 10 KB – 20 KB |
Strict KB Cap Even 21 KB gets rejected automatically. Aim for 16 KB. |
Compress <20KB |
|
PAN Card (NSDL / Protean) onlineservices.nsdl.com |
2.5 cm (W) × 3.5 cm (H) (197×276 px) 200 DPI · Max 50 KB (JPEG) |
4.5 cm (W) × 2.0 cm (H) (354×157 px) 200 DPI · Max 50 KB (JPEG) |
Photo 2.5×3.5 cm. Signature 4.5×2.0 cm landscape. Solid white background. |
PAN Photo PAN Signature |
|
PAN Card (UTIITSL) utiitsl.com |
213 × 213 px (1:1 Square) 300 DPI · STRICT Max 30 KB |
400 × 200 px (2:1 Ratio) 200/600 DPI · Max 60 KB |
Exact 213×213 px square photo (<30 KB) & 400×200 px signature. |
UTI Photo UTI Signature |
|
Voter ID / Form 6 (NVSP / ECI) voters.eci.gov.in |
~200 × 230 px (Passport) 20 KB – 50 KB (Max 100 KB) |
N/A (Online Form 6) | Supporting documents (Age/Address proof) under 2 MB each (PDF/JPG). | Scan Docs |
3. 💼 Business, Tax & Social Security (GST, ITR, EPFO)
| Service / Portal | Document / Photo Type | File Limit & Format | Key Guidelines | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
GST Registration (GSTN) gst.gov.in |
• Promoter / Signatory Photo • Cancelled Cheque / Bank Details • Business Address Proof • Constitution / Partnership Deed |
• JPEG Max 100 KB • JPEG/PDF Max 100 KB • JPEG/PDF Max 500 KB • JPG/PDF Max 1 MB |
Official GSTN circular based. Ensure bank MICR/IFSC is razor crisp. | GST Scanner |
|
EPFO / UAN Member Portal unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in |
• Profile Photo (needed to unlock e-Nomination) • Nominee Photo |
3.5 × 4.5 cm (413×531 px) JPEG/PNG Under 100 KB |
Face covers 80% of frame. Both ears prominently visible. | EPFO Photo |
|
Income Tax (ITR-V Verification) incometax.gov.in |
ITR-V Acknowledgement Form | Official Generated PDF | Must be printed and SIGNED IN BLUE INK inside box only. Post to CPC Bengaluru within 30 days. | PDF Tools |
4. 🏛️ DigiLocker & State e-District Portals (Caste, Domicile, Income)
📁 DigiLocker (digilocker.gov.in): Manually uploaded documents limit is 10 MB per file (PDF, JPG, PNG). However, if you download a certificate from DigiLocker to submit to an SSC/College admission portal, always compress it under 300 KB – 500 KB as third-party portals cannot process large 10 MB files.
📜 State e-District Portals (Delhi, UP, MP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra): Supporting documents (Aadhaar, old caste certificate, income proof, ration card) must be scanned at 200 DPI True Colour and kept under 50 KB – 200 KB per file (JPG or PDF).
5. 🧮 Universal cm / inch / pixel / DPI Cheat Sheet & Calculator
Interactive DPI Converter:
EXACT PIXEL DIMENSIONS:
276 × 354 px
Standard Reference Values:
- 3.5 × 4.5 cm (Passport) at 200 DPI: ≈ 276 × 354 px
- 3.5 × 4.5 cm (Passport) at 300 DPI: ≈ 413 × 531 px
- 2 × 2 Inch (51 × 51 mm Square) at 300 DPI: = 600 × 600 px
- 4.0 × 2.0 cm (Signature) at 200 DPI: ≈ 315 × 157 px
- 35 × 45 mm (Passport Seva GPSP 2.0): = EXACT 630 × 810 px
6. ⚠️ Top 7 Reasons Application Forms Get Rejected (Avoid These!)
❌ 1. Signature in CAPITAL / BLOCK Letters
Almost every portal (SSC, IBPS, UPSC, RRB) immediately rejects signatures written in capital block letters. Always sign in your natural running/cursive hand.
❌ 2. File Size Just 1 KB Over the Limit
Government server scripts have ZERO tolerance. A 20.2 KB file on a 20 KB limit portal (like Parivahan or SSC) will fail upload. Always aim for the middle of the range (e.g. 15–18 KB).
❌ 3. Uploading Wrong Formats (PNG / HEIC / WEBP)
iPhone photos default to HEIC and screenshots default to PNG. Govt portals require strict JPEG/JPG. Use our Format Converter before uploading.
❌ 4. Wearing Spectacles in Photos
Spectacles (even with clear transparent glass) are now strictly banned across SSC, IBPS, and Passport Seva to prevent glare and biometric mismatches.
❌ 5. Using Outdated / Reused Photos
Portals mandate photos taken within the last 3–6 months. UPSC requires mandatory printed DOP, and SSC 2026 mandates live webcam capture during OTR.
❌ 6. Square vs Rectangular Photo Mismatch
Do not upload a 2×2 inch square photo where a 3.5×4.5 cm rectangular portrait is required. Aspect ratios are not interchangeable.
❌ 7. Inconsistent Signatures
Your uploaded scanned signature, the physical admit card signature, and the exam hall biometric signature sheet must match perfectly.