Tools Guide

    Photo & Signature Size Requirements for Government Exams 2026 — Complete Resize Guide

    02 May 20266 min read

    Wrong photo dimensions are the #1 reason for application form rejection in online government exams. This guide gives you the exact pixel specifications for every major exam and shows you how to resize for free.

    Understanding DPI vs Pixels

    Government notifications often specify size in centimetres (cm) along with DPI (dots per inch). Here's the conversion:

    • 200 DPI: 1 cm = ~79 pixels
    • 96 DPI (screen): 1 cm = ~38 pixels

    Most exam portals work at 200 DPI. So 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm at 200 DPI = 276 × 354 pixels.

    Photo Dimensions — Exam-Wise (2026)

    ExamWidth (px)Height (px)File Size
    UPSC CSE2763544–300 KB
    SSC CGL27635420–50 KB
    SSC CHSL27635420–50 KB
    RRB NTPC27635415–40 KB
    IBPS PO/Clerk20023020–50 KB
    SBI PO/Clerk20023020–50 KB
    NEET UG (NTA)20023010–200 KB

    Signature Dimensions — Exam-Wise (2026)

    ExamWidth (px)Height (px)File Size
    UPSC CSE2761181–300 KB
    SSC CGL27611810–20 KB
    RRB NTPC27611810–40 KB
    IBPS PO/Clerk1406010–20 KB
    SBI PO/Clerk1406010–20 KB

    How to Resize Your Photo in 3 Steps

    1. Open our Image Resizer tool
    2. Upload your photo or signature
    3. Select the exam preset (e.g. "UPSC Photo") or enter custom dimensions
    4. Click "Resize" and download the result

    Common Questions

    Should I resize before or after cropping?

    Crop first to the correct aspect ratio (e.g. 3:4 for photos), then resize to exact dimensions. Our tool resizes to exact dimensions directly, so crop to aspect ratio first in any basic photo editor, then use our tool.

    What if my photo gets distorted?

    Distortion happens when the aspect ratio of your photo doesn't match the required dimensions. Crop your photo to the correct ratio first (portrait 3.5:4.5 ≈ 0.78:1). Then resize to exact pixels.

    PNG vs JPEG for exam forms?

    Almost all government portals require JPEG/JPG. PNG is usually not accepted. Our tool outputs JPEG by default.