10 exams with the strictest photo rules

Exams with the strictest photo requirements — UPSC triple signature, NEET name+date, Agniveer slate, SSC recency.

Most exams accept a standard photo and signature pair. These ten add an extra requirement candidates routinely miss — check the current notification for each, since specs are updated between cycles.

1. UPSC (Civil Services / OTR)

UPSC's signature upload asks for three signatures stacked in a single image, not one signature repeated or three separate files — see How to make the UPSC three-signature image. Getting the file structure wrong is one of the most common UPSC rejections.

2. NEET

NTA requires the candidate's name and the date the photo was taken printed directly on the photo, and explicitly disallows selfies. Both of these catch candidates who reuse an older photo — see Photo size too large — how to get it under 20 KB or 50 KB if the file also needs resizing.

3. SSC (CGL, CHSL, MTS)

SSC enforces a strict photo recency window — the photo generally needs to be taken within a specific recent period before the application — plus a very tight KB range on the signature file.

4. Agniveer / Indian Army recruitment

Some Agniveer recruitment photos require the candidate to be photographed holding a name slate or placard, in addition to the standard photo — a format most other exams don't use at all.

5. Banking exams (IBPS, SBI)

Banking exam applications typically require both a photo and signature with your name and date overlay, similar to NEET, and often specify an exact filename pattern for each upload.

6. Railway recruitment (RRB)

RRB applications commonly require candidates to submit a recent photograph alongside a left thumb impression scan, adding a second biometric-style upload most candidates don't expect.

7. CUET

CUET follows NTA's general specification, similar to NEET, including the no-selfie rule, but the accepted KB range for photo and signature can differ between cycles — always re-check rather than reusing last year's file.

8. JEE Main

JEE Main's specification is broadly similar to other NTA-run exams but has historically had one of the tightest maximum KB limits for the signature upload of any major exam.

9. State PSC exams

State Public Service Commissions each set their own specification independently, so a photo compliant for one state's exam is not guaranteed to be compliant for another — check each notification separately.

10. Police / physical recruitment exams

Physical recruitment exams sometimes require the submitted photo to match your appearance on the day of the physical test, adding a real-world verification step beyond the usual file-format checks.

Quick reference table

See Exam photo sizes 2026 — SSC, UPSC, NEET, banking and more for the current pixel and KB spec by exam.

Fix yours

Document photo rules look similar across portals but differ in pixels, KB, and background. Always read the current notification instead of copying last year's file. When a form rejects an upload, note the exact error text — "invalid dimensions" and "file too large" need different fixes. PhotoFix presets encode the published spec so you do not have to memorize each exam.

Before final submit, compare your export against the checklist: correct JPG, dimensions within range, KB inside the window, plain background, and face proportion where applicable. Keeping the original photo lets you re-export if a portal updates limits mid-cycle.