Photo DPI error — what DPI means and which portals actually check it
Spec pending verification against the official source — confirm on the official portal before you submit.
This applies across documents and exams — pick yours and we will set the exact size automatically.
Choose your document or examA DPI error most often shows up on PAN card applications — NSDL asks for 200 DPI, UTIITSL asks for 600 DPI, and uploading a file made for one operator to the other triggers this exact error.
What DPI actually is
DPI (dots per inch) describes how many pixels are packed into each inch when a file is printed — it's a print-resolution setting embedded in the file's metadata, separate from the pixel dimensions themselves. Two files can have identical pixel dimensions and still have different DPI values recorded in their metadata, and some portals validate that metadata directly.
Where this actually comes up
| Portal | DPI requirement |
|---|---|
| PAN — NSDL / Protean eGov | 200 DPI |
| PAN — UTIITSL | 600 DPI |
Most exam and other government portals don't check DPI at all — they check pixel dimensions and file size only. If you're seeing a DPI-specific error, it's almost certainly a PAN application, and the fix is confirming which operator (NSDL or UTIITSL) you're applying through — see PAN card photo size for the full breakdown.
Fix it
- Confirm which PAN operator your application uses (NSDL/Protean or UTIITSL) — the portal URL and branding tell you which.
- Upload your photo using the matching preset — 200 DPI for NSDL, 600 DPI for UTIITSL.
- Download and re-upload; the DPI metadata is set correctly in the output file.
Related problems
PhotoFix is an independent private utility, not affiliated with NSDL, Protean eGov, UTIITSL or the Income Tax Department. Confirm requirements on the official portal before submitting.