UPSC CDS photo & signature size
Photo about 350×350 px, 20–200 KBSignature about 350×350 px, 20–100 KB
1. Choose
- Pixels:
- about 350 × 350 px
- File size:
- 20–200 KB
- Format:
- JPG
- Background:
- white
- Face share:
- about 75% of the height (from the notice)
Source: UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 — Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II (20 May 2026), checked 3 Oct 2026
Change the output size
The notice gives an approximate size, so you can pick another one close to it.
2. Fix
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC (where the browser can open it). Large phone photos are fine.
Nothing is uploaded. Everything runs on this device.
For the UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination, the photo should be about 350×350 pixels, 20–200 KB, in JPG format on a white background. The signature should be about 350×350 pixels and 20–100 KB. Resize yours with the tool above. It's free and runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded.
The notice gives a range or a physical size, not one exact pixel size. Treat these dimensions as a target and check the notes and the quoted notice text below.
UPSC One-Time Registration: upload a passport photo (JPG, 20–200 KB, plain white background, face ≥75% / 3-4th of frame, head centred, both ears visible, eyes open, NOT signed) AND, additionally, capture a MANDATORY live photograph (webcam or QR/mobile). The live photo is matched to the uploaded one — a mismatch blocks the application. Resize the uploaded photo here; the live photo is captured in the portal. The size limits come from UPSC's "Instructions for Uploading the Photo & Signature", which now sit behind the candidate login at upsconline.nic.in under Instructions and FAQs. The exam notice we cite as the source repeats the live-photo and three-signature rules.
The notice gives a range or a physical size, not one exact pixel size. Treat these dimensions as a target and check the notes and the quoted notice text below.
UPSC requires a TRIPLE signature: sign three times vertically (one below the other) on plain white paper in BLACK ink, with a gap between each, and scan all three as ONE image. JPG, 20–100 KB, 350–500 px; exactly three signatures, vertical, not rotated, on plain white paper (no lines/colours). The size limits come from UPSC's "Instructions for Uploading the Photo & Signature", which now sit behind the candidate login at upsconline.nic.in under Instructions and FAQs. The exam notice we cite as the source repeats the live-photo and three-signature rules.
C.D.S. Examination (I), 2027
UPSC calendar: notification on 2 Dec 2026, last date for applications 22 Dec 2026.
Exam date: 11 Apr 2027 (per calendar)
Source: UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027, as on 20.05.2026. Checked 11 Oct 2026. See the exam calendar
“Applicants are required to upload their photograph and also capture their live photograph while filling up the Common Application Form (CAF). Applicants must ensure that the uploaded photograph and the live photograph captured are clear as per instructions given on "Instructions and FAQs > Instruction for filling the form > Photos and Signature" available on the Commission's website https://upsconline.nic.in.”
UPSC CDS 2026 eligibility, age limit and posts
As per the UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 (Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II, F.No. 8/01/2026-E.I(B)) (20 May 2026), checked on 7 October 2026.
CDS is the graduate entry to the officer academies: the Indian Military Academy, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Officers Training Academy in Chennai. Each academy sets its own birth-date window and degree rule. No category gets an age relaxation, and women can apply only for the OTA short service course. Everything below comes from the UPSC notice of 20 May 2026, with the page number against each fact.
Applications for CDS (II) 2026 closed on 9 June 2026 and the written exam was set for 13 September 2026. UPSC's 2027 calendar puts the CDS (I) 2027 notification on 2 December 2026, with applications closing on 22 December 2026 and the exam on 11 April 2027; the calendar says these dates can change. The 2026 (II) notice expected 451 vacancies across five courses starting in July and October 2027. (p1, p5; UPSC Programme of Examinations 2027)
Age limit (as on 1 July 2027)
| Age band | Born not earlier than | Born not later than | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19-24 years (IMA, Naval Academy) | 1 July 2003 | 1 July 2008 | p8, para 3(b)(i)-(ii) |
| 20-24 years (Air Force Academy) | 1 July 2003 | 1 July 2007 | p8, para 3(b)(iii) |
| 19-25 years (OTA, men and women) | 1 July 2002 | 1 July 2008 | p8, para 3(b)(iv)-(v) |
- ·Each window counts both end days. For the IMA and the Naval Academy, for example, you must be born between 1 July 2003 and 1 July 2008. The Air Force Academy line gives the age as on 1 July 2027. (p8, para 3(b))
- ·The notice prints no age relaxation for SC, ST, OBC or EWS candidates. The only one is the Commercial Pilot Licence rule for the Air Force Academy.
- ·IMA, Naval Academy and OTA (men) candidates must be unmarried men. The OTA course for women takes unmarried women and widows or divorcees with no children who have not remarried. Air Force Academy candidates under 25 must be unmarried, and nobody may marry during training. A man who is divorced or widowed counts as married. (p8, para 3(b) and Note)
- ·UPSC goes by the date of birth in your Class 10 (matriculation or secondary school) certificate or an equivalent, and won't accept a horoscope, an affidavit or a municipal birth extract. Once your date of birth is in the UPSC records, it cannot be changed. (p8-9, para 3(b) and Notes 1-2)
Age relaxation
| Code | Category | Relaxation beyond the upper limit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Holders of a valid and current Commercial Pilot Licence issued by DGCA (India) | Upper age limit up to 26 years: born not earlier than 1 July 2001 and not later than 1 July 2007Air Force Academy only | p8, para 3(b)(iii) |
Source: UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination (II), 2026 (Examination Notice No. 11/2026-CDS-II, F.No. 8/01/2026-E.I(B)) (20 May 2026). Each row gives the page and para. Checked on 7 October 2026.
See every exam you can apply for with your education and age →Educational qualification
You need a degree. Any subject works for the IMA and the OTA. The Naval Academy wants engineering, or a B.Sc. with Physics, and the Air Force Academy wants a degree with Physics and Maths in Class 12, or a B.E. Final-year students can apply if they can show they passed before their course starts.
- Indian Military Academy and Officers' Training Academy, Chennai
- A degree from a recognised university, or an equivalent. (p9, para 3(c)(i))
- Indian Naval Academy
- A degree in Engineering, or a B.Sc. with Physics as a core or elective subject, from a recognised university or institution, with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level. (p9, para 3(c)(ii))
- Air Force Academy
- A degree from a recognised university with Physics and Mathematics at the 10+2 level, or a Bachelor of Engineering. (p9, para 3(c)(iii))
Nationality: You must be a citizen of India, a subject of Nepal, or a person of Indian origin who migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam to settle permanently in India. The last two groups need a certificate of eligibility from the Government of India; Gorkha subjects of Nepal do not. (p8, para 3(a))
- ·Final-year students can apply. Proof of passing the degree must reach the service HQ by 1 July 2027 for the IMA and the Naval Academy, 13 May 2027 for the Air Force Academy and 1 October 2027 for the OTA. At the SSB interview they also need a college or university certificate saying they will meet that date. Students below the final year cannot apply. (p9-10, para 3(c) and Note I)
- ·Graduates who pick the Army, Navy or Air Force as first choice must show the degree or a provisional certificate when the SSB interview starts. (p9, para 3(c))
- ·Professional and technical qualifications that the Government recognises as equivalent to a degree are accepted. (p10)
- ·Anyone debarred by the Ministry of Defence from holding a commission cannot apply. (p10, Note II)
- ·You must meet the medical standards in Appendix-III of the notice. (p10, para 3(d))
Posts, pay level and age band
These are the five courses the notice lists, 451 vacancies in all; the numbers are tentative. IMA cadets train for 18 months and get a permanent commission as Lieutenant. Naval Academy cadets become Sub-Lieutenants after about 18 months, and Air Force pilots train for about 74 weeks before passing out as Flying Officers. OTA cadets train for about 49 weeks and get a short service commission as Lieutenant: 10 years, extendable by 4, with a chance to be considered for a permanent commission. All of these ranks start at pay Level 10, plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500 a month, and the notice gives a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 a month during academy training. City allowances vary, so take-home pay differs by posting. If you choose the Air Force Academy, it must be your first choice; OTA must be your last choice if you also want a permanent commission course. (p5-6; p25; p27; p30-33)
Pay Level 10 · basic pay ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 (p5; p25 (Appendix-IV); p27, paras 6 and 8)
| Post | Department | Group | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Military Academy, Dehradun: 163rd (DE) course, July 2027 (100 vacancies, 13 for NCC C certificate holders) | Indian Army | — | 19-24 years (IMA, Naval Academy) |
| Indian Naval Academy, Ezhimala: Executive branch (General Service)/Hydro, July 2027 (26 vacancies, 6 for NCC C certificate holders) | Indian Navy | — | 19-24 years (IMA, Naval Academy) |
| Air Force Academy, Hyderabad: 222 F(P) course, July 2027 (32 vacancies, 3 for NCC Air Wing holders) | Indian Air Force | — | 20-24 years (Air Force Academy) |
| Officers' Training Academy, Chennai: 126th SSC (Men) (NT) course, October 2027 (275 vacancies) | Indian Army | — | 19-25 years (OTA, men and women) |
| Officers' Training Academy, Chennai: 126th SSC Women (NT) course, October 2027 (18 vacancies) | Indian Army | — | 19-25 years (OTA, men and women) |
About the UPSC CDS application form
The UPSC Combined Defence Services Examination is conducted by the Union Public Service Commission. The online application portal has strict requirements for photo and signature uploads — images outside the specified dimensions or file size are automatically rejected.
For the photograph, you need a colour image of about 350×350 pixels with file size between 20 KB and 200 KB, saved in JPG format with a white background. The signature should be about 350×350 pixels and between 20 and 100 KB.
Common reasons UPSC CDS forms get rejected
- File size over 200 KB (most common — phone photos are often 2–5 MB).
- Dimensions far from about 350×350 pixels.
- Coloured or patterned background — the form asks for a plain white background.
- Wrong file format. The notice asks for JPG.
- Signature on lined or coloured paper instead of plain white.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the photo size for UPSC CDS 2026?
- About 350×350 pixels, between 20 KB and 200 KB, in JPG format with a white background. The notice gives a range or a physical size, not one exact pixel size. Treat these dimensions as a target.
- What is the signature size for UPSC CDS?
- About 350×350 pixels, between 20 KB and 100 KB. The notice gives a range or a physical size, not one exact pixel size. Treat these dimensions as a target.
- Are my files uploaded when I resize them for UPSC CDS?
- No. Everything runs in your browser — your photo and signature are never uploaded to a server, stored, or logged.
- Is the UPSC CDS photo and signature resizer free?
- Yes — completely free, with no signup, no watermark, and no daily limit.
- What is the CDS age limit?
- For CDS (II) 2026: IMA and Naval Academy 19 to 24 (born 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2008), Air Force Academy 20 to 24 (born 1 July 2003 to 1 July 2007, or from 1 July 2001 with a Commercial Pilot Licence), OTA 19 to 25 (born 1 July 2002 to 1 July 2008). Both end dates count.
- Is there age relaxation for OBC or SC/ST in CDS?
- No. The CDS notice gives no age relaxation by category. The only relaxation is up to 26 for Commercial Pilot Licence holders applying to the Air Force Academy.
- Can final-year students apply for CDS?
- Yes. You must show proof of passing by 1 July 2027 for the IMA or Naval Academy, 13 May 2027 for the Air Force Academy, or 1 October 2027 for the OTA.
- Can women apply for CDS?
- Only for the OTA short service (non-technical) course. The 2026 (II) notice had 18 vacancies for women. Unmarried women, and widows or divorcees with no children who have not remarried, can apply.
- Which degree do I need for CDS?
- Any degree for the IMA and the OTA. Engineering, or a B.Sc. with Physics plus Physics and Maths in Class 12, for the Naval Academy. A degree with Physics and Maths in Class 12, or a B.E., for the Air Force Academy.
- What is the salary after CDS?
- Officers start at pay Level 10, ₹56,100 to ₹1,77,500 a month, plus Military Service Pay of ₹15,500. During academy training the notice gives a fixed stipend of ₹56,100 a month.