What SSC actually asks you to upload
Under the Combined Graduate Level Examination 2026 notice there is one image upload, and a photograph is not it.
| Format | JPEG / JPG |
|---|
| File size | 10 KB – 20 KB |
|---|
| Dimensions | about 6.0 cm (width) × 2.0 cm (height) — see the note below |
|---|
| Rejected | Blurred or miniature signatures, rejected summarily |
|---|
The notice gives two different widths. Paragraph 9.6 on page 18 says the signature should be about 6.0 cm wide by 2.0 cm high, and the Important Instructions repeat that. But the application-steps section of the same notice says 4.0 cm wide by 2.0 cm high. All three passages agree on JPEG/JPG at 10–20 KB. This tool uses 6.0 cm, the figure that appears twice and in the main body of the notice, and the one that matches what SSC specifies in its other examination notices. Since the stated ground for rejection is a blurred or miniature signature rather than a width mismatch, the file size is what matters most.
Why this tool outputs 709 × 236 pixels. SSC states the signature in centimetres but, unlike some other commissions, does not specify a scanning resolution — so the DPI is yours to choose, and it decides whether the file can reach 10 KB at all. We measured 6.0 × 2.0 cm at several resolutions: at 200 DPI (472 × 157 px) a signature reaches only 6.5–8.9 KB and cannot clear the 10 KB floor; at 250 DPI a crisp black scan still falls short. At 300 DPI (709 × 236 px) both a hard black scan and a softer greyscale one land mid-band, at roughly 12 and 16 KB. That is the size this tool uses — the same physical 6.0 × 2.0 cm, simply scanned finer.
The photograph is captured live. The notice says candidates are not required to have a pre-existing photograph; the module captures one while you fill the form. It asks you to find good light and a plain background, put the camera at eye level, look straight ahead, keep your face fully inside the marked area and neither too close nor too far, and remove any cap, mask or spectacles. Capturing a photograph of an existing photograph is an explicit ground for rejection, as are poor-quality, miniature, blurred or side-facing photos. If you have seen an “SSC photo resizer” quoting KB limits, it is preparing you for an upload this notice does not ask for.
The Aadhaar exemption
This is unusual and worth knowing. The notice states that applications from candidates who opt for Aadhaar Based Authentication will not be rejected on the ground that the photograph or signature does not meet the prescribed standards. Those candidates also do not need to bring colour photographs and photo ID to the examination centre.
It is still worth getting the signature right — but if you have authenticated through Aadhaar, a marginal file is not the risk it would otherwise be.
Other uploads
Candidates who cannot complete Aadhaar biometric authentication upload proof of name, date of birth, address, gender and a photograph during One Time Registration. The notice sets no file size for any of these. We searched the whole document: the only size figures anywhere in it are the three signature passages above. If you have seen a PDF limit quoted for SSC documents, it is not from this notice.
PwBD and PwD candidates claiming reservation or a scribe upload their Certificate of Disability in the formats at Annexures I, IA and XII to XIII. No size is specified for those either.
Scanning tips
- Sign on plain white paper in your normal running signature — the one you will reproduce in the exam hall and at document verification.
- Scan at 200–300 DPI in greyscale rather than pure black and white. A very high-contrast scan compresses to almost nothing and can fall under the 10 KB floor.
- Keep the page straight and evenly lit, with no shadow across the paper.
- Crop to the signature above, leaving a little white margin, and download.
Also applying to TNPSC? Its signature specification is the same 10–20 KB at 6.0 × 2.0 cm, though it additionally requires the exact filename Signature.jpg — use the TNPSC signature tool for that.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to upload a photograph for SSC CGL?
No. The notice states that candidates are not required to have a pre-existing photograph. The application module captures a live photograph of you while you fill the form, through your webcam or the mobile app.
What size should the SSC signature be?
JPEG or JPG between 10 KB and 20 KB. The notice describes the image dimension as about 6.0 cm wide by 2.0 cm high, though one passage in the same notice says 4.0 cm wide.
Which width should I use, 4.0 cm or 6.0 cm?
SSC's own notice gives both. Paragraph 9.6 and the Important Instructions both say 6.0 cm; the application-steps section says 4.0 cm. This tool uses 6.0 cm, the figure that appears twice including in the main body. The stated ground for rejection is a blurred or miniature signature rather than a width mismatch.
Can I photograph my existing passport photo?
No. The notice is explicit that applications where a photograph of a pre-existing photograph is captured will be rejected. You must let the module take a live photo of you.
What if my signature does not meet the standard?
Candidates who opt for Aadhaar Based Authentication will not have their application rejected on the grounds that the photograph or signature fail the prescribed standards. Without that route, a blurred or miniature signature is rejected summarily.
Can I upload a thumb impression instead?
The notice allows a thumb impression in place of a signature for PwD (VH) candidates. For everyone else a signature is required.
Is my signature uploaded to a server?
No. The crop and compression run in your browser on your own device. Nothing is transmitted.
SourceSpecifications on this page are taken from paragraphs 9.4 to 9.6 and 23 of the Notice for the Combined Graduate Level Examination, 2026 (PDF), published by the Staff Selection Commission on 21 May 2026 at ssc.gov.in.
SSC issues a notice per examination and this one states two different widths for the signature, so check the notice for the examination you are applying to. We are not affiliated with the Staff Selection Commission.