SSC photo and signature size: CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD specs
The SSC photo and signature size rules trip up more applications than the exam itself: a JPEG in the wrong KB band, a signature scanned too large, a photo without the date. Here are the typical specs for CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD, the common rejection reasons, and how to hit the exact KB and pixel targets in your browser.
· 5 min read · 1.1K views · by the Cortex Digital Hub team
Set the width and height in pixels, then set the target size in KB, and the resizer gives you a JPEG that lands inside the SSC band on the first try, without sending the photo anywhere. Free · exact KB and pixel targets · no upload
Resize the photo → → Opens Image Resizer · runs in your browser
SSC rejects thousands of applications every cycle for reasons that have nothing to do with eligibility: the photo was 62 KB when the limit was 50, the signature was a PNG, the picture was taken a year ago. The fix takes two minutes once you know the numbers. This guide gives the typical SSC photo and signature size for CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD Constable, the mistakes that trigger rejection, and a step-by-step way to hit the exact KB and pixel targets with the free Image Resizer in your browser. One caveat up front: these are the typical figures as of 2026, and the exact spec is in that year's notification and on the registration portal. Check it before you upload.
The typical SSC photo spec
Across recent cycles the photo rules have been consistent. A recent colour passport-style photograph, JPEG only, between 20 and 50 KB, at 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm. The portal does not usually enforce a pixel count, but 200 by 230 pixels is the size most candidates use because it sits comfortably inside the KB band at normal JPEG quality while still looking sharp on the admit card.
The content rules matter as much as the file rules. Face the camera with a plain white or light background, no cap, no sunglasses, no dark-tinted spectacles, and a neutral expression. Recent notifications have asked for a photo taken within three months of the notice, with the date of the photo printed on it. Studio photographers in most Indian towns know this and will add the date stamp if you ask; if you are taking the photo at home, you can add the date as a small text line with the photo editor before resizing.
The same photo appears on your admit card and is matched against you at the exam centre, so a photo that is already different from your face (a beard you have since shaved, long hair since cut) can create trouble on exam day even if the portal accepted it.
The typical SSC signature spec
The signature is a scan or a clear phone photo of your signature in black or blue ink on plain white paper, cropped tight, saved as JPEG between 10 and 20 KB. Some notifications state a 4 cm by 2 cm box, which at the same density as the photo is roughly 140 by 60 pixels; others only give the KB band. Sign the way you sign everywhere else. SSC specifically rejects signatures written in block capital letters, and a signature that does not match the one you produce at the centre is grounds for cancellation.
Exam by exam, at a glance
| Exam | Photo | Signature | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL | 20–50 KB, 3.5 × 4.5 cm (~200 × 230 px), recent, dated | 10–20 KB, ~4 × 2 cm | JPEG |
| SSC CHSL | 20–50 KB, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, recent, dated | 10–20 KB | JPEG |
| SSC MTS / Havaldar | 20–50 KB, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, recent, dated | 10–20 KB | JPEG |
| SSC GD Constable | 20–50 KB, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, recent, dated | 10–20 KB | JPEG |
| SSC Selection Post / Stenographer | 20–50 KB, 3.5 × 4.5 cm, recent | 10–20 KB | JPEG |
Typical figures as of 2026. The exact band, dimensions and date rule are in the notification for your exam; follow the notification if it differs from this table.
Why photos and signatures get rejected
The file-level rejections are the easy ones to avoid. The photo is over 50 KB because it came straight off the phone camera at 3 MB. The photo is under 20 KB because a compressor was told to go as small as possible. The file is PNG, HEIC or WebP rather than JPEG; iPhone photos in particular need converting from HEIC to JPG first. The signature is a 400 KB scan of the whole A4 sheet with the signature in one corner.
The content-level rejections are harder because the portal accepts the file and a human rejects it later during scrutiny. A cap or dark glasses. A blue or patterned background. A photo visibly older than three months, or one without the date when the notification asked for it. A selfie with a tilted head and a hand in the frame. A signature in capitals, on ruled paper, or in pencil. A signature that is actually your name typed in a script font. Each of these has appeared in SSC's own lists of rejection reasons.
Resize to the exact KB and pixels, step by step
You do not need to install anything or send your photo to an unknown server. The Image Resizer runs on your device.
Start with the best photo you have, ideally the studio JPEG. Open it in the resizer, set the output format to JPEG, and set the dimensions to 200 by 230 pixels. If the source has a different ratio, use the crop so your face sits in the centre with the top of the head and the shoulders both visible. Then set the target file size to 40 KB. Aiming for the middle of the 20 to 50 KB band rather than the edge gives you margin if the portal measures size slightly differently from your computer. Download, check the file size in the file properties, and upload.
For the signature, crop the scan tight so there is a thin white border around the ink, set the size to around 140 by 60 pixels, pick JPEG, and set a 15 KB target. If a scan comes out faint, raise the contrast in the photo editor before resizing so the strokes stay dark after compression.
If you only need the KB step because the dimensions are already right, the compress image to 20 KB page is a one-click version for the signature, and the resize photo to 20 KB guide covers the common pitfalls when a file refuses to shrink without going blurry.
Before you press submit
Open both files once more and look at them at 100 percent. The photo should be sharp enough to read the date stamp; the signature should have clean dark strokes, not grey fuzz. Save both files with sensible names so you can reuse them for the next SSC cycle, and note the date the photo was taken, since the three-month rule means you will need a new one for an exam next year.
The same photo rarely fits every government portal. Bands differ for UPSC, banking, railways and state PSCs, and the photo and signature size for government forms guide keeps the current numbers in one place so you can resize once per exam instead of guessing. If you also need a printed copy for the exam day or for a document verification round, the passport photo size guide explains how to get a correctly proportioned print from the same source file.
Frequently asked questions
What is the SSC photo size in KB and pixels?
Typically a JPEG between 20 and 50 KB, 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm, which most candidates upload at around 200 by 230 pixels. That is the pattern across recent CGL, CHSL, MTS and GD cycles; the exact figures are in that year's notification, so check before uploading.
What is the SSC signature size?
Typically a JPEG between 10 and 20 KB, signed in black or blue ink on white paper, with the scan cropped tight to the signature. Some notifications also state a 4 cm by 2 cm box. Confirm the band in the notification for your exam.
Does the SSC photo need a date printed on it?
Recent SSC notifications have asked for a photo taken within the last three months with the date of the photo printed on it. Not every cycle phrases it the same way, so read the photo section of your notification and follow it exactly.
Why was my SSC photo rejected?
The usual reasons are a file outside the KB band, a wrong format such as PNG or HEIC, a photo with a cap, sunglasses or a dark background, an old photo, a missing date, or a signature scanned in capital letters or on coloured paper.