Last reviewed: 15 October 2026
NDA and CDS upload through the same UPSC OTR portal, so their photo and signature rules are identical to each other and to UPSC CSE. The photo is the easy part: a JPG of 20–200 KB on plain white, with no fixed pixel size, no square crop and no name-and-date strip. Two steps catch defence applicants out. The signature file holds your signature three times, and the form also takes a live photo of you that must match the one you upload. This guide covers both exams, checked against UPSC's photo and signature instructions.
Quick answer
- Photo: 20–200 KB, JPG, plain white background, face covering about 75% of the frame. No fixed pixel size or square requirement.
- Signature: sign three times, one below the other, in black ink on plain white paper, and upload the sheet as one 350–500 pixel JPG weighing 20–100 KB.
- Live photo: the form photographs you through your webcam, or your phone after you scan a QR code, and compares it with the photo you uploaded.
- Before you apply: read the current notice — UPSC can add cycle-specific rules such as a photo-recency window.
- Both upload through the same UPSC OTR portal at upsconline.nic.in.
What are the photo and signature specs for NDA and CDS?
Both NDA and CDS use the same UPSC OTR portal for applications. The specifications are identical for both exams and match UPSC CSE, since all three share the same portal. Confirm the figures in the specific NDA or CDS notification published by UPSC before applying.
| Field | Photo | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Format | JPG / JPEG only | JPG / JPEG only |
| File size | 20–200 KB | 20–100 KB |
| Pixel dimensions | No fixed size published | 350–500 px |
| Background | Plain white | Plain white paper, no lines |
| Name + date on image | Not required by UPSC | — |
| Face coverage | About 75% of frame | — |
| Ink colour | — | Black |
| Signatures in the file | — | Three, one below the other |
| Recency | Per notification, if stated | — |
Always confirm the current cycle's exact figures in your notification PDF at upsc.gov.in before applying. For a side-by-side comparison of all major exam specs, see the photo and signature size guide for all exams.
How does the NDA and CDS live photo work?
Uploading a photo file is no longer the whole job. UPSC now makes every applicant, for every examination, capture a live photograph before the application can be submitted. The portal offers two ways to take it:
- On a computer: allow the site to use the webcam of the device you are applying on.
- On a phone: scan the QR code shown on the screen and take the picture with your mobile camera.
Sit in good light with your whole face clearly visible. Once it is captured, the “View Photo” option shows what was saved. UPSC then compares this live picture with your uploaded photograph, and if the two don't match, the application stops there. The simplest protection is an uploaded photo that is recent and looks like you do today.
Does NDA or CDS require your name and date on the photo?
No. UPSC's OTR portal instructions do not ask for a name-and-date strip on the photo, and they publish no fixed pixel size or aspect ratio, so there is no square-crop requirement either. What UPSC does specify is the JPG format, the 20–200 KB size band, a plain white background, and a face covering about 75% of the frame.
If the notification for your cycle adds a requirement — some notices set a photo-recency window, for instance — follow the notification. When a form does ask for name-and-date text, the photo-with-name-date tool adds a clean strip in one step; see how to add name and date on an exam photo.
How does NDA/CDS compare to banking and SSC exam photos?
The file rules differ enough that one photo file rarely clears every portal. NDA and CDS accept a wider 20–200 KB photo with no fixed pixel size, while banking portals such as IBPS and SBI want a portrait rectangle around 200 × 230 px capped near 50 KB, and SSC captures the photo live at the portal. Match each form's own spec rather than reusing a single file.
| Exam | Photo shape | Pixel size | Max file size |
|---|---|---|---|
| NDA / CDS (UPSC) | Any (portrait fine) | None published | 200 KB |
| IBPS PO / SBI PO | Portrait | ~200 × 230 px | 50 KB |
| SSC CGL / CHSL | Live capture | Portal-controlled | 50 KB (portal resizes) |
For the IBPS PO checklist, see the IBPS PO 2026 photo & signature checklist. The specs are the same as UPSC CSE, which shares this portal — see the UPSC CSE / IAS photo and signature guide. For SSC's live-capture system, see the SSC CGL / CHSL photo and signature guide.
What background, clothing and framing does UPSC require?
UPSC's instruction sheet lists what the uploaded photo must show and what it refuses. The same list covers NDA and CDS.
- Background: plain white, and no shadow falling across your face or the wall. A dark background is not accepted.
- Uniform: a photograph in uniform is not accepted. Change out of any NCC or service uniform before you take it.
- Glasses: dark or coloured glasses that hide the eyes are refused. Clear spectacles are allowed, provided the lenses don't reflect the light.
- Framing: a colour photo, face from the front, head in the centre, both ears visible, and the face filling three quarters of the picture. Keep hair off your eyes.
- Expression: natural, eyes open. No grin, frown or raised eyebrows.
- Unsigned: don't sign the photograph itself; the signature goes in its own file.
How do I prepare my signature for NDA and CDS?
UPSC wants your signature three times in one picture, not once. Use black ink and plain white paper, one signature below the other, with clear space between them. UPSC says a signature file outside its rules is rejected, so check each point before you upload:
- Exactly three: two or four signatures fail, and so do three written side by side.
- Paper: plain white with no ruled lines and no colour.
- Ink: black. Blue ink is not what UPSC asks for.
- Picture: lay the paper flat and shoot it in even light so it comes out clear, sharp and upright, not dark, blurred, sideways or upside down.
- File: one JPG named
signature, sized 350–500 pixels and between 20 and 100 KB. The UPSC signature resizer whitens the paper and brings the file into that range on your device.
What are the most common NDA and CDS photo rejection reasons?
Most rejections at the UPSC portal trace back to three causes: a file outside the 20–200 KB band, a non-white background, or a face too small in the frame. The portal returns a generic error without specifying which check failed, so it pays to fix all of these before uploading.
| Rejection cause | The fix |
|---|---|
| Face too small in frame | Recrop so the face covers about 75% of the frame, then resize with the UPSC photo resizer |
| File below 20 KB minimum | The resizer targets the 20–200 KB band; manually compressing to a very small size fails the floor check |
| File above 200 KB | Compress with the UPSC photo resizer — most phone photos are 2–5 MB |
| Non-white background | Use the white background tool first, then resize |
| Tinted glasses, or glare on spectacles | Retake in clear spectacles angled away from the light, or without them |
| Live photo doesn't match the upload | Upload a recent photo of how you look now, then retake the live photo in good light |
| PNG or HEIC format | The resizer accepts HEIC (iPhone format) and outputs JPG automatically |
For the full breakdown of rejection patterns across all Indian exam portals, see why exam photos and signatures get rejected.
How to prepare your NDA and CDS photo and signature — complete workflow
For the photo:
- Take a clear photo against a plain white wall, formal attire, face centred and covering about 75% of the frame.
- Resize for UPSC. Run the image through the UPSC photo resizer. It outputs a JPG on a clean white background inside the 20–200 KB band.
- Save as
photo.jpg. The UPSC portal expects this exact filename — rename the file before the upload session.
Prepare the three-signature sheet the same day, using the checklist above. Then, on the form itself:
- Upload both files and check the preview of each.
- Take the live photo when the form asks, facing a window or lamp so your face is evenly lit.
For UPSC-specific requirement details and links to the official notification PDFs, see the exam requirements directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is the NDA photo size the same as the CDS photo size?
Yes. Both NDA and CDS use the same UPSC OTR portal, and it matches UPSC CSE: a 20–200 KB JPG photo on a plain white background with about 75% face coverage, a live photo taken during the application, and one 350–500 pixel signature JPG of 20–100 KB holding three signatures. The photo has no fixed pixel size or square-crop rule.
Does the NDA or CDS application photo need my name and date on it?
No. UPSC's OTR portal instructions do not ask for a name-and-date strip on the photo. UPSC specifies the JPG format, the 20–200 KB size band, a plain white background, and roughly 75% face coverage. If a particular notification adds a requirement, follow that notification.
Can I wear glasses in my NDA or CDS photograph?
Clear spectacles are allowed if the lenses show no glare. UPSC refuses dark or coloured glasses that hide your eyes, and a photo in uniform. If you can't get rid of the reflection, take the photo without them.
Why won't my IBPS PO photo work for NDA?
IBPS PO wants a portrait-rectangular photo around 200×230 px capped near 50 KB, while UPSC's NDA/CDS portal takes a 20–200 KB photo with no fixed pixel size. The size bands differ, so prepare a file to each form's own spec rather than reusing one.
My NDA photo is under 20 KB — will it be accepted?
No. The UPSC portal enforces a 20 KB minimum as well as the 200 KB ceiling. A file compressed below 20 KB is rejected for being too low-quality. Use the UPSC photo resizer, which targets the full 20–200 KB band rather than compressing to the smallest possible size.