UPSC CSE 2027 Photo Size, Signature & Application Dates

File	Dimensions	File size	Format
Photo	350 × 350 px	20–200 KB	JPG
Signature	350 × 500 px	20–100 KB	JPG

UPSC's calendar lists the Civil Services 2027 notification for 13 January 2027, with applications until 2 February 2027 and prelims on 23 May 2027. You will need a white-background photo (20–200 KB), a single image with three signatures (20–100 KB), and you will take a live photo while submitting. Calendar dates can move: in 2026 the notice came out on 4 February instead of 14 January.

The Civil Services Examination (CSE) selects officers for the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS and other services. The same form also covers the Indian Forest Service preliminary test, which is held on the same day.

What you need to upload

UPSC's online application has a one-time registration plus exam-specific parts. The specs below are from the 2026 cycle as reported by coaching sites. Pixel sizes vary between sources, so treat them as guidance.

Item	Format	Size	Notes
Photograph	JPG	20–200 KB	Plain white background, face at least 75% of the photo, both ear lobes visible, no dark glasses, not signed
Signature	JPG	20–100 KB	Three signatures one below the other, black ink on white paper; about 350–500 px per side
Live photo	Captured in the form	—	Webcam or phone via QR code; must match the uploaded photo
Photo ID card details	As per notice	—	Aadhaar, voter ID, PAN, passport or similar; use the same ID at the exam

How to prepare each file

Photo. Use a recent colour photo against a plain white background, with even light and no glare on glasses. Crop with crop image so your face takes up most of the frame. Then set the size with the UPSC photo resizer. Do not sign on the photo. Some past UPSC cycles asked for the candidate's name and the date the photo was taken to be printed on it; add them only if the instructions on upsconline.nic.in ask for it (see UPSC photo with name and date).

Three signatures. On plain white unruled paper, sign three times in black ink, one below the other, with a little gap between them. Photograph or scan the sheet, crop around the three signatures, and size it with the UPSC signature resizer. If the file is too heavy, compress image to 100 KB brings it within the limit.

Live photo. Sit facing a window or a bright light, remove dark glasses, and look like your uploaded photo. If the system finds a mismatch you cannot proceed.

Other documents. Certificates for age, education, category and disability are mainly checked later, but keep scanned PDFs ready. If a scan is large, use compress PDF.

Timeline notes

Notification and form: 13 January 2027 to 2 February 2027 per UPSC's calendar of 20 May 2026. In 2026 the planned date slipped by about three weeks, so be ready from early January.
Correction window: in 2026 a short correction window followed the last date.
Prelims: Sunday 23 May 2027.
Mains: from 20 August 2027, over five days.

Apply only through the online application link on upsc.gov.in. The notice there overrides any date on this page.

Common reasons uploads get rejected

Fewer or more than three signatures, signatures side by side, or blue ink.
Signature on ruled or coloured paper, or a blurred or rotated scan.
A photo with a dark or patterned background, or with the face too small.
A live photo that does not match the uploaded photo, often because of glasses, lighting or an old photo.
Files just above the KB limit.

Start the one-time registration before the notification comes out if the portal allows it. It saves time when the window is open and the server is busy.

Questions

What is the photo size for UPSC CSE 2027?

For the 2026 exam UPSC asked for a JPG photo of 20–200 KB with a plain white background and the face covering at least three-quarters of the picture. Expect the same for 2027, but read the 2027 notice.

Why does UPSC ask for three signatures?

From the 2026 cycle, coaching guides report that the signature image must show three signatures one below the other, in black ink on white paper, saved as a single 20–100 KB JPG. Uploads with one signature or side-by-side signatures were rejected.

When is the UPSC CSE 2027 notification?

UPSC's calendar lists 13 January 2027, with applications until 2 February 2027 and prelims on 23 May 2027. UPSC notes these dates can change, and the 2026 notice came out three weeks later than planned.

What is the live photo in the UPSC form?

During submission you take a live photo with a webcam or a phone via QR code. It is matched against the photo you uploaded, and a mismatch stops the application.

UPSC CSE 2027 Photo Size, Signature & Application Dates

Expected timeline

Photo and signature spec

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Signature