CDS applicants go through the same UPSC OTR portal as NDA candidates, and it's just as unforgiving about photo and signature specs — an undersized image, an oversized file, or the wrong ink color can block your submission right when the deadline is closing in. Since CDS is held twice a year and draws a huge number of applicants each cycle, UPSC's system checks these uploads automatically, with no manual override if you miss the mark.
Here are the exact, verified numbers for the CDS 2026 photo and signature upload, taken from UPSC's official upload instructions and checked against current exam-prep sources, so you get it right on the first attempt instead of resubmitting under time pressure.
Photo Size Requirements
Your photograph needs a minimum of 350 x 350 pixels, with the file size kept between 20KB and 300KB, saved strictly as JPG or JPEG. The background must be plain white, with your face filling about 75% of the frame in a front-facing, neutral-expression shot with both ears visible. Sunglasses, caps, patterned backgrounds, and uniform clothing are all grounds for rejection. As with NDA, CDS applicants must also complete a live photo capture via webcam during registration, which is matched against the uploaded photograph before you can proceed. Take the photo close to your application date — a photo that's several years old is far more likely to fail this live-match check.
Signature Size Requirements
Your signature must also be at least 350 x 350 pixels and between 20KB and 300KB in size, saved as JPG/JPEG. Use black ink on plain white paper. UPSC's OTR system asks CDS candidates to sign three times vertically, one below the other with visible gaps, and upload all three signatures scanned together as a single image file — a single signature or a sideways scan will not be accepted. Keep the paper flat and well-lit when you scan or photograph it, so the ink doesn't blur or wash out.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
The most frequent CDS document errors are over-compressing the photo below 350x350px while chasing a small file size, using a non-white or shadowed background, signing with blue ink or a gel pen that scans unevenly, and forgetting the three-signature requirement altogether. A photo that's too old to match the mandatory live capture is another common reason applications get stuck at the upload stage, along with saving files as PNG or PDF instead of the required JPG/JPEG format. Some candidates also try to reuse an old NDA or CSE photo without checking whether it meets CDS's own pixel and KB thresholds, which can differ slightly between OTR cycles.
How to Resize Your Photo and Signature in 30 Seconds
Instead of manually cropping and compressing in an image editor and second-guessing whether the numbers are right, you can use SignResizer, a free online tool that instantly resizes your photo and signature to the exact pixel size and KB range CDS requires, with no signup needed.