TNPSC's Group 1, Group 2, and Group 4 exams attract some of the largest applicant pools in Tamil Nadu, and the online application system is strict about photo and signature file specifications — get the size or format wrong, and you risk your form not going through at all, no matter how well you have prepared for the exam itself.
This article breaks down the exact photo and signature requirements for TNPSC applications as per the latest official notification, so you know precisely what numbers to hit before you upload, instead of discovering the error only after the portal throws it back at you a day before the deadline.
Photo Size Requirements
Your TNPSC application photograph should measure 3.5cm x 4.5cm, roughly equivalent to 276 x 354 pixels at 200 DPI, saved as a JPG file between 20KB and 50KB. The background must be plain white, and the photo should be a recent, passport-style shot taken within the last 3 months, with your face straight to the camera, no shadows, and no filters or digital touch-ups. Some TNPSC notifications also ask you to print your name and the date at the bottom of the photograph, so check the annexure of your specific notification for this detail. This specification applies broadly across Group 1, Group 2, Group 2A, and Group 4 application forms, since they all share the same online application portal.
Signature Size Requirements
The signature file should be sized around 3.5cm x 1.5cm (about 276 x 118 pixels), saved as a JPG between 10KB and 20KB. Sign with a dark pen on plain white paper in your normal running handwriting — TNPSC explicitly rejects signatures written in block or capital letters. Keep a couple of clean signature scans saved on your computer in advance, since you will need to re-upload the same signature for hall ticket verification and at the exam center.
Common Mistakes That Get Applications Rejected
The most frequent rejection reasons for TNPSC uploads are a colored or patterned background instead of plain white, an old photo that no longer reflects how you currently look, a stretched or distorted image from resizing incorrectly, and files that fall outside the specified KB window in either direction. Signing in capital letters or uploading a low-quality selfie instead of a proper scanned or studio photo are also common mistakes that lead to a flagged application. Skipping the name-and-date printing requirement when a particular notification asks for it is another easy-to-miss detail that trips up otherwise careful applicants.
How to Resize Your Photo and Signature in 30 Seconds
Instead of guessing at crop dimensions and compression levels, you can use SignResizer, a free online tool that resizes your photo and signature to the exact KB and pixel size TNPSC requires in seconds, with no signup required.