The short answer
| Item | What SSC asks for |
|---|---|
| Photograph | Taken live with your webcam or the SSC mobile app during the application. No photo file is uploaded. |
| Signature | JPG, 10–20 KB, about 4.0 cm wide × 2.0 cm high |
| Signature ink | Black or blue pen on plain white paper |
| Visually impaired candidates | May upload a thumb impression instead of a signature |
These rules apply to SSC exams in the 2026 cycle (CGL, CHSL, MTS, GD Constable, CPO, Stenographer and others) as described in recent notices. SSC can change them in any notification, so read the "uploading of photograph and signature" part of yours before you start.
The live photo: how to get it right first time
Because the photo is captured live, an old studio photo or a picture from your gallery will not work. SSC says pre-existing photos lead to outright rejection. What matters now is how you set up the shot:
- Light from the front. Sit facing a window or a bright tube light. Light from behind turns your face into a dark shadow.
- Plain background. A light, plain wall with nothing hanging on it. Move away from doors, posters and shelves.
- Camera at eye level. Put the laptop or phone on a stack of books so you look straight into it, not up or down.
- Nothing on your face. No cap, mask or spectacles. Keep hair away from your eyes.
- Fill the frame. Sit so your face fills the guide on screen: not so close that your chin is cut off, not so far that you look small.
If the webcam capture fails, SSC's upload page offers a QR code to finish the capture on your phone with the official app.
The signature: make a 10–20 KB file
- Sign on plain white paper with a black or blue ball pen. Use your normal running signature; a signature only in capital letters can be rejected.
- Take a photo of it in daylight, holding the phone straight above the paper so there's no shadow.
- Open ExamPic, choose SSC and then Signature. The tool turns the paper white and the ink dark, crops close to the signature and saves a JPG between 10 and 20 KB.
- Check the preview on the SSC form before you submit. A blurred or tiny signature is "summarily rejected".
Common reasons SSC rejects uploads
- Signature file outside 10–20 KB, or not a JPG
- Signature too small, faint or cut off at the edge
- Signature in capital letters only
- Live photo that is dark, blurred, side-facing or shows a cap, mask or glasses
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to upload a passport-size photo for SSC in 2026?
No. In the 2026 cycle SSC captures your photo live through the webcam or the SSC app during the application. Keep a few passport-size prints anyway, because many exam centres and document verification rounds ask for them.
What size should my SSC signature be?
A JPG between 10 KB and 20 KB, about 4.0 cm wide and 2.0 cm high. ExamPic's SSC signature preset produces exactly that.
Can I sign in blue ink?
Yes. SSC accepts black or blue ink on white paper.
Can I wear spectacles in the SSC live photo?
No. SSC's instructions say no caps, masks or spectacles in the live photo.
Last checked: 31 October 2026. Official source: ssc.gov.in. Rules change between years, so always confirm in your own notification.