UGC-NET Admission to PhD Photo & Signature Size
Official 2026 Specifications
Complete official photograph specifications for UGC-NET (NTA) 2026 application. Photos that don't meet these exact rules will be rejected by the portal.
UGC-NET Admission to PhD: photo & signature size at a glance
For UGC-NET December 2026, NTA asks for a recent photograph of 10–200 KB, in colour or black and white, with 80% of the face (no mask, ears visible) against a white background, and a signature of 10–50 KB. A live photo is also captured from your webcam or phone while you fill in the form.
| Photograph — file size | 10–200 KBSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (i)“a recent photograph (file size 10kb-200kb) either in colour or black & white”Open official PDF ↗ |
|---|---|
| Photograph — look | Colour or black & white; 80% face visible (no mask) including ears; white backgroundSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (i)“with 80% face (without mask) visible including ears against white background”Open official PDF ↗ |
| Signature — file size | 10–50 KBSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (ii)“(ii) candidate’s signature (file size: 10kb-50kb)”Open official PDF ↗ |
| PwD/PwBD certificate | PDF, 50–300 KBSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (iii)“Scanned copy of Disability/UDID certificate should be a pdf between (50 kb to 300 kb)”Open official PDF ↗ |
Worth knowing
- The bulletin gives no pixel dimensions for the photo or signature; only the file sizes above are fixed.
- A live photograph is captured through your webcam (or by scanning a QR code with your phone) in addition to the uploaded photo, so use a light background and good lighting for that too.
Source: NTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026. Checked on 21 October 2026. The official notice is final.
Official sources (1)
NTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026
16 Oct 2026
Official PDF ↗ · Archived copy ↗
- Photo size — p. 5 (PDF p. 32), Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (i)
- Photo background — p. 5 (PDF p. 32), Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (i)
- Signature size — p. 5 (PDF p. 32), Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (ii)
- Certificate size — p. 5 (PDF p. 32), Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (iii)
Official UGC-NET Photo Specifications
| File Size | 10KB – 200KBSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (i)“a recent photograph (file size 10kb-200kb) either in colour or black & white”Open official PDF ↗ |
| Format | JPEG / JPG |
| Background | whiteSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (i)“with 80% face (without mask) visible including ears against white background”Open official PDF ↗ |
Additional Requirements
- JPG/JPEG format only. Passport-size colour or black & white photograph.
- 80% face (including both ears) must be visible. White background mandatory.
- No masks, caps, goggles or dark glasses. Spectacles allowed only if worn regularly.
- Polaroid, computer-generated or heavily edited photos are strictly prohibited.
- Keep 6-8 identical passport-size photographs for use at the examination centre.
Official UGC-NET Signature Specifications
| File Size | 10KB – 50KBSourceNTA Public Notice with Updated Information Bulletin, UGC-NET December 2026p. 5 (PDF p. 32) · Annexure-B, c. Instructions for filling Online Application Form, Step-2 (ii)“(ii) candidate’s signature (file size: 10kb-50kb)”Open official PDF ↗ |
| Ink | blue or black |
- JPG/JPEG format only. Full signature in running handwriting on white paper with Blue/Black ink pen.
- Writing name in CAPITAL LETTERS will NOT be accepted as a valid signature.
- Candidate must upload his/her own signature only. Uploading someone else's signature is treated as Unfair Means (UFM).
Always confirm against the official notification on the UGC-NET official portal before you submit.
Why Photos Get Rejected on the UGC-NET Portal
Photo exceeds 200KB
Camera phones produce 2–5MB images. The UGC-NET portal caps uploads at 200KB — only about 7% of a typical 3MB phone photo.
Incorrect background color
UGC-NET requires a white background. Indoor photos, selfies, and studio photos with coloured backdrops are commonly rejected.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the photo size for UGC NET December 2026?
The photograph must be 10 KB to 200 KB, in colour or black and white, with 80% of the face visible (without mask, ears included) against a white background.
What is the signature size for UGC NET December 2026?
The scanned signature must be 10 KB to 50 KB.
Do I need a live photo for UGC NET?
Yes. Along with the uploaded photograph, the form captures a live photo through your webcam, or through your phone by scanning the QR code shown on screen.
What is the exact photo size for Admission to PhD 2026?
The official photo file size for Admission to PhD is 10KB to 200KB in JPEG/JPG format.
What background color is required for UGC-NET photos?
UGC-NET requires a white background for all passport-size photographs uploaded during the 2026 application process.
Can I use a phone selfie for Admission to PhD?
Yes, but you must resize and compress it to meet the exact 10KB–200KB requirement. Our free photo resizer tool does this automatically.
Need to Resize Your Photo?
Our free tool automatically crops, resizes, and compresses your photo to meet the exact UGC-NET 2026 specifications listed above.
Use Admission to PhD Photo ResizerNext Steps for Admission to PhD
Continue preparing your application documents with official specifications.