How to make your UPSC photo ID PDF under 300KB
For UPSC applications (Civil Services, NDA, CDS and more), your photo ID goes in as a single PDF — usually 20KB to 300KB. Merge both sides, then compress.
Last reviewed 23 October 2026 · Conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) · Applies to India (national)
UPSC document size limits
| Document | Format | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID card (Aadhaar / Voter ID / PAN / Passport / DL) | PDF, single file | 20KB – 300KB |
| Photograph | JPG | 20KB – 200KB (check notice) |
| Signature | JPG | 20KB – 100KB (check notice) |
Limits can change between cycles. Confirm in the current notice on upsconline.gov.in before you upload.
Compress your UPSC PDF
Preset to 280KB, with a 20KB minimum for UPSC. Runs in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
Step by step
- 1Scan or photograph the front and back of your ID.
- 2Convert the photos with JPG to PDF — add both sides so they're two pages of one PDF.
- 3Compress the PDF with the preset above (280KB).
- 4Make sure the ID number is readable — it must match what you enter in the form.
Use the same ID throughout
The ID number you type in the application must match the card you upload, and you'll be asked to bring the same ID to the exam centre. Upload the one you'll carry.
Common reasons uploads get rejected
- Uploading only the front side when the ID has details on the back.
- Two separate files — UPSC wants one PDF. Merge first.
- Compressing until the ID number blurs. Keep it sharp; 200–280KB is plenty for two pages.
Filling the UPSC form on your phone?
FramePDF makes PDFs smaller and combines pages offline on Android — so you can fix a certificate straight from Downloads, even on patchy mobile data.
- Make a PDF smaller in one tap
- Combine front and back into one PDF
- Rotate or remove pages before you upload
