If India Post rejects your photo or signature upload, it’s almost always one thing: the wrong aspect ratio or a file size outside the allowed KB range. This guide gives you the exact, official GDS photo and signature size for 2026 — in pixels, in KB, and as a ratio — plus a free step-by-step way to fix and resize both before you submit your India Post GDS application.
GDS Photo and Signature Size 2026: Quick Answer
Here’s the short version. Your GDS photo needs a 4:5 (portrait) ratio at 320×400 pixels, between 30 KB and 100 KB, in JPG format. Your GDS signature needs a 5:2 (landscape) ratio at 300×120 pixels, between 20 KB and 100 KB, also in JPG format. Both allow a DPI of 72 to 150. The table below breaks down every requirement side by side.
| Requirement | Photograph | Signature |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPG / JPEG only | JPG / JPEG only |
| File size | 30 KB – 100 KB | 20 KB – 100 KB |
| Recommended dimensions | 320 × 400 px | 300 × 120 px |
| Aspect ratio | 4:5 (portrait) | 5:2 (landscape) |
| DPI | 72 – 150 | 72 – 150 |
| Background | Plain white or light-coloured | Plain white |
| Subject coverage | Face fills 70–80% of frame | Signature fills 70–80% of frame |
| Not allowed | Scanned photos, selfies, shadows, red-eye | Typed/digital text, shadows, borders, extra marks |
These figures come straight from the official India Post GDS Online Engagement Notification (Annexure-II), so you can rely on them for the current recruitment cycle. India Post issues fresh schedules through the year, and the specifications have stayed consistent across recent cycles — but always cross-check against the live notification for your schedule before you upload.
GDS Photo Size 2026: Full Specifications
India Post asks for a passport-style photo, not a casual snapshot. Follow these rules exactly, since the portal validates the ratio automatically and rejects anything outside tolerance.
- Save the file as JPG or JPEG — no PNG, BMP, WEBP, or PDF.
- Keep the file size between 30 KB and 100 KB. Going under 30 KB or over 100 KB triggers a rejection.
- Crop to a 4:5 (width:height) ratio. 320×400 px is the recommended size, though 240×300 px also keeps the same ratio.
- Set the resolution to 72–150 DPI.
- Shoot against a plain white or light-coloured background, with no patterns or shadows.
- Frame the shot so your face fills 70–80% of the photo, centred, with no red-eye.
- Use a recent photo taken specifically for this purpose — India Post does not accept scanned printed photos or selfies.
- Make sure the final image looks sharp and well-lit, not blurry or pixelated.
GDS Signature Size 2026: The Landscape Surprise
This is where most candidates go wrong. Almost every other government exam form asks for a portrait or square signature. GDS does the opposite — it wants a landscape signature with a wide, short 5:2 ratio. If you upload a normal portrait-shaped signature scan, the portal will reject it even if the file size and format are correct.
- Sign with black or blue ink on plain white paper — never a typed or digital signature.
- Save the file as JPG or JPEG, between 20 KB and 100 KB.
- Crop to a 5:2 (width:height) ratio. 300×120 px is the recommended size — wide and short, not tall.
- Set the resolution to 72–150 DPI.
- Keep the background plain white with no borders, stray marks, or shadows.
- Let your signature fill 70–80% of the frame so it isn’t tiny in the middle of a mostly blank image.
- Check that every stroke is clear and steady — a shaky scan or a low-resolution photo of your signature gets flagged as blurred and rejected.
Fixing the “Image Must Have 5:2 (Landscape) Aspect Ratio” Error
If the upload screen throws an error like “image must have 5:2 (landscape) aspect ratio (±10% tolerance)”, your signature file is shaped wrong — usually because you cropped it as a normal rectangle instead of a wide landscape strip. Open the image in any editor, rotate or re-crop it so the width is roughly 2.5 times the height, then export it again as a 300×120 px JPG. Re-check the file size afterward, since cropping tighter often shrinks it below the 20 KB floor.
Fixing the “Image Must Have 4:5 (Portrait) Aspect Ratio” Error
This error usually means you tried to upload a square (1:1) profile-style photo or a full-length picture instead of a passport-style crop. Re-crop the photo so the height is 1.25 times the width — for example, 320×400 px — with your face centred and filling most of the frame. Export as JPG and confirm the size lands between 30 KB and 100 KB before you try uploading again.
How to Resize Your GDS Photo (Step-by-Step, Free)
- Start with a clear, recent, well-lit photo against a plain white or light background.
- Crop the image to a 4:5 ratio, keeping your face centred and filling 70–80% of the frame.
- Resize the cropped image to 320×400 pixels (or another size that keeps the same 4:5 ratio, such as 240×300 px).
- Export or save the file as JPG/JPEG.
- Check the file size. If it’s above 100 KB, compress it further. If it’s below 30 KB, reduce the compression or slightly increase the dimensions.
- Open the file to confirm it still looks sharp, then upload it and check the preview on the GDS portal before final submission.
How to Resize Your GDS Signature (Step-by-Step, Free)
- Sign your name clearly with black or blue ink on a plain white sheet of paper.
- Photograph or scan the signature in good, even light with no shadows.
- Crop tightly around the signature so it fills most of the frame, then crop the overall shape to a 5:2 landscape ratio — wide and short.
- Resize the cropped image to 300×120 pixels.
- Export or save the file as JPG/JPEG.
- Check the file size sits between 20 KB and 100 KB, then upload and verify the preview looks clear before you submit.
How to Compress a GDS Photo or Signature Without Losing Clarity
Most GDS uploads get rejected for being too large, but a good number also fail for being too small — remember, both files have a minimum KB floor as well as a maximum ceiling. Keep these tips in mind when you compress:
- Lower the JPEG quality setting gradually (try 80%, then 70%, then 60%) instead of jumping straight to maximum compression, which can blur fine details like signature strokes.
- Avoid shrinking the pixel dimensions far below the recommended size just to hit a smaller file size — you’ll lose sharpness and risk a “blurred image” rejection instead of a “wrong ratio” one.
- If your compressed file falls under the minimum (30 KB for photo, 20 KB for signature), ease off the compression slightly or bump the dimensions back up rather than leaving it undersized.
- Always re-check the exact byte size after compressing — “roughly small enough” isn’t good enough when the portal enforces a hard range.
GDS Photo & Signature Checklist Before You Submit
- ✅ Photo is JPG/JPEG, 320×400 px, 4:5 ratio, 30–100 KB
- ✅ Signature is JPG/JPEG, 300×120 px, 5:2 landscape ratio, 20–100 KB
- ✅ Both images are 72–150 DPI
- ✅ Photo background is plain white/light, face fills 70–80% of frame, no shadows or red-eye
- ✅ Signature is handwritten in black/blue ink on white paper — not typed or digital
- ✅ Preview checked on the portal and looks sharp, not blurry or pixelated
- ✅ Everything reviewed carefully — India Post does not allow corrections after final submission
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GDS photo size for 2026?
India Post requires a photo of 320×400 pixels with a 4:5 (width:height) aspect ratio, saved as JPG or JPEG, between 30 KB and 100 KB.
What is the GDS signature size in KB?
Your GDS signature file must fall between 20 KB and 100 KB, saved as JPG or JPEG.
What aspect ratio does the GDS signature need?
The signature needs a 5:2 landscape ratio, recommended at 300×120 pixels. This is unusual — most exam forms use a portrait signature, but GDS specifically wants a wide, short shape.
Why does my GDS signature show a “5:2 aspect ratio” error?
You’ve likely uploaded a portrait or square-shaped signature. Re-crop it into a wide landscape strip (width roughly 2.5 times the height) and export it again as a 300×120 px JPG.
Can I upload a scanned photo for GDS?
No. India Post asks candidates to avoid scanned printed photos and selfies. Use a recent, clear photo taken specifically for the application, against a plain white or light background.
What DPI does India Post require for GDS uploads?
Both the photo and the signature need a resolution of 72 to 150 DPI.
Can I edit my photo or signature after final submission?
No. India Post does not entertain correction requests after you submit the form. Check the preview carefully and confirm both images meet every specification before you finalise your application.
GDS ke liye photo aur signature ka size kitna hota hai?
Photo ka size 320×400 pixels (4:5 ratio) aur 30–100 KB hona chahiye. Signature ka size 300×120 pixels (5:2 landscape ratio) aur 20–100 KB hona chahiye — dono JPG format mein.
Get your GDS photo and signature right the first time, double-check every figure against this table before you upload, and you’ll avoid the single most common reason India Post applications get stuck at the document stage.