Government job and exam portals are notoriously strict about document size and format. Getting it right the first time saves a lot of frustration. Here's a practical checklist.
Read the exact requirements
Note the required format (usually PDF or JPG), the size limit per document (often 100–200KB), and any dimension rules for photos and signatures. Each field may differ.
Prepare each document to its limit
Scan or export cleanly, then compress each file to just under its stated limit. Keep documents legible — an unreadable certificate can mean rejection.
Keep originals
Always keep a full-quality original. Submit the compressed copy, but you may need the clear version later for verification.
Step by step
- Read the notification itself for the file limits, rather than a coaching site's summary of it.
- Note the exact figure for each item — photo, signature, certificates are usually different.
- Prepare each file to its own limit, checking the minimum as well as the maximum.
- Keep every original. You will need them again at document verification.
What usually goes wrong
Third-party sites reprint stale figures
Notification limits change between cycles and aggregator pages rarely follow. The commission's own PDF is the only figure worth trusting.
Many portals set a minimum as well as a maximum
Compressing a photograph to 15KB when the floor is 20KB fails just as surely as being over the ceiling.
The portal may enforce something the notification does not mention
Format and dimension checks sometimes live only in the upload widget. If a file that meets the stated spec is refused, that is usually why.
Frequently asked questions
Why do these portals use such small limits?
Many were built years ago with limited storage and bandwidth, and the limits were never relaxed. Compressing to fit is usually the only option.
Where do I find the real file size limits?
In the official notification PDF on the commission's own website. Aggregator sites frequently reprint figures from previous cycles.
What if my document is under the minimum size?
Rescan at a higher resolution rather than trying to inflate the file. A minimum exists to reject unreadable uploads.