Union Public Service Commission Civil Services (Main) Examination
The second and most demanding stage of the Civil Services Examination. Nine descriptive papers over 5–6 days, followed by a Personality Test (Interview) for the final merit list.
UPSC Civil Services Mains — Photo & Document Requirements 2026
The second and most demanding stage of the Civil Services Examination. Nine descriptive papers over 5–6 days, followed by a Personality Test (Interview) for the final merit list.
About UPSC Civil Services Mains
Read the exam profile, key context, and application readiness checklist before submission.
UPSC Civil Services Mains Syllabus
Check syllabus guidance, what to verify in official notification, and trusted source links.
Photo & Signature Specifications
Photograph
- Dimensions
- 3.5 × 4.5 cm
- Max File Size
- 300 KB
- Format
- JPG / JPEG
- Background
- White or light plain background
- Resolution
- 200 DPI
Signature
- Dimensions
- 3.5 × 1.5 cm
- Max File Size
- 300 KB
- Format
- JPG / JPEG
- Ink Colour
- Black on white paper
Documents Required
Carry originals + photocopies on exam day. Check items as you prepare:
Checklist state is saved locally in your browser.
Upcoming UPSC Exams
UPSC Civil Services Mains — Frequently Asked Questions
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A fresh, recent photo is strongly recommended for the Mains DAF. Specifications are identical to Prelims — 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, 20–300 KB, white background.
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The DAF requires scanned copies of all educational certificates, category certificate, PwD certificate if applicable, and your photograph and signature. Each document must be under 1 MB in PDF format.
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Use our AI PDF Merge & Split tool to combine multiple certificate scans into one PDF, then use the AI PDF Compressor to bring it under 1 MB.
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Same as Mains — 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm, JPG, 20–300 KB, white background. Carry 4–5 copies to be safe.