Railway Recruitment Board forms have changed. In the recent NTPC (Graduate, CEN 06/2025) and Group D (Level 1, CEN 09/2025) notices, you do not upload a photo file. The form captures a live photo with your webcam or phone camera. The one image you prepare is your signature, and its size window is unusual: 30 KB to 49 KB.
Quick summary (CEN 06/2025 and CEN 09/2025)
- Photo: live capture in the form. Nothing to upload or resize.
- Signature format: JPG/JPEG only
- File size: between 30 KB and 49 KB
- Dimensions: at least 140 pixels wide × 60 pixels high
- Scan resolution: at least 100 DPI
- Ink and style: black pen on white paper, running (joined) handwriting. Not in block, capital or separate letters.
- The signature sits centred in a 35 mm × 20 mm box on the form.
SC/ST candidates who ask for a free train travel pass also upload their certificate as a PDF, as per the notice.
Step 1: Sign properly
Use a black pen (not blue) on plain white paper. Sign in your normal joined handwriting, a little larger than usual. A coloured or lined background, blue ink or a capital-letter signature are listed as grounds for rejection.
Step 2: Photograph and crop
Take the photo in daylight from directly above, with no shadow. Open the Image Cropper and crop around the signature, leaving a little white space, in a wide shape close to 35 × 20 (roughly 7:4).
Step 3: Get the size between 30 and 49 KB
The 30 KB minimum is the tricky part. A small, plain signature often compresses to well under 30 KB.
- Make it big enough first: in the Image Resizer, set the width to about 700–1000 px (keep the aspect lock on). That is far above the 140 × 60 minimum.
- Open the Image Compressor and type 45 in the Target size (KB) box. Aim for 40–48 KB so you stay safely inside the window.
- Still under 30 KB? Make the image wider again (for example 1200 px) and repeat. Over 49 KB? Lower the target to 44.
You can also use Compress Image to 50 KB, but check that the result is not below 30 KB.
Step 4: Live photo tips
- Hold the camera at eye level, face the camera straight, with a neutral expression and eyes fully open.
- No cap, mask or spectacles, as the notices say.
- Use a plain, light background and good light.
- Do not photograph an old printed or on-screen photo. The notices say such applications are rejected.
Keep your signature the same
RRB notices say your signature must be identical at every stage, so sign exactly the same way at the exam and document verification.
These rules are from the recent NTPC Graduate and Group D notices. Other RRB notices can differ, so always check the official notice on your RRB's website (for example rrbcdg.gov.in) before you apply. ToolSandook is not connected to Indian Railways.
Frequently asked questions
What is the RRB NTPC signature size?
The NTPC Graduate notice (CEN 06/2025) asks for a JPG/JPEG signature between 30 KB and 49 KB, at least 140 × 60 pixels, scanned at 100 DPI or more, in black ink running handwriting.
Do I need to upload a photo for RRB Group D?
Not in the Group D CEN 09/2025 notice. The form captures a live photo through your webcam or phone camera, so there is no photo file to upload.
Why does my RRB signature show 'file too small'?
The minimum is 30 KB. Make the signature image larger (for example 800–1000 px wide) and compress with a target of about 45 KB.
Can I sign with a blue pen for RRB?
No. The recent notices ask for a black ink pen on white paper and list non-black ink as a reason for rejection.