NDA/CDS/AFCAT Photo Requirements: Defense Services Selection Guide (2026)

Quick Answer: For defense officer entry exams, NDA/CDS requires 10-100 KB photo and AFCAT requires 10-50 KB photo. All formats: JPG/JPEG, white background, no spectacles for SSB interview stage.

Defense Officer Entry Photo Requirements (Comparison)

All require white background, JPG/JPEG format

NDA (National Defense Academy)

Full Form: National Defence Academy & Naval Academy
Conducted by: UPSC (twice yearly)
Eligibility: 10+2 pass (appearing students can apply)

Photo Specifications

• File Size: 10 KB to 100 KB
• Format: JPG or JPEG (compulsory)
• Dimensions: Passport size
  • Standard: 3.5 cm × 4.5 cm
• Background: Plain white (mandatory)
• Recency: Taken within 6 months
• Quality: Clear face, professional appearance

Signature Specifications

• File Size: 5 KB to 50 KB
• Format: JPG or JPEG
• Ink: Black pen only (dark blue acceptable)
• Style: Must match Aadhaar signature

Special NDA Requirements

For SSB Interview:

• Same photo used during SSB calls
• Photo quality critical for psychological testing
• Appearance should match SSB day
• Hair must not cover forehead (for psychometric tests)

CDS (Combined Defence Services)

Full Form: Combined Defence Services Examination
Conducted by: UPSC (twice yearly)
Eligibility: Graduate (for IMA/INA/AFA) or 10+2 (for OTA)

Photo Specifications

• File Size: 10 KB to 100 KB
• Format: JPG/JPEG
• Background: White
• Same as NDA: UPSC uses identical specifications

Academies Covered

CDS-I & CDS-II:

• IMA (Indian Military Academy): Army officers
• INA (Indian Naval Academy): Navy officers
• AFA (Air Force Academy): Air Force officers
• OTA (Officers Training Academy): Short Service Commission

CDS vs NDA Differences

AFCAT (Air Force Common Admission Test)

Full Form: Air Force Common Admission Test
Conducted by: Indian Air Force (twice yearly)
Eligibility: Graduates (engineering for technical, any degree for non-technical)

Photo Specifications

• File Size: 10 KB to 50 KB (Stricter than NDA/CDS!)
• Format: JPG or JPEG
• Dimensions: Passport size
• Background: White
• Special: Must show both ears clearly

AFCAT Branches

Flying Branch:

• Fighter pilots, transport pilots
• Photo checked for vision requirements
• Spectacles NOT allowed in photos

Technical Branch:

• Aeronautical Engineers
• Normal photo requirements

Ground Duty (Non-Technical):

• Administration, logistics
• Standard photo specs

How to Take Photo for Defense Exams

Professional Photo Requirements:

1. Attire:

   • Men: Plain white or light-colored shirt (no collar designs)
   • Women: Formal shirt or salwar kameez (minimal jewelry)
   • Avoid: T-shirts, hoodies, military prints

2. Grooming:

   • Hair: Short and neatly combed (no gel/spikes)
   • Facial hair: Clean-shaven recommended (small mustache okay)
   • Tattoos: Cover visible tattoos if controversial
   • Piercings: Remove earrings/nose pins for photo

3. Expression:

   • Neutral, serious look
   • No smile (military standard)
   • Look straight at camera
   • Shoulders square

4. Resize:

   • Go to DocSet NDA/CDS Resizer
   • Upload photo
   • Auto-resizes to 10-100KB
   • Download for application

SSB Interview Photo Importance

Services Selection Board (SSB) is the final selection stage:

5-Day Assessment Process

Day 1: Intelligence & Aptitude Tests
Day 2-4: Psychological Tests (your photo is analyzed)
Day 5: Conference (final board discussion)

Photo in Psychological Assessment

• TAT (Thematic Apperception Test): Your demeanor assessed
• WAT (Word Association Test): Personality traits
• SRT (Situation Reaction Test): Officer-like qualities
• Final Interview: IO (Interviewing Officer) has your photo

Critical: Your photo creates first impression on assessors before they meet you!

Common Mistakes in Defense Photos

❌ Mistake 1: Casual Attire

Issue: T-shirts, hoodies look unprofessional
Fix: Wear formal shirt (white/light blue)

❌ Mistake 2: Sunglasses/Caps

Issue: Face not clearly visible
Fix: Plain photo with full face visible

❌ Mistake 3: Long Hair (Men)

Issue: Doesn't match military standards
Fix: Get haircut before photo, maintain until SSB

❌ Mistake 4: Heavy Makeup (Women)

Issue: Looks artificial
Fix: Minimal natural makeup only

❌ Mistake 5: Old Photos

Issue: Appearance mismatch at SSB
Fix: Fresh photo 1-2 months before application

NDA/CDS Application Timeline 2026

Official dates from UPSC calendar

Final Checklist for Defense Exams

• Photo is in JPG/JPEG format
• Photo file size matches exam (NDA/CDS: 10-100KB, AFCAT: 10-50KB)
• Photo has plain white background
• Spectacles removed (especially for Flying Branch)
• Both ears visible
• Hair short and neatly combed
• Formal attire (no t-shirts)
• Neutral, serious expression
• Photo is recent (within 6 months)
• Signature matches Aadhaar/Class 12 certificate
• Saved copies for SSB interview

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Summary: NDA and CDS (UPSC) require 10-100KB photos, AFCAT (Air Force) requires 10-50KB. All need white background, formal attire, no spectacles (Flying Branch). Photo is critical for SSB interview shortlisting and psychological assessment. Maintain same appearance from application to SSB.

Quick Guide: How to Resize