TNPSC asks for a photo in two places: your One Time Registration (OTR) profile, and each exam application. The rules look alike, so people often assume one photo covers both. It often doesn't.
What the OTR photo needs
Sections 2-C and 2-D of the TNPSC Instructions to Applicants (pages 7–8, updated 22 September 2025) set the OTR rules:
- photo taken within the last three months, 20–50 KB, saved as
Photograph.jpg - signature 10–20 KB, saved as
Signature.jpg - 200 DPI mentioned for both
The instructions don't fix the OTR pixel dimensions as clearly as the exam notices do, so check what the live OTR form asks for. If it matches 130 × 170 px, use a TNPSC preset in the tool. If it shows other numbers, use Custom size.
Where OTR and exam photos differ
The age rule is the key difference. OTR asks for a photo within three months. Each exam asks for a photo on or after its own notification date, for example 6 October 2026 for Group 4 11/2026.
So a photo can be valid for one and not the other:
- Registered in July with a fresh photo, applying for a notice dated October: the OTR photo was fine when uploaded, but it predates the notification, so the exam needs a new one.
- A photo taken in October works for both, until it's more than three months old for OTR purposes.
The simplest habit is a new studio photo for each recruitment you apply for.
Updating your OTR photo
Searches like TNPSC OTR edit or OTR update usually come from an outdated photo on the profile. Log in to your OTR account on the official apply portal and look for the option to edit your profile. Some fields can only be changed under conditions set by TNPSC, so read the edit instructions on the portal before you start.
We can't see inside the OTR portal, and its options change between cycles. If something won't update, contact TNPSC through the official website rather than a third-party helpline.