Why PDF upload limits vary so much
Indian application portals do not use one standard PDF limit. In the official sources reviewed for this directory, requirements range from a few hundred kilobytes to many megabytes, and the same organisation can use different limits for different document fields.
That is why the correct strategy is to read the exact upload instruction first, keep the original file, and compress only as far as the destination requires. Choosing an unnecessarily tiny target can make names, stamps, signatures or scanned certificates difficult to read.
200 KB to 500 KB limits are still common
The Indian Visa Online document-upload page currently specifies PDF documents between 10 KB and 500 KB. The Press Registrar General of India user manual uses a 300 KB maximum for several owner and publisher document fields, while Kerala State Medical Council instructions require supporting certificates in PDF format at a maximum of 500 KB.
RRCAT also states a 500 KB PDF limit for uploaded score cards in its 2026 Ph.D. application instructions. These examples show why exact-size searches such as 300 KB and 500 KB remain useful rather than being arbitrary SEO variations.
1 MB and 2 MB are common application limits
GST registration guidance lists a 1 MB maximum for the proof-of-appointment upload for an authorised signatory. A recent Passport Seva applicant-portal SOP published by an Indian mission also states a 1 MB total supporting-document limit.
FSSAI recruitment pages allow a resume in PDF or Word format up to 2 MB. The NCPCR chairperson/member application requires Aadhaar and date-of-birth PDFs below 2 MB, and Maharashtra State Information Commission instructions list a 2 MB maximum upload size for its online second-appeal workflow.
Some portals allow 5 MB, 10 MB or more
Punjab Land Records currently allows an optional grievance supporting document in PDF format up to 5 MB. The Telecommunication Engineering Centre control-lab form allows PDF or DOCX supporting documents up to 10 MB.
SEBI’s settlement-application portal illustrates why users must read each field separately: it allows an ITR PDF up to 20 MB while the PAN-card PDF on the same form is limited to 500 KB.
How to use this directory
Find the exact portal and document type in the downloadable dataset, open the official source, and confirm the rule is still current. Then choose the largest permitted target that meets the requirement so the document keeps as much readable detail as possible.
1into1 uses 1 KB = 1,024 bytes. Some receiving systems may calculate limits differently or apply additional rules such as page count, password protection, filename restrictions or image dimensions. Leave headroom when a portal is strict and always reopen the compressed PDF before submitting it.
Official sources reviewed
- Indian Visa Online — Document UploadPDF documents: minimum 10 KB, maximum 500 KB.
- Press Registrar General of India — Owner/Applicant/Publisher User ManualSeveral uploaded document fields permit PDF/JPG/JPEG/PNG up to 300 KB.
- Kerala State Medical Council — Upload instructionsSupporting certificates in PDF format: maximum 500 KB.
- RRCAT — Ph.D. Programme 2026 instructionsScore-card PDF: up to 500 KB.
- GST Portal — Registration guideProof of appointment upload: PDF/JPEG up to 1 MB in the cited workflow.
- Consulate General of India Belfast — Passport Seva document-upload SOPSupporting documents: PDF, total upload maximum 1 MB.
- FSSAI — FFRC Recruitment PortalResume: PDF or Word, maximum 2 MB.
- NCPCR — Chairperson / Member applicationAadhaar and date-of-birth PDF uploads: less than 2 MB.
- Maharashtra State Information Commission — Second AppealAllowed upload types include PDF; maximum file size 2 MB.
- Punjab Land Records — GrievanceSupporting document: PDF, maximum 5 MB.
- Telecommunication Engineering Centre — Control Lab FormSupporting document: PDF or DOCX, maximum 10 MB.
- SEBI — Settlement ApplicationITR PDF up to 20 MB; PAN-card PDF up to 500 KB.