More application forms now take your photo live through the webcam or phone camera instead of, or in addition to, an uploaded file. It stops people from using old or edited photos, and it changes what you need to prepare. Here is which exams do it, based on their official notices and manuals, and what you still upload.
Exams that capture a live photo
| Exam | Live photo | You still upload |
|---|---|---|
| SSC (2026 application module) | Captured through the webcam or the SSC mobile app. No photo file is uploaded. | Signature, 10–20 KB, about 6 × 2 cm |
| BPSC | Captured through the webcam, and captured again at final submission | Hindi and English signatures, each under 20 KB |
| NEET PG (NBEMS) | Captured through the webcam or built-in camera | A recent photo under 80 KB, signature and thumb impression. The two photos must match. |
| Banks: IBPS, SBI, RBI, LIC | Captured through the webcam or phone during registration | Photo, signature, left thumb impression and handwritten declaration |
| CUET UG | A live photo, as well as the scanned photograph | Photo and signature |
How to pass a live capture
- Light: sit facing a window or a lamp, so the light falls on your face and not into the camera. NBEMS asks for bright light on the face but not on the webcam.
- Background: a plain, light wall with nothing behind you. NBEMS asks for white and says images with objects in the background are rejected.
- Camera at eye level: put the laptop on a few books, or hold the phone straight in front of you. A camera looking up from the desk is the most common bad angle.
- Face inside the guide: keep your whole face, ears and the top of your shoulders inside the outline the form shows.
- Nothing on your face: SSC asks for no cap, mask or spectacles; NBEMS also rules out goggles and ornaments.
- Don't photograph a photo. SSC's notice says capturing a photo of an existing photograph leads to rejection.
If the camera won't start
The browser needs permission to use the camera. If the capture box stays black, click the camera or padlock icon in the address bar, allow the camera for the site and reload. Close other apps that may be using the camera, such as video calls. On a phone, use the browser the form recommends. More fixes are in our upload checklist.
Why the uploaded photo must match
Where a form takes both a live and an uploaded photo, the two are compared, and they will be compared again with your face at the exam centre. NBEMS says applications are rejected when the two don't match. Take the uploaded photo recently, with the same hairstyle, no glasses and a similar plain background.
What to prepare before you start the form
For a live-photo exam, the files you prepare are the signature and any other documents. Use your exam page for the exact sizes, and get them ready in the editor before you open the form, so the session doesn't time out while you resize.