Uploading photograph and signature is the third step in the application form of Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2020. Students often commit errors in this step, and end up uploading incorrect images. However, NTA has laid down some clear guidelines and requirements for the photograph to be uploaded in application form.
As per JEE Main photo requirements mentioned in the January 2020 attempt brochure, there are __ important points to be kept in mind. Please note that photograph of student, who will appear in JEE Main has to be uploaded.
First of all, the photograph should be a passport size photograph. Every country has different specifications for it. In India, whenever a passport size photograph is mentioned, it usually refers to a 35 mm (or 3.5 cm) by 45 mm (or 4.5 cm) photograph. However, dimension is not mentioned this time in the brochure or form, though last these exact dimensions were given, that is 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm.
Then the second thing is the color of the photograph. NTA says, “photograph should be coloured or black/white”. Thus there is no restriction on color format, or background, as it is in several other exams. However NTA does add that the photograph should have clear contrast.
Third point to consider is that the photograph should be recent. National Testing Agency, the exam conducting body of JEE Main, only uses the word “recent” in describing how long before the form filling process should be photo have been taken. However it has not put any restrictions on how many days, weeks, months, or years ago the photo could have been taken. Here, normal logic dictates that the photo should be recent enough that it matches with the look of student on present day. As a child grows, his or her facial features change. Ultimately the photograph will be used to identify the student until admission process. So the more recent the picture is, the longer it will be useful for identification purposes.
Fourth thing is the format of image. It should be either JPG or JPEG. After scanning the image, and saving it, students should opt to save it in these formats only. One can check the format of image on computer by placing the mouse cursor over the file, and by seeing what the file type is shown to be. If the file is in mobile, then the extension is simply shown at the end of the file name. If the file name ends in .jpeg, then it is a JPEG file, or if it ends in .jpg then it is a JPG file.
Fifth point is the size of image. NTA instructs that file size should be 10 kb to 200 kb for the photograph, and 4 kb to 30 kb for the signature. In case the file size is larger, then students can use any of the available image optimization tools available as online websites, or apps.
These are the only points defined in NTA JEE Main 2020 information brochure, as well as in the online application form instructions. A number of the previous guidelines no longer exist. For example last year students were instructed to have their name and date of taking photograph. Although later in the JEE Main FAQs, NTA said that they were also accepting those without it.
In last to last year, that is in 2018, the dimension of images were also specified. In that year, students had to upload a 3.5 cm by 4.5 cm photograph, a 3.5 cm by 1.5 cm signature of candidate, and a 3.5 cm by 1.5 cm signature of father or mother or guardian.
A number of photo studios can be found in small as well as big cities. They charge a nominal amount for passport size photographs to be taken. Earlier the photo studios used to provide printed pictures and their reels. Nowadays they also provide with .jpeg / .jpg versions directly if asked for. Students, who are going to go to any of these studios can take a pen drive or ask the photographer / studio owner to share the soft copies of photographs directly with them in pen drive or transfer in mobile. This will save students the trouble of having to scan them for the form.
Last year, JEE Main’s brochure mentioned Common Services Centres or Facilitation Centres. Candidates could go to CSC set up by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India, under Digital India initiatives to help with the form filling process. CSCs are not mentioned in JEE Main 2020 January attempt brochure as such.
The JEE Main 2020 application form is available from today to until September 30, 2019 at jeemain.nta.nic.in instead of jeemain.nic.in. Students need to register, fill the form, upload images, and pay fee in order to apply. The exam will be held from January 6 to 11, 2020.
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