How to use Compress PDF for NTA
- Choose the scanned document PDF, for example your Class 10 certificate or marks-sheet. The Target size box shows 300 KB, counted as 300,000 bytes.
- Leave If needed, convert pages to images to reach the size ticked.
- For printed black-on-white documents, tick Greyscale (smaller for text documents). Leave it off if the board’s seal or a coloured stamp must stay visible.
- Press the Compress to … button.
- Check the New size: no more than 293 KB as shown (that is 300,000 bytes) and at least 51 KB, so the 50 kB minimum is cleared under either way of counting.
- Open the file, zoom to 100% and read your name, roll number, date of birth and marks before uploading.
Which NTA documents use the 50–300 kB PDF rule
JEE (Main) 2027. The information bulletin released on 24 October 2026 lists four PDF uploads, each “between 50 kB to 300 kB (clearly legible)”. Session 1 applications are open from 24 October to 22 November 2026.
| Document | Format | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10 or equivalent certificate or marks-sheet | 50–300 kB | |
| Disability or UDID certificate (if applicable) | 50–300 kB | |
| Certificate of physical limitation to write (if applicable) | 50–300 kB | |
| Non-Indian passport (foreign nationals, including OCI) | 50–300 kB | |
| Photograph | JPG/JPEG | 10–200 kB |
| Signature | JPG/JPEG | 10–100 kB |
NEET (UG). The 2026 bulletin, the most recent one on 27 October 2026, lists more PDFs in the same 50–300 kB range: the category certificate, Class X certificate, Class X marks-sheet, a CGPA conversion certificate where marks are in grades, the PwD/PwBD/UDID certificate, present and permanent address proof, NRI, OCI or foreigner proof, the scribe’s qualification certificate and undertaking, the identity proof and the certificate of physical limitation to write. The photograph, signature and finger and thumb impressions are JPG/JPEG uploads.
Both bulletins ask for every scan to be clearly legible, so a file that fits the size range but cannot be read is still a problem.
What it does and when to use it
Many board certificates are printed on patterned security paper, and a colour scan records every line of that pattern. A single page from a phone scanner app can come out several times larger than 300 kB. This tool cuts the file to the limit while keeping as much detail as possible. For the photo and signature, use the JEE Main Photo Resizer or the NEET Photo Resizer instead; those are JPG uploads with their own rules.
How it works on your device
Nothing is uploaded. The PDF is handled in the browser tab:
- A file of 300,000 bytes or less is returned as it is.
- A lossless rebuild repacks the file’s internals; the pages look identical.
- If the file is still over, each page is drawn again as a JPEG starting at 150 DPI, with quality searched between 35% and 85%.
- If 35% quality is still too large, the tool steps down to a lower resolution (120, 100, 85, 72 DPI and below), picked from the size it measured.
Worked examples
A two-page Class 10 marks-sheet, front and back. Each side gets 150,000 bytes, about 0.55 bits per pixel at 150 DPI on A4. Ticking Greyscale drops the colour of the security pattern, so more of the budget goes to the printed marks.
An OCI candidate’s passport. If you combine several passport pages into one PDF, each page gets a smaller share of the 300,000 bytes. Include the pages the form asks for and no more.
A six-page address proof that is far too big. Suppose the first attempt at 150 DPI and 35% quality comes to 2.4 MB. The tool computes 150 × √(300 ÷ 2,400) × 0.95 = 50.38 and drops to 50 DPI. At 50 DPI a line of 10-point type is about 7 pixels tall, which is unlikely to stay clearly legible. Upload fewer pages instead: keep only the pages that show what the form asks for, rather than six pages squeezed until they blur.
Under the 50 kB floor
The minimum catches out PDFs that are generated digitally or scanned in plain black and white. A compressor only makes files smaller, so it cannot help. What does:
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| A printed certificate scanned in black and white | Rescan in greyscale or colour at 200 to 300 DPI, then compress if it goes over 300 kB |
| A small PDF downloaded from a board or authority | Convert it with PDF to JPG at 200 or 300 DPI, then back with JPG to PDF; the page is stored as a detailed picture and the file grows |
| A photo of the document | Retake it closer and in good light, so the page fills the frame |
Do not add blank pages or unrelated material to raise the size. The document should contain only what the form asks for.
Limits and tips
- Once pages become images, their text cannot be selected; the tool warns you. Keep the original.
- Compressing an already compressed copy loses more detail each time. Start again from the original scan.
- If the tool cannot reach 300 kB, it shows the smallest size it managed. Remove extra pages with the PDF Page Deleter or keep only the pages you need with the PDF Page Extractor, then try again.
- The tool cannot judge whether NTA will accept a document. That depends on the bulletin for your exam year and on the document itself.
The bytes-per-page arithmetic behind these examples is explained in the guide to compressing a PDF for an online form.
Frequently asked questions
What size should my Class 10 certificate PDF be for JEE (Main) 2027?
NTA writes kb. Does it mean kilobits?
Are the NEET (UG) 2027 limits out yet?
My marks-sheet PDF is 42 kB. What should I do?
Can I fix a wrong document after submitting the form?
Should my certificate be in colour?
Does the tool upload my certificate?
Sources
- Information Bulletin, Joint Entrance Examination (Main) 2027, Step 2: Application Form — National Testing Agency, accessed 2026-10-27
- Online Application Form for JEE (Main) 2027, Session 1 — National Testing Agency, accessed 2026-10-27
- Information Bulletin for NEET (UG) 2026, upload specifications — National Testing Agency, accessed 2026-10-27
How do we know nothing is uploaded? Test it yourself on the privacy proof page.