NSP Scholarship Document Size Limit: Get Every File Under 200 KB
National Scholarship Portal documents must be PDF or JPEG under 200 KB each. The document list, the official source, and how to get each file under the limit.
By the PDFToast team · Updated 15 October 2026
Each document you upload to the National Scholarship Portal (NSP) should be a PDF or JPEG of no more than 200 KB. That is the rule in the NSP FAQ for scholarships for students with disabilities, and it matches most NSP schemes. If your file is bigger, Compress PDF to 200 KB gets it under the limit in your browser.
Checked on 15 October 2026. Each scheme and state can set its own rules. If the NSP upload screen or your scheme guidelines show a different limit, the portal wins.
The rule, in the NSP’s own words
The NSP FAQ published on scholarships.gov.in says documents should be “in PDF or JEPG format only” (their spelling), the size of each document should not exceed 200 KB, and documents must be readable, otherwise the application “is liable to be rejected”.
Other guides give different numbers. One says files can be between 20 KB and 500 KB depending on the document type, but it doesn’t link an official source for that. 200 KB per file is the safe target: it meets the official rule and fits any larger limit too.
Documents NSP commonly asks for
The exact list depends on your scheme. These are the documents most often listed, from IndiaScholarships and the NSP FAQ:
| Document | Usual format | Size target | How to get it under the limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student photograph | JPG | Under 200 KB (check scheme) | Resize image to KB |
| Aadhaar card | PDF or JPG | Under 200 KB | Mask Aadhaar if allowed, then Compress to 200 KB |
| Income certificate (from the competent revenue authority) | Under 200 KB | Scan to PDF in black and white, then compress | |
| Caste certificate (for caste-based schemes) | Under 200 KB | Compress to 200 KB | |
| Domicile / residence certificate | Under 200 KB | Compress to 200 KB | |
| Previous year marksheet | Under 200 KB | Merge pages, then compress | |
| Fee receipt / bonafide certificate | Under 200 KB | Compress to 200 KB | |
| Bank passbook first page or cancelled cheque | PDF or JPG | Under 200 KB | JPG to PDF, then compress |
| Disability certificate (disability schemes) | Under 200 KB | Compress to 200 KB |
The NSP FAQ also notes that Form 16 is not accepted as an income certificate for those schemes.
Uploading vs submitting to your institute: under some schemes you only submit documents to your school or college, and only some applicants upload them on the portal. For example, the disability scholarship FAQ asks for uploads only when the scholarship amount is more than Rs. 50,000. Read your scheme’s guidelines, or ask your Institute Nodal Officer.
How to get each document under 200 KB
Paper documents: scan smart first
A good scan does half the work. Phone photos are often 2–4 MB, but a clean black and white scan of a text page compresses easily.
- Open Scan to PDF on your phone.
- Place the certificate on a dark, plain surface in daylight.
- Capture the page, drag the corners to straighten it, and choose the black and white or clean document filter.
- Optional: set a size limit of 200 KB before creating the PDF.
- Download.
Keep colour only if a coloured seal or photo must be visible. For most certificates, black and white is clearer and smaller. More tips in our guide to scanning without CamScanner.
PDFs you already have
- Open Compress PDF to 200 KB.
- Add the file.
- Download the compressed copy and open it to check that it’s readable.
Need a slightly different limit for a state scheme? Compress to size lets you type any number.
Multi-page documents
Marksheets for several semesters often need to go in one upload. Use Merge PDF to join the pages into a single file, then compress it to 200 KB. With many pages, use black and white so each page stays readable.
Photos and JPGs
- To upload as JPG: Resize image to KB lets you set a maximum (and minimum) KB size.
- To upload as PDF: JPG to PDF, then compress.
Password-protected files
An e-Aadhaar or a bank statement from email is usually password-protected, and portals often can’t read those. Unlock it first with Unlock Aadhaar PDF or Unlock PDF, then compress. See our Aadhaar PDF password guide.
Common NSP upload problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “File size exceeds limit” | File over 200 KB | Compress to about 190 KB to leave a margin |
| Document rejected as unreadable | Over-compressed, blurry or dark scan | Rescan in daylight, black and white, then compress |
| Upload button does nothing | Wrong file type (e.g. HEIC, DOCX) | Convert to PDF or JPG first |
| File won’t open for the verifier | Password-protected PDF | Unlock it, then upload the unlocked copy |
| Pages in the wrong order | Merged in the wrong sequence | Reorder with Organize PDF |
Privacy: these are sensitive documents
Your NSP file set has your Aadhaar, income, caste and bank details in one place. Many free PDF websites upload whatever you give them to their servers. PDFToast compresses, scans and merges inside your browser, so your documents stay on your phone. Here is how to check any PDF site in 30 seconds.
For other exams and portals, see our photo, signature and document size chart.
Questions
What is the file size limit for NSP documents?
An NSP FAQ on scholarships.gov.in says each document should be in PDF or JPEG format and should not exceed 200 KB. Some state and ministry schemes on NSP show their own limits on the upload screen, so follow that if it differs.
Should I upload PDF or JPG on NSP?
Both are accepted. Use PDF for multi-page documents like marksheets and certificates, and JPG for single photos. A black and white PDF is usually the easiest way to stay under 200 KB.
My income certificate is 2 MB. How do I make it under 200 KB?
Open PDFToast's Compress PDF to 200 KB tool, add the file and download. If it's a photo, convert it to PDF first, or resize the JPG to under 200 KB.
NSP says my document is not readable. What went wrong?
It was probably compressed too hard or scanned in poor light. Rescan in daylight with a black and white filter, then compress again. Seals and signatures must be clearly visible.