5 Common Reasons Why PDF Upload Fails on Government Exam Portals
Detailed Analysis of the 5 Common Errors
1. **Password Encryption**: Official e-Aadhaar PDFs require your name + birth year password to open. Automated portal upload scripts cannot unlock password-protected PDFs and fail immediately.
2. **Special Characters in Filename**: Unix-based portal servers reject filenames containing spaces or symbols. Always use simple alphanumeric names like `marksheet.pdf`.
3. **Oversized Documents**: Always check notification limits and use [Compress PDF](/compress-pdf) to shrink files under required caps.
Reference Specifications & Dimensions
| Error Trigger | Cause | Instant Fix Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| File Size Error | PDF exceeds 200KB / 500KB cap | Use PixEnhance [Compress PDF](/compress-pdf) |
| Password Protected | Aadhaar / e-PAN default encryption | Remove password before uploading |
| Invalid File Name | Spaces or symbols like `#`, `@`, `%` | Rename to `aadhaar_card.pdf` |
| Corrupted Streams | Mobile scanner app errors | Re-convert JPG images to PDF on PixEnhance |
Scroll horizontally on mobile devices to view all table columns.
- Reason 1: File size exceeds portal limit (e.g. 500KB cap).
- Reason 2: PDF is password protected (Aadhaar PDFs are locked by default).
- Reason 3: Special characters or spaces in the file name (e.g. `my photo #1.pdf`).
- Reason 4: Corrupted PDF headers caused by bad mobile scanner apps.
- Reason 5: Uploading image files renamed as `.pdf` without true conversion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Important answers regarding exam rules, dimensions, and optimization.
How do I remove password from Aadhaar PDF before uploading?
Open the PDF in Chrome browser, enter password, click Print ➔ Save as PDF. The new PDF will be unencrypted and ready for form upload.