Short answer: a government biodata is a formal, single-column document containing personal details (including father's name, date of birth and category), a passport-size photograph, your complete education history from 10th standard onwards in a table, work experience, and a signed declaration with place and date.
It is deliberately different from a private-sector resume — more personal, more complete, and less "marketed". And one rule overrides everything below: if the recruitment notification prescribes its own format, follow that exactly.
Every year, thousands of otherwise-eligible candidates have applications set aside for reasons that have nothing to do with their ability: a missing declaration, an unsigned page, a date of birth that doesn't match the 10th certificate, or a resume submitted in a slick corporate format where a formal biodata was expected.
This guide gives you the standard structure, a complete filled example, the exact declaration wording, and the specific mistakes that cause rejection.
A private-sector resume sells you. It leads with achievements, drops anything old or irrelevant, and deliberately omits personal details that could invite bias. A government biodata does close to the opposite: it documents you, completely and verifiably, in a form that can be checked against your certificates.
| Private-sector resume | Government biodata | |
|---|---|---|
| Photograph | Leave out | Include, passport size |
| Date of birth | Leave out | Required |
| Father's / husband's name | Leave out | Required |
| Category (SC/ST/OBC/Gen) | Not used | Required where applicable |
| Education detail | Highest degree, sometimes 12th | 10th onwards, in a table with marks |
| Tone | Achievement-led bullets | Factual, formal statements |
| Declaration & signature | Not used | Essential |
| Length | 1 page (freshers) | 1–2 pages |
| # | Section | What goes in it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heading & photo | Your name, contact details, passport photograph (usually top right) |
| 2 | Personal details | Father's/husband's name, DOB, gender, marital status, nationality, category, address |
| 3 | Career objective | 2–3 formal lines (this is the one place the old-style "objective" is still conventional) |
| 4 | Educational qualifications | Table: examination, board/university, year of passing, percentage/CGPA, division |
| 5 | Work experience | Organisation, designation, period, nature of duties (omit if fresher) |
| 6 | Additional qualifications | Computer skills, certifications, languages known, typing speed where relevant |
| 7 | Declaration | Standard statement, place, date, signature |
Optional additions depending on the post: extra-curricular achievements, references, and identity document numbers where the notification asks for them.
This is the format assembled. Note the education table, the formal tone, and the declaration block at the end.
| Father's Name | Sh. Suresh Kumar Sharma |
| Date of Birth | 15 August 1999 |
| Gender | Male |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Category | General |
| Languages Known | English, Hindi, Punjabi |
To serve in a responsible position in a government organisation where my academic background in commerce and my computer proficiency can be utilised effectively, and to contribute sincerely to the objectives of the department.
| Examination | Board / University | Year | Marks | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com. | Panjab University, Chandigarh | 2021 | 72.4% | First |
| 12th (Commerce) | CBSE | 2018 | 78.2% | First |
| 10th | CBSE | 2016 | 81.6% | First |
| Organisation | M/s Verma Associates, Chandigarh |
| Designation | Accounts Assistant |
| Period | August 2021 to present |
| Nature of Duties | Maintenance of books of accounts, preparation of GST returns, bank reconciliation and office correspondence. |
I hereby declare that all the information given above is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that in the event of any information being found false or incorrect, my candidature/appointment is liable to be cancelled/terminated.
Our India Govt / PSU template produces exactly this layout — photo, personal details, education table and declaration included. No sign-up, no watermark, no charge.
Open the Govt Biodata Template →This is the single most-skipped element, and an unsigned or missing declaration can cause an application to be treated as incomplete. The conventional wording is:
Below it, always include three things: Place, Date, and your signature. On printed copies, sign in blue or black ink. For online submissions a scanned signature is normally uploaded as specified in the notification.
For a printed biodata, a recent passport-size photograph pasted or printed at the top right is standard. For online applications, most recruitment bodies specify precise requirements, and these vary between organisations — typical parameters include:
Because these differ by organisation and change between recruitment cycles, always take the exact numbers from the notification or the commission's own website rather than from any template site — including this one.
A resume is skills- and achievement-led and used for private jobs. A biodata is formal and personal — photograph, date of birth, father's name, category, full education table and a signed declaration. Indian government and PSU applications generally expect the biodata style.
Yes, a recent passport-size photograph is standard, normally at the top right. Online applications usually specify exact dimensions, background and file size — take those from the notification.
Yes. A signed declaration is expected, and unsigned documents may be treated as incomplete. Keep the signature consistent across all your documents.
Yes — the education table normally runs from 10th standard onwards with board, year of passing and percentage or CGPA. This differs from a private-sector resume.
One to two pages. Two pages is perfectly acceptable here, because the format requires complete information rather than a condensed summary.
A short, formal career objective is still conventional on government biodata — this is the one context where the old-style objective remains appropriate.
Follow it exactly. A prescribed proforma always takes priority over a general template, and deviating from it risks rejection.
Open the Govt / PSU template, fill in your details, and print or download the PDF. Then read the recruitment notification once more with your finished biodata beside you, and check every field against what it asks for.
Create your government job biodata free →
About this guide: written by the TheGreatCV team, who build free resume and biodata tools used by job seekers across India. It describes the widely used general biodata convention for Indian government and PSU applications.
Important: recruitment requirements differ by department, commission and state, and change between cycles. Always verify the required format, certificate formats, and photograph specifications against the official recruitment notification and the recruiting body's own website before submitting. This guide is general information, not official guidance.