The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations scheduled for March 2, 2026, in select Middle East countries, citing the prevailing security situation in the region. The Board also warned students and schools against misinformation after a fake circular claiming cancellation of exams went viral on social media.
Exams on March 2 postponed; decision on further papers after review
According to an official CBSE circular dated March 1, the board exams for Classes 10 and 12 scheduled on Monday, March 2, 2026, in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been postponed. Revised dates will be announced later.
The Board said it will review the situation on March 3 and take appropriate decisions regarding examinations scheduled from March 5 onwards. Students have been advised to remain in contact with their respective schools and rely only on official updates.
Fake advisory claiming cancellation circulated widely
The development comes amid confusion triggered by a fabricated circular that falsely claimed CBSE had cancelled several board examinations in the Middle East due to “war conditions” and proposed composite evaluation instead. The Board clarified that the viral notice was fake and urged stakeholders to verify updates only through official channels.
The fake notice had mentioned cancellation of select language papers and internal assessment-based marking, which CBSE categorically denied, calling it misinformation.
Regional tensions disrupt schooling and exams
The postponement follows escalating conflict-related tensions in parts of the Middle East that have disrupted normal life, including precautionary shifts to distance learning in some countries. The situation has caused uncertainty among students appearing for ongoing CBSE board exams across Gulf nations.
Advisory to schools, embassies and students
The official circular has been shared with Indian embassies in the affected countries and CBSE regional offices to ensure coordinated communication and student safety. Schools have been asked to keep parents and candidates informed about further announcements.
‘No blanket cancellation; exams only postponed for now’
CBSE has not cancelled the examinations in the Middle East region. The Board clarified that only the March 2 papers stand postponed, and future decisions will depend on a review of the evolving situation.
Students and parents are advised not to believe or share unverified exam-related messages and to check only the CBSE website and official notifications for authentic information.>
