New Delhi: Amidst escalating war-like conditions in the Middle East, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has taken a significant decision to cancel the Class 12 board examinations scheduled to be held in several countries. In an official circular, the Board announced that all examinations scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will no longer take place. This decision by the CBSE comes at a time when rising military tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States have rendered the security situation precarious. Given these circumstances, this step has been taken with the safety and security of the students as the top priority.
Circular-6, issued by the CBSE on March 15, 2026, stated that this decision was reached following a review of the prevailing circumstances and based on suggestions received from schools and relevant authorities in the affected countries. The Board further clarified that those examinations which had previously been postponed via circulars issued on March 1, March 3, March 5, March 7, and March 9 will now also be considered completely cancelled. The circular also clarified that the procedure for declaring the results of Class 12 students studying in these countries will be announced separately at a later date. Impact of War-like Conditions on Education: For some time now, tensions between Iran and Israel have been steadily escalating in the Middle East, with the United States also playing an active role in the situation. Normal life in several countries has been disrupted due to military activities, missile attacks, and security alerts across the region. This volatile environment has now impacted the education system as well. Uncertainty had persisted regarding the examinations of thousands of Indian students studying in the many CBSE-affiliated schools located in these countries. In light of the situation, the CBSE took this decision to ensure that no student or school staff member is exposed to any risk.
Impact on Thousands of Indian Students: A large number of Indian families reside in these Middle Eastern countries, where numerous CBSE-affiliated schools are currently operational. Thousands of Indian students are currently studying in these schools, a significant number of whom are Class 12 students. Following the cancellation of examinations, the focus of students and parents has now shifted to the criteria upon which the results will be declared. It is likely that the Board may decide to determine the results based on internal assessments, practical examinations, and other academic records.
In its circular, the CBSE has clarified that the methodology for declaring results for Class 12 students in the affected countries will be notified separately in due course. Meanwhile, schools and students have been advised to keep a close watch on the Board’s official website and notices.
