- Central Board of Secondary Education cancelled all remaining Class 12 board exams in West Asian countries due to security concerns linked to the Iran-US-Israel conflict, affecting students in more than 150 CBSE-affiliated schools.
- The cancelled exams were scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, impacting students across Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- CBSE said the evaluation method for final results will be announced later, while Indian embassies and the Consulate General in Dubai will assist schools, students and parents with updates.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled all remaining Class 12 board examinations scheduled to be held in several West Asian countries amid the ongoing tensions linked to the Iran-US-Israel conflict. The decision, announced on Sunday, affects students studying in more than 150 CBSE-affiliated schools spread across countries including Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
With this announcement, examinations that had earlier been postponed in the region will now stand fully cancelled. The board confirmed that all Class 12 papers scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, will not be conducted. Authorities said that students will be informed later about the method that will be used to calculate and declare their final results.
The decision follows several weeks of uncertainty for students and schools in the region. CBSE had already issued multiple circulars since March 1 while assessing whether examinations could be conducted safely. After reviewing the evolving security situation and consulting schools and local authorities, the board concluded that continuing with the examinations would not be feasible.
According to CBSE officials, Indian diplomatic missions in the Gulf have also been informed to ensure smooth coordination with schools and families. Indian embassies in the affected countries, along with the Consulate General in Dubai, will assist in communicating updates and addressing concerns from students and parents.
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The Class 12 board examinations had originally begun on February 17, and several major subjects such as physics, chemistry, geography and accountancy were completed successfully before the disruption occurred. However, as regional tensions escalated in early March, CBSE postponed the remaining papers for students in West Asia. Earlier this month, the board had also cancelled all remaining Class 10 examinations in the region.
The latest decision impacts thousands of Indian students studying in CBSE schools across major Gulf cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Riyadh. Overall, more than 4.37 million students registered for CBSE board examinations this year, including about 1.86 million candidates from Class 12.
While the cancellation brings relief from uncertainty for some students, many are now waiting anxiously for clarity on how their final results will be determined. CBSE has assured that further instructions will be shared soon to ensure that the interests of students are protected.
