NEW DELHI — The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, across several countries in West Asia. The decision, announced in an emergency circular on Sunday, March 1, comes as the Middle East grapples with the aftermath of a massive joint military offensive by the United States and Israel, which resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The postponement applies to all CBSE-affiliated schools located in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Board cited the “prevailing situation in the region” as the primary reason for the delay, prioritizing the safety and security of students and staff amidst widespread airspace closures and retaliatory missile strikes. While the exams on March 2 stand cancelled for these regions, the CBSE stated it will review the security environment on Tuesday, March 3, before deciding on the status of examinations scheduled from March 5 onwards.
The geopolitical landscape of West Asia has turned extremely volatile following “Operation Epic Fury,” the daylight aerial campaign that targeted Iran’s high-level leadership and military infrastructure. In the wake of the Supreme Leader’s death, Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning and launched retaliatory strikes against U.S. bases and Israeli interests across the Gulf. With flags flying at half-mast and heightened security in major cities like Tehran and Dubai, the normal conduct of international academic assessments has been rendered impossible.
Students and parents in the affected countries have been advised to remain in constant contact with their respective school administrations for revised dates and further updates. The CBSE emphasized that official announcements will be made through its web portal and advised against following unverified social media reports. As the region braces for potential further escalation and a complex leadership succession in Iran, the academic future of thousands of Indian expatriate students remains temporarily on hold.
