NEW DELHI: In a major decision reflecting the worsening security situation in West Asia, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday announced the cancellation of all Class 12 board examinations for students residing in the Middle East. The move comes as the US-Israel-Iran conflict continues to disrupt normal life and international travel across the region.
The cancellation affects students in seven key countries: Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. According to a formal statement by CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj, all exams scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, are now cancelled. Furthermore, any examinations that had been previously postponed due to the initial stages of the conflict will also not be conducted.
This decision follows the Board’s earlier move to cancel Class 10 examinations in the same region, effectively ending the 2026 board exam cycle for thousands of Indian students enrolled in overseas affiliated schools. The ongoing hostilities, which began on February 28, have created significant logistical hurdles, including school closures and safety risks that the Board deemed too severe to continue with the testing schedule.
Regarding the future of the affected students, Bhardwaj clarified that the mode of declaration for results in these countries will be announced separately. It is expected that the Board may adopt an alternative assessment scheme—similar to those used during previous global disruptions—to ensure students are not disadvantaged for higher education admissions. The Ministry of External Affairs is reportedly in coordination with the Ministry of Education to facilitate any necessary documentation for students seeking to return to India.
