CBSE cautions students, parents over QR code rumours in board exam papers

The Central Board of Secondary Education has issued an advisory cautioning students, parents and media against misinformation related to QR codes printed on question papers, clarifying that these codes are not clickable web links but part of an internal security system. The board stressed that the codes are used for authentication, tracking and maintaining the integrity of examinations.

The clarification comes after confusion arose during the Class 12 history examination held on March 30, when some students claimed that scanning QR codes led to unrelated online search results, including references to internet personality Orry. The board explained that the QR codes only display coded text, and any unrelated results seen online are generated by search engine algorithms when users manually search those strings.

CBSE stated that such “algorithm-driven outputs” have no connection with the examination process and warned that certain elements were deliberately misrepresenting these results to spread false narratives. It emphasised that linking QR codes to unrelated individuals or content is factually incorrect and misleading.

The board further urged stakeholders to avoid sharing unverified claims and rely only on official communication channels for accurate information. It highlighted the importance of responsible information sharing to maintain public trust in the examination system and prevent unnecessary panic among students.

Explaining the purpose of QR codes, CBSE said they act as digital identifiers containing details such as subject, exam date, paper set and printing batch, enabling authorities to trace the origin of question papers in case of leaks. The feature was introduced after past incidents of paper leaks to strengthen examination security and ensure transparency in the system.