CBSE postpones Class 10, 12 board exams across Middle East again

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations scheduled for March 5 and 6, 2026, across select Middle East countries following a review of the prevailing situation in the region. The decision applies to CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In an official communication to school principals, the Board stated that the examinations originally set for Thursday and Friday will now be conducted on revised dates, which will be announced later. It further said that the situation will be reviewed again on March 5, and an appropriate decision will be taken regarding exams scheduled from March 7 onwards.

This follows an earlier postponement of exams scheduled for March 2 and 3 in the same countries. The Board had indicated it would reassess the circumstances before taking a call on subsequent papers, leading to the latest deferment.

Students have been advised to remain in contact with their respective schools and closely monitor official announcements for updates. The decision affects thousands of Indian students enrolled in more than 150 CBSE-affiliated schools across the Gulf region, which forms the largest overseas cluster of CBSE institutions.

Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations began on February 18, with over 43.7 lakh students appearing this year, including 25.1 lakh Class 10 and 18.6 lakh Class 12 candidates. The Board is expected to issue a fresh notice after evaluating the situation on March 7.