CBSE cancels Class 12 board exams in Middle East, results plan to be announced later

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the remaining Class 12 board examinations for students studying in affiliated schools across several Middle East countries amid escalating tensions in the region. The decision affects candidates appearing for the 2026 board examinations in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In an official circular issued on March 15, the board announced that all Class 12 examinations scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026, in these countries stand cancelled. The decision was taken after reviewing the feasibility of conducting the examinations and considering inputs and requests received from schools and authorities in the affected countries.

The board also clarified that examinations which had already been postponed through earlier circulars issued on March 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 will remain cancelled as well. The directive has been communicated to principals of CBSE-affiliated schools across the seven countries to ensure clarity regarding the examination process.

According to the board, a separate notification will be issued regarding the mode of declaration of results for Class 12 students in these regions. Authorities are expected to outline the evaluation mechanism for the affected candidates in due course.

The circular has also been shared with Indian diplomatic missions in the concerned countries to facilitate coordination and necessary action. The decision impacts thousands of students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools across major Gulf education hubs where Indian curriculum schools operate.