The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has delayed the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams that were scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, in the Middle East. The decision was made due to the current security situation in the region. The postponement applies to students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
In an official notice, CBSE Controller of Examinations Dr. Sanyam Bhardwaj stated that the Board will assess the situation again on Tuesday, March 3. After the review, new dates for the postponed exams and a decision about the exams planned from March 5 onwards will be announced.
The circular has been sent for necessary action to Indian ambassadors in all seven affected countries, the Consul General of India in Dubai, and CBSE’s regional office in the UAE. However, the Board has not yet announced when the postponed exams will be held.
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Previously, in a separate notice, CBSE cautioned students and parents about a fake circular being shared online. The false notice claimed that the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams in the Middle East had been cancelled due to “extraordinary global circumstances and warlike conditions.” This fake news provoked confusion and concern among students and stakeholders.
What are the latest updates on CBSE board exams 2026?
The Board has introduced several changes for Classes 10 and 12 this year. Earlier, CBSE had announced a dual-board exam system for Class 10 students. Under this system, students can appear for certain subjects again if they score low marks, giving them a chance to improve their performance.
For Class 12, CBSE will implement ‘On-Screen Marking’ (OSM) from the 2026 board exams. This means answer sheets will be checked digitally instead of through the traditional physical evaluation process. The Board has described this move as a “much-needed shift” toward a fully digital assessment system.
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For the 2026 Class 12 board exams, around 18,57,479 (over 18 lakh) students are expected to appear in 120 subjects. CBSE will evaluate nearly 1,00,44,295 (about 10.4 crore) answer books. According to Bhardwaj, the large scale of the exams, including centres outside India, is the main reason for shifting to digital evaluation.
