The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed Class 12 board examinations scheduled between March 9 and March 11 in several Middle Eastern countries, offering relief to thousands of Indian students studying in the Gulf region.
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The decision comes amid escalating tensions linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, with the board stating that student safety remains its top priority as it continues to monitor developments in the region.
According to an official CBSE circular issued on March 7, the board will review the situation on March 10 before deciding whether examinations scheduled from March 12 onwards will proceed as planned.
Reason for the Postponement
CBSE said the decision followed a “critical review of the current situation” in parts of the Middle East. In light of heightened security concerns, the board opted to postpone Class 12 examinations scheduled for March 9, 10 and 11, 2026, in affected countries.
The move is intended to ensure that students are not required to travel to examination centres or sit for exams under uncertain or potentially unsafe conditions.
In addition, the board has cancelled Class 10 examinations scheduled between March 7 and March 11 for students studying in CBSE-affiliated schools in the region.
Countries Affected
The postponement applies to CBSE-affiliated schools in several West Asian countries with large Indian expatriate populations. These include:
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Bahrain
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Iran
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Kuwait
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Oman
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Qatar
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Saudi Arabia
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United Arab Emirates
Every year, a large number of Indian students in these countries appear for CBSE board examinations through overseas examination centres.
Decision on Exams After March 11
CBSE has stated that it will reassess the regional situation on March 10. Based on this review, the board will determine whether examinations scheduled from March 12 onwards will continue as planned or require further adjustments.
Students have been advised to remain in close contact with their schools and monitor official announcements for updates.
Number of Students Appearing This Year
The CBSE Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations began on February 18 and are scheduled to continue until April 10.
This year, more than 43.7 lakh students are appearing for the board examinations, including 25.1 lakh Class 10 students and 18.6 lakh Class 12 students. A significant number of candidates are enrolled in CBSE-affiliated schools outside India, particularly across the Gulf region.
Coordination With Indian Missions
The circular has also been shared with several Indian diplomatic authorities in the region to facilitate coordination and ensure timely communication with schools and students.
These include the Indian ambassadors in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Iran, as well as the Consul General of India in Dubai.
The notification was also forwarded to the CBSE Regional Office and the Centre of Excellence in Dubai so that CBSE-affiliated schools in the region could be promptly informed and necessary arrangements made for the postponed examinations.
What Students Should Do
CBSE has advised students to stay in regular contact with their respective schools and closely follow official updates regarding revised examination schedules.
The postponement underscores the board’s effort to balance academic continuity with student safety during a period of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. The review scheduled for March 10 is expected to determine the next steps regarding the remaining examinations.
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