The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations that were set to be conducted in various Middle Eastern countries, citing evolving geopolitical tensions in the region linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict
Exams Deferred in Multiple Middle East Countries
CBSE announced that the board exams scheduled on 2 March 2026 — and later on 5–6 March — in countries such as Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been deferred in light of the unstable security situation. The board will monitor conditions and announce fresh exam dates once the situation becomes clearer. The board’s Controller of Examinations, Dr Sanyam Bhardwaj, urged students and parents in the affected regions to stay in close contact with their schools and follow official CBSE communications for updated information on rescheduling and logistics.
Reason Behind Postponement
The postponement comes as conflict tensions rise in the Middle East, including actions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, which have led to concerns over the safety and security of Indian expatriate students in those countries. In view of these developments and associated risks, CBSE decided to defer board exams rather than proceed under uncertain conditions. CBSE and educational authorities have clarified that this postponement only applies to students in the specified Middle East regions and does not affect the board exams being held in India or elsewhere.
New Dates and Review Process
The board has stated that it will review the situation again (conducted on 3 March 2026) to determine the status of exams scheduled from 5 March onwards and beyond. A final decision on rescheduling will be taken based on that review, and fresh exam dates will be announced later on the official CBSE portal — cbse.gov.in Students who had prepared for the exams in these regions are advised to:
- Stay updated with school authorities for the latest information
- Follow official CBSE notifications and announcements
- Avoid relying on unverified social media reports regarding cancellation or rescheduling
The board’s priority remains the safety and well-being of students, and it aims to ensure that examinations are conducted only under secure and stable conditions.