The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) postponed Class 10 and Class 12 board exams scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, across seven Middle East countries—Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—following escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict. Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj issued the directive citing security concerns. New exam dates will be announced after the Board reviews the situation on March 3.
CBSE board exams for Classes 10 and 12 began in February 2026, with approximately 202 CBSE-affiliated schools operating across the Middle East: 1 Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tehran (Iran), 22 in Kuwait, 20 in Qatar, 41 in Saudi Arabia, 8 in Bahrain, and 110 in the UAE. These schools serve Indian expatriate communities whose children follow India's central curriculum. The broader regional security framework includes eight persistent US military bases and 11 other US military sites across the Middle East, making these nations strategically sensitive. On Saturday, March 1, 2026, US-Israel military operations targeted Iran, resulting in over 201 deaths including Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently launched missile and projectile attacks on Israeli territory and US regional allies.
CBSE Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj issued an official circular on Sunday, March 1, 2026, postponing all Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations scheduled for Monday, March 2, across Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The circular mandated that students remain in contact with their schools for updated information and follow official announcements. The Board announced it will review the security situation on Tuesday, March 3, and make decisions regarding exams scheduled from March 5 onwards. Prior to the official postponement, a fabricated CBSE circular falsely claimed complete cancellation of Class 10 and Class 12 exams for the entire 2025-26 academic year in the Middle East, citing 'extraordinary global circumstances and prevailing war conditions.' CBSE formally clarified that this circular was fake and committed to issuing official updates.
Approximately 15,000-20,000 Indian students across 202 CBSE schools in the Middle East face exam disruptions, affecting their academic calendar and final board scores for the 2025-26 session. For Class 12 students, board exam scores determine college admissions in India—any significant delay risks missing application deadlines at Indian universities (typically April-May). Class 10 students similarly depend on timely completion for Class 11 admission. Parents of expatriate families, already stressed by conflict-related safety concerns, now face additional uncertainty about exam scheduling. Schools must coordinate rescheduled dates with both CBSE headquarters in Delhi and their respective host country authorities, complicating logistics. The postponement sets precedent: if exams extend into March-April, students may miss the summer academic calendar window, affecting course progression.
The CBSE Board will conduct a comprehensive security review on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and announce decisions regarding exams scheduled from March 5 onwards by evening. Schools in these seven nations must issue revised exam schedules within 48 hours of CBSE's announcement. Students should monitor official CBSE website (cbse.gov.in) and their school portals daily for updates. If the conflict de-escalates by March 3, exams may resume March 5 with compressed schedules; if escalation continues, exams may shift to April 2026. International examination bodies like IB and Cambridge have also not yet responded, suggesting Middle East exam disruptions may extend sector-wide. Indian embassy officials are coordinating with host governments on student safety protocols.