The Central Board of Secondary Education has postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 board examinations in select countries across the region, in view of the ongoing Iran–US–Israel tensions affecting parts of the Middle East.
The Board issued an official communication to school principals in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, informing them that the scheduled examinations have been deferred due to the prevailing situation. Fresh dates for the postponed papers will be announced in due course.
CBSE has also stated that it is closely monitoring developments and will take an appropriate decision regarding the remaining examinations scheduled in the region. Students and schools have been advised to stay updated through official channels for further announcements.
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The Board conducts Class 10 and Class 12 examinations across multiple centres in India and abroad for its affiliated institutions. For the current academic session, CBSE has established examination centres in 26 countries outside India. A majority of these international centres are located in the Middle East – including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain – along with centres in countries such as Nigeria and Uganda.
With over 43.6 lakh students appearing for the board examinations this year, including those enrolled in overseas CBSE-affiliated schools, the development impacts a significant number of candidates in the affected countries.
The Board has now further postponed the examinations that were scheduled to be held on 5 and 6 March 2026 in the affected countries, citing continued security concerns. In an official notice issued on 3 March, CBSE stated that it will review the situation again and take a call on examinations scheduled from 7 March onwards. The circular has also been marked to Indian ambassadors in the seven countries, the Consul General of India in Dubai, and CBSE’s regional office in the UAE for necessary coordination. Students have been advised to remain in close contact with their respective schools for timely updates.
Further updates on the revised schedule are expected once the Board completes its review.
