In an unprecedented move following the escalation of the Middle East conflict, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced on Sunday, March 15, 2026, the total cancellation of all remaining Class 12 board examinations in several West Asian countries.
This decision effectively brings an end to the 2026 examination cycle for thousands of Indian students residing in the region, following the earlier cancellation of Class 10 exams on March 5.
Key Details of the Cancellation
- Affected Countries: The order applies to over 150 CBSE-affiliated schools across Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
- Date Range: All examinations originally scheduled from March 16 to April 10, 2026, are now cancelled.
- Previous Postponements: Papers that were already deferred between March 1 and March 14 will also not be conducted.
- Result Declaration: Exam Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj stated that the board will notify the specific “mode of declaration of results” (assessment criteria) for these students separately in the coming weeks.
Impact and Background
- Student Population: The decision affects a significant portion of the 4.37 million total students registered this year, particularly those in major hubs like Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
- Completed Papers: Fortunately, students in these regions were able to complete several core papers—including Physics, Accountancy, and Chemistry—between February 17 and February 28, before the conflict forced the first postponement on March 1.
- Historical Context: This marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021) that the CBSE has been forced to cancel exams on such a large scale, highlighting the severity of the current security situation.