CBSE Cancels Class 12 Exams in Middle East Amid US-Israel War on Iran
Key Takeaways
- CBSE cancels Class 12 exams in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE.
- Cancellation cited security concerns amid US-Israel-Iran conflict.
- Exams scheduled from March 16 to April 10 were cancelled.
Exam Cancellation Decision
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled Class 12 examinations across multiple Middle Eastern countries due to escalating geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran.
“Home / Education / News / CBSE cancels Class 12 board exams in Middle East countries amid ongoing war CBSE cancels Class 12 board exams in Middle East countries amid ongoing war The Central Board of Secondary Education cancels Class 12 board exams scheduled between March 16 and April 10 for students in Iran, UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations Advertisement”
This decision affects students in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Officials confirmed that all examinations scheduled from March 16 to April 2026 are cancelled.
The board had previously cancelled Class 10 exams in the same region, demonstrating the escalating impact of regional conflicts on educational activities.
CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj verified the cancellation and indicated that the method of result declaration for these countries will be released soon.
Exam Schedule Impact
The cancellation specifically targets all Class 12 examinations scheduled from March 16 to April 10, 2026, for CBSE-affiliated schools throughout the affected Gulf nations.
According to the official circular issued by the board, the order applies not only to regularly scheduled examinations but also to those that had been postponed through previous circulars issued earlier in March.

This comprehensive cancellation ensures that no examinations will be conducted in the region during this period.
The measure effectively suspends academic assessment activities for thousands of students amid the ongoing regional conflicts.
Pattern of Cancellations
This decision represents a continuation of previous educational disruptions in the region.
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CBSE had already cancelled Class 10 examinations for the same affected countries earlier in the academic year.
The pattern of cancellations demonstrates the escalating impact of regional conflicts on educational activities.
The board citing the 'prevailing conflicts' as the catalyst for their decisions.
The dual cancellation of both Class 10 and Class 12 exams indicates that the security situation has deteriorated significantly.
Normal academic operations cannot be maintained across multiple grade levels in the affected regions.
Security Assessment
CBSE officials stated that the cancellation decision was made after carefully reviewing the security situation.
The board considered inputs from schools and local authorities in the affected countries.
The official circular emphasized that the 'prevailing security situation in the region from the US-Israel war against Iran' was the primary factor.
This unprecedented educational policy change reflects the severity of the current geopolitical tensions.
The situation has reached a level where normal examination procedures cannot be safely conducted.
Educational authorities are prioritizing student safety over academic assessment schedules.
Future Assessment Plans
While the immediate focus is on the cancellation of examinations, CBSE has indicated that students and parents can expect further announcements.
“Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday cancelled Class 12 board examinations for students in several Middle East countries”
These announcements will cover alternative assessment methods and result declarations for the affected regions.

The Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj confirmed that the board is actively developing a plan.
This plan addresses the academic evaluation gap created by the sudden cancellation.
The board's recognition reflects that thousands of students' academic futures depend on fair assessment mechanisms.
Alternative methods are being developed for these unprecedented circumstances.
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