New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh) — The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the postponement of Class 12 board examinations scheduled for March 9, 10, and 11 in several Middle Eastern countries. This decision follows a critical review of the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the region, sparked by the direct military confrontation between Israel, the United States, and Iran.
The postponement affects students enrolled in CBSE-affiliated schools across Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. CBSE Examination Controller Sanyam Bhardwaj confirmed that while the exams for these three days have been deferred, the board will conduct a fresh situational assessment on March 10 to determine the feasibility of holding subsequent papers from March 12 onwards. Revised dates for the affected Class 12 subjects will be notified in due course.
This latest move adds to a series of academic disruptions in the region. The board had previously postponed Class 12 exams scheduled for March 2, 5, and 7. Furthermore, the CBSE has officially cancelled all Class 10 board examinations that were slated to take place between March 7 and March 11. The board clarified that the mode of result declaration for Class 10 students in these conflict-affected zones would be announced separately, as the standard examination process has been rendered impossible.
The academic crisis is a direct fallout of the massive geopolitical shift that began on February 28, 2026, when US and Israeli forces launched a joint military offensive against Iranian strategic and nuclear facilities. The strikes resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an event that has triggered a wave of retaliatory missile and drone attacks from Iran. These counter-strikes have targeted not only Israel but also American military assets and logistical bases in various Gulf nations, including the UAE and Bahrain.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs remains in close contact with its missions in the Middle East, prioritising the safety of thousands of Indian students and expatriates. While exams in India and other international centres continue as per the original schedule, the situation in the Gulf remains volatile. Students and parents have been advised to stay in touch with their respective schools and rely only on official CBSE circulars for updates regarding the rescheduled examinations.
