CBSE Postpones Board Exams in the Middle East

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CBSE Postpones Board Exams in the Middle East Amid Regional Tensions

Class 10 and 12 examinations scheduled for March 5 and 6, 2026 in several Middle Eastern countries have been deferred with new dates to be announced.

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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has postponed key board examinations for Class 10 and Class 12 students in parts of the Middle East, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Iran. The decision affects exams originally scheduled for Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6, 2026, and comes amid continuing unrest and uncertainty in the region.

In an official notification to CBSE-affiliated schools, the Board said that the exams will not take place on the planned March 5–6 dates and new examination dates will be announced later after reassessing conditions on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Officials have urged students and parents to stay in close contact with their schools and monitor official CBSE announcements for further updates.

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The postponement follows similar earlier delays, with CBSE deferred Class 10 and 12 exams originally scheduled on March 2 in the region due to “the current situation in parts of the Middle East,” underscoring the impact of broader geopolitical tensions on educational schedules abroad.

Amid the unfolding developments, authorities have repeatedly debunked viral social media posts claiming that board exams had been outright cancelled. The Board clarified that the only decision taken so far is postponement, not cancellation, and students should refer only to official sources to avoid misinformation.

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The shifting exam timetable has already sparked concern among students and families across the region. In related developments, local education officials in the Indian state of Kerala also announced postponement of SSLC and Higher Secondary exams at Gulf centres due to safety concerns arising from the ongoing Middle East conflict.

CBSE’s next review of the situation — planned for March 5 — is expected to determine whether further exams scheduled from March 7 onwards will proceed as planned or also be deferred.