CBSE class 12th exams cancelled: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has canceled the Schedule XII board exams in several countries in the Middle East after reviewing the feasibility of conducting the tests in the region.The announcement has been made for students studying in CBSE board-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where the exams were scheduled between March 16 and April 10, 2026.Announced by the Board.This announcement was made on 15 March 2026 by the CBSE Board through a circular i.e. Circular 6 to the schools affiliated to the board in the Middle East countries where the examinations were to be held between 16 March to 10 April 2026.The Board, after reviewing the information provided by the schools and authorities, has announced that all examinations held between March 16 to April 10, 2026 for Class XII students studying in Board-affiliated schools in Middle East countries will be cancelled, and the Board has confirmed that the examinations held earlier will also be cancelled.According to the circular, the postponement was earlier notified through notices issued on March 1, March 3, March 5, March 7 and March 9.
The method of declaration of results will be announced later.CBSE said that the result declaration process for the affected Class XII candidates will be notified separately. The board said that the process of evaluation and declaration of results will be informed in due course.The announcement comes after a series of disruptions in the exam schedule. The board had earlier postponed the Class 10 and Class 12 board exams scheduled for March 2, March 5 and March 6 for the academic year 2026-27 in seven countries.
Presence of CBSE schools in the Middle East regionCBSE Board has a strong presence in the Middle East region with several affiliated schools. As of 2023, data shared by the Ministry of External Affairs shows that around 217 schools in the Middle East region are affiliated to the CBSE board.The UAE has the highest number of schools affiliated with the CBSE board, with 106 schools operating in the region. Schools are located in cities like Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. There are 37 schools affiliated with the board in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The nation of Kuwait has 26 schools affiliated with the board. The Nation of Oman has 21 schools affiliated to the board. The nation of Qatar has 19 schools affiliated with the board. Eight schools in the nation of Bahrain are affiliated with the board.
