The Central Board of Secondary Education has postponed Class 12 examinations from March 9 to 11 in the UAE, Iran and other Middle East countries amid the escalating conflict in the region.
It added that the new dates will be announced later and the board will review the situation on Tuesday to take appropriate decisions regarding the upcoming exams from March 12.
“After critically evaluating the current situation in parts of the Middle East (Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), the Council has decided to postpone the exams scheduled for March 9, 2026 (Monday), March 10, 2026 (Tuesday) and March 11, 2026 to XII.
Previous CBSE Circular for Middle East Class 10th and 12th Examinations
On Thursday, it issued Circular 3 regarding the Class X and XII board exams in the Middle East region.
Read also | Iran promises no strikes on neighboring countries – but explosions shake Dubai and Abu Dhabi
According to the circular, all the Class X exams scheduled between March 7 and March 11 have been cancelled. Exams that were earlier postponed to March 3, March 5 and March 6 are also now cancelled. The board said that the method of declaration of results for Middle East Class X candidates will be announced later.
“All exams scheduled from 07/03/2026 to 11/03/2026 are cancelled. The exams earlier postponed to 02/03/2026, 05/03/2026 and 06/03/2026 are also cancelled. The manner of declaration of results for Class X candidates will be announced later in the Middle East,”
Read also | US-Israeli Iran War LIVE: Sirens Hear in Qatar After Iran Pres Apologizes
Meanwhile, the XII exam has also been postponed. classes scheduled for March 7.
The circular said, “The examination scheduled for 7 March 2026 is postponed. Revised dates will be announced later. The Board will review the situation on 7 March 2026 and give instructions regarding the examinations scheduled from 9 March 2026 onwards.”
This happened after airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel on February 28 on several cities in Iran. The attacks targeted military command centers, air defense systems, missile facilities and key regime infrastructure. The attacks resulted in the deaths of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and four senior military and security officials, with large explosions reported in Tehran and other major cities.
Read also | US-Iran oil price war: 5 major triggers likely to shape the stock market
In retaliation, Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting US assets and allied countries in the region, including Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan. These developments further escalated the conflict in West Asia and increased the risks for civilians and expatriates alike.
The Kin are anxiously awaiting updates on the safety of their children stranded in Iran
Meanwhile, parents are urging the Indian government to evacuate their children as soon as possible.
Altaf Khan, 30, who lives in Srinagar, said his Tuesday morning began with repeated updates on his sister’s safety on his phone. He said his sister Sobia, a first-year medical student in Tehran, had spoken briefly with the family the day before, and fear was evident in her voice. She told them that sirens are blaring frequently and loud blasts are heard near her compound, according to PTI.
Khan further said that the situation had taken a heavy emotional toll on the family, adding that his parents could not eat or sleep due to constant worry. He also said that his sister is only 19 years old and he cannot imagine the fear she must be going through.
Another parent, 44-year-old Aafroza from Srinagar, appealed to the Indian government for immediate action to ensure the safe evacuation of the students. She said she had a brief conversation with her daughter on Monday, during which the student mentioned that food and other necessities were running out and that going off campus was becoming more dangerous due to heightened safety concerns.
Daughter Aafroza is a third-year medical student in Tehran. She added that many other countries have already evacuated their students and that families like hers live in constant fear as they wait for updates, staying glued to their phones hoping to hear reassuring news. She also said she was unable to reach her daughter until Tuesday afternoon.
Mohammad Momin Khan, national representative of the All India Medical Students Association, said the Indian students who were relocated from Tehran had reached Qom safely as part of precautionary measures. He added that the relocation was done in coordination with the Indian Embassy in Tehran to ensure the safety and welfare of the students.
