West Asia Turmoil Disrupts CBSE Board Exams Across Gulf; Future Schedule Under Review

The recent joint military offensive by the United States and Israel on Iran has not only sent shockwaves through global diplomacy and rattled trade and commercial routes, but has now begun affecting Indian students studying overseas.

In response to the rapidly deteriorating security climate, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Sunday deferred board examinations slated for Monday in several Middle Eastern nations.

The postponement applies to affiliated schools operating in Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

In an official communication addressed to school heads in these countries, Controller of Examinations Sanyam Bhardwaj confirmed that the Class 10 and Class 12 papers scheduled for March 2 have been rescheduled.

Revised dates will be announced after assessing conditions on the ground.

The Board further stated that it will reassess the evolving situation on March 3 before deciding on examinations planned from March 5 onwards.

Students have been advised to remain in close contact with their respective institutions and rely solely on official notifications for accurate information.

The disruption impacts a substantial network of schools across the region.

According to CBSE records, there is a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tehran, along with 22 affiliated schools in Kuwait, 20 in Qatar, 41 in Saudi Arabia, eight in Bahrain and as many as 110 in the UAE.

The annual board examinations for Classes 10 and 12 commenced in February.

Compounding anxiety among students and parents, a forged circular had earlier circulated widely on social media, falsely claiming that CBSE had cancelled all remaining board examinations for the 2025–26 academic year in the Middle East.

The fabricated notice cited “exceptional global circumstances and war-like conditions” as the reason for the cancellation of language papers at regional centres.

The Board promptly dismissed the document as fake and clarified that any legitimate update would be issued through official channels.

The broader conflict has escalated sharply.

Following the US-Israel strikes on Iran — which reportedly resulted in extensive damage and significant casualties, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei — Tehran launched retaliatory missile and projectile attacks aimed at Israeli territory.

Iran has also targeted American allies in the Gulf, such as the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, countries that host US military installations.

A 2024 report by the Congressional Research Service noted the presence of eight permanent US bases and 11 additional military sites across the Middle East.

With tensions intensifying and regional airspace and shipping corridors under strain, the ripple effects are being felt far beyond the battlefield — impacting commerce, aviation, logistics, and now the academic calendar of thousands of Indian students abroad.

How long it will take for the volatile situation to stabilise remains uncertain.

For now, educational authorities are proceeding cautiously, balancing academic commitments with student safety as the region navigates an unpredictable phase.

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