The Central Board of Secondary Education has cancelled Class 12 board exams scheduled in seven West Asian countries — including Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE — due to the war in the region and escalating security concerns for students and staff. New assessment methods (like internal marks, project work, pre‑boards and practicals) are expected to be used instead of the cancelled exams.
This cancellation affects around 20,000 CBSE students in the Middle east who had planned to sit for exams between March 16 and april 10, 2026. The board has said detailed criteria for results will be communicated later, keeping safety and student well‑being as top priorities.
📍 Disruptions Beyond CBSE
The conflict has also impacted other boards:
- The Council for the indian School Certificate Examinations cancelled ICSE and ISC board exams in the uae due to security concerns.
Parents and student groups have urged authorities to make pro‑student decisions to prevent harm to future academic and university admission prospects for youth abroad.
❓ How This Might Affect CUET and NEET
At present, major national entrance exams like the Common university Entrance Test (CUET) and the NEET are scheduled independently of the CBSE board schedule and held primarily within India. They are organised by separate agencies (such as the National Testing Agency for CUET and NEET) and have nationwide exam centres.
However:
- Delays or disruptions in board exams — especially for students currently outside india — can affect admissions timelines, since board results are often required for eligibility and admissions processing.
- Some students based in the Middle east may have travel or safety issues reaching test centres in india on time due to the conflict, which could lead to requests for special consideration or alternative arrangements by exam authorities.
As of now, no official postponement or change in CUET/NEET dates has been issued due to the Middle east conflict, but education authorities are monitoring the situation. If the conflict escalates further or governments issue travel advisories, exam bodies may consider special directives for affected candidates.
✅ Summary:
- CBSE Class 12 board exams in several Middle Eastern countries have been cancelled due to war, with alternative evaluation methods to be used.
- Other board exams (like CISCE) in the region have also been disrupted.
- CUET and NEET are not currently postponed because of these developments, but travel and safety issues for students abroad could lead to future special accommodations if needed.
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