CBSE opens special Class 12 re-exams for UAE and Gulf students affected by March disruption

Thousands of Class 12 students across the UAE and other Gulf countries who missed their board exams in March due to regional tensions will get a fresh chance to sit the papers. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced special examinations for students in the Middle East whose Class 12 board exams could not be held in 40 subjects because of the prevailing situation at the time. The disruption dates back to March, when regional conditions linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict made it impossible to hold exams as scheduled in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. CBSE had introduced an assessment scheme on March 27 to calculate scores for affected candidates. The special exams are open to both regular and private candidates who had submitted exam forms for the 2026 main exams and whose results were declared under the assessment scheme. Students can choose which subjects they want to reappear for, and whatever they score will be treated as final, replacing their earlier assessment-based result. Students who were absent for the original March exams for any reason will not be eligible, and no new candidates who hadn't already registered can apply. Registration opens September 22 and closes September 26 with no extensions permitted. There is no examination fee for the retake, and exam centres remain the same as before.