Last Updated: 14 July 2026
The Supreme Court of India is hearing two petitions concerning the assessment of CBSE Class 12 students whose board examinations were cancelled in seven Gulf countries during the 2026 academic session. The examinations in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) could not be conducted because of the regional security situation linked to geopolitical tensions in West Asia.
To minimise academic disruption, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduced alternative assessment policies for affected candidates. Separate evaluation methods were notified for regular and private candidates due to differences in their academic records. While the petition involving a private candidate has been disposed of, the case filed by regular students remains under consideration.
The proceedings are significant because Class 12 board results are used for admissions to higher education institutions, scholarships and various professional courses. The outcome may also influence admissions under the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) and Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWG) categories for the 2026–27 admission cycle.
Verification Note: This article reflects information available up to 14 July 2026. Any subsequent Supreme Court orders or CBSE notifications may change the position described below.
Why Were the Examinations Cancelled?
CBSE cancelled the Class 12 board examinations in seven Gulf countries after security concerns prevented the scheduled conduct of the exams. The decision affected candidates studying in CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Since regular students and private candidates are assessed differently, the Board introduced separate evaluation policies for each category.
Countries Affected
|
Country |
Examination Status |
|
Bahrain |
Cancelled |
|
Iran |
Cancelled |
|
Kuwait |
Cancelled |
|
Oman |
Cancelled |
|
Qatar |
Cancelled |
|
Saudi Arabia |
Cancelled |
|
United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
Cancelled |
Private Candidate Petition
One of the petitions was filed by Pransu Jigarkumar Patel, a private CBSE Class 12 candidate from Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
When CBSE declared the Class 12 results in May 2026, Patel’s result was marked as “Result Later (R.L.)” because private candidates do not have school-based records such as quarterly examinations, half-yearly tests or pre-board assessments.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed a bench comprising Justices S.V.N. Bhatti and Vipul M. Pancholi that the Centre had notified a separate assessment policy for private candidates on 21 June 2026.
Assessment Formula for Private Candidates
|
Assessment Component |
Weightage |
|
Normalised Class 10 theory marks (best three subjects) |
40% |
|
Last attempted Class 12 theory examination |
60% |
|
Practical/Internal Assessment |
Unchanged |
After applying the formula, the petitioner’s revised result showed an improvement and was made available through DigiLocker and email.
The Supreme Court observed that the petitioner’s primary grievance had been addressed and disposed of the case. The Court did not issue directions on answer-sheet access or re-evaluation because those requests were not included in the original petition, while leaving the petitioner free to pursue remedies available under the applicable CBSE rules.
Regular Students Challenge Assessment Policy
A separate petition has been filed by Adithian Rajmohan Nair along with 29 regular Class 12 students from Gulf countries.
The petition challenges the CBSE assessment policy issued on 27 March 2026, which relied on school-level quarterly examinations, half-yearly examinations and pre-board examinations to prepare results.
According to the petitioners, pre-board examinations are intended as preparatory assessments rather than final performance indicators. They argue that relying on these examinations reduced their aggregate marks and affected their academic prospects.
The petition also raises concerns that lower scores may influence eligibility for admissions, scholarships and certain professional courses where Class 12 performance is a qualifying criterion.
Reliefs Requested Before the Supreme Court
The petitioners have sought the following reliefs:
|
Relief Requested |
Purpose |
|
One-time compensatory grace marks |
Reduce the impact of alternative assessment |
|
Fresh special examinations |
Provide another opportunity to improve marks |
|
Better-of-two improvement examinations |
Allow candidates to retain the higher score |
|
Relaxation of DASA and CIWG eligibility from 75% to 60% for 2026–27 |
Address admission concerns |
|
Provisional admissions and a special counselling window |
Prevent loss of the academic year |
The requested relaxation of admission criteria remains part of the petition and has not been granted by the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Directions
On 8 July 2026, a bench comprising Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe issued notices to the Union Government, CBSE and the Department of Higher Education, directing them to file their responses by 14 July 2026.
The Court also observed that CBSE should coordinate with international universities and education authorities to facilitate recognition of the alternative assessment results. In addition, it asked the Board to establish a dedicated helpline for affected students and their parents.
Timeline of Key Developments
|
Date |
Status |
Development |
|
27 March 2026 |
Historical |
CBSE announced the assessment policy for regular students |
|
May 2026 |
Historical |
Class 12 results declared; some private candidates received “Result Later” status |
|
21 June 2026 |
Historical |
Separate assessment policy notified for private candidates |
|
8 July 2026 |
Confirmed |
Supreme Court issued notices to the respondents |
|
14 July 2026 |
Confirmed |
Deadline for filing responses before the Court |
Issues Still Under Consideration
Although the separate assessment policy resolved the private candidate’s grievance, the petition concerning regular students is still pending.
The petitioners have also raised concerns regarding the timeline for declaring pending results and the process for obtaining answer sheets, verification of marks and re-evaluation. These issues are expected to be considered during the ongoing proceedings.
Advisory for Students
Students and parents should rely only on official CBSE, Supreme Court and DASA notifications for updates related to assessment policies, admissions and court proceedings.
- Do not share OTPs, DigiLocker credentials or passwords with anyone.
- Avoid unofficial websites, social media posts or agents claiming to guarantee admissions or revised marks.
- Government authorities do not ask candidates to make payments for approval of examination results or court-related relief.
- Verify any admission-related communication through the concerned institution or official portal before taking action.
Official Sources
The information in this article is based on official records and publicly available documents, including:
- Supreme Court of India Record of Proceedings relating to the Gulf CBSE petitions.
- CBSE Assessment Scheme for Class 12 Gulf students (27 March 2026).
- CBSE assessment policy for private candidates notified on 21 June 2026.
- CBSE guidelines on verification of marks and re-evaluation.
- DASA 2026 Information Bulletin and related admission guidelines.
Editorial Disclaimer
Court proceedings, CBSE policies and admission rules may change after publication. Readers should verify the latest Supreme Court orders, CBSE circulars and official admission notifications before making academic or admission-related decisions. In the event of any difference, the latest official notification or court order shall prevail.