Muscat: CBSE said the special examinations will cover 40 subjects, 20 academic and 20 skill-based, that could not be conducted in West Asian countries during the 2026 board examination cycle. The decision applies to eligible students whose results were declared under the Board’s special assessment scheme.

The examinations in Oman, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were disrupted in March amid worsening regional security conditions. CBSE initially postponed several Class 12 papers before cancelling the remaining examinations scheduled between March 16 and April 10.

To ensure affected students could still receive their results, CBSE introduced a special assessment scheme on March 27, under which marks for cancelled subjects were calculated using internal school assessments, including quarterly, half-yearly and pre-board examinations.

The Board had also indicated that students dissatisfied with marks awarded through the alternative assessment mechanism could be given an opportunity to appear for the actual examinations once circumstances permitted.

The latest decision follows proceedings before the Supreme Court of India, where Class 12 students from Gulf and West Asian countries challenged the assessment arrangement and sought additional relief following the disruption.

On July 8, a Bench comprising Justices K.V. Viswanathan and Alok Aradhe issued notice to the Centre and CBSE on an Article 32 petition filed on behalf of affected students. The petition sought, among other measures, special and improvement examinations without restrictions on the number of subjects, a “better-of-two” marks option, compensatory grace marks and admission-related relief under the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) and Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWG) schemes.

The students had argued that marks calculated under the assessment scheme could affect their prospects for admission to universities in India and elsewhere, particularly where minimum Class 12 percentage requirements apply.

CBSE has now said that, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision, examinations will be held for eligible Class 12 candidates in West Asian countries in the 40 subjects that were previously cancelled.

For students choosing to appear in the special examinations, the marks secured in these papers will be treated as their final marks, replacing the scores awarded under the earlier assessment scheme for the subjects concerned.