CBSE issues guidelines for special Class 12 exam for UAE, other Middle East students

India’s Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released instructions for Class 12 students in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia who wish to take part in the special examinations following disruptions caused by the regional conflict in March. Students can begin submitting their List of Candidates (LOC) starting Tuesday, September 22. A user manual tailored for students in the UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia was provided on September 21, 2026.

CBSE had announced on September 15 that the exams previously unable to be held in these countries would now proceed. Both regular and private students must complete the LOC to sit for one or more subjects of their choice. The LOC registration deadline is Saturday, September 26. CBSE declared earlier that no extensions would be granted. These exams follow a Supreme Court order and are provided for students who were dissatisfied with their results under a special assessment scheme used to calculate their scores.

To register online, candidates must visit the official CBSE website and select the "Special Exam" tab. They will be prompted to provide their previous examination details, including the Admit Card and Marks Statement, as well as their main examination information, such as roll number, examination centre, mother’s name, and the year of the main exam (2026).

A personal email address is required, as an OTP will be sent there. After verification, students can review their selected subjects, which are the 40 subjects that could not be conducted by the board. Upon successful submission, an Application Number is displayed, which should be kept for future reference. CBSE advises students to read all instructions carefully before finalizing their registration.