The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on a petition filed by Class 12 regular students from Gulf countries challenging the special assessment scheme for the academic session 2025–26. The scheme was implemented after the cancellation of Board examinations in the Gulf region due to the US-Iran war.
Petitioners Seek Compartment Exams
The petitioners—30 students from Gulf and West Asian countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman—have sought an opportunity to appear in compartment examinations after this year’s board examinations were disrupted by the US-Iran war. They argue that the CBSE’s assessment methodology resulted in significantly lower marks than they would have ordinarily secured in the final Board examinations.
Bench Issues Notice
A Bench of Justice KV Viswanathan and Justice Alok Aradhe issued notice to the CBSE and directed a copy of the petition to be served on Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The case was posted for hearing on July 14. The Bench was informed that while CBSE has notified compartment examinations commencing July 28, no schedule has been announced for students from the Gulf region and West Asian countries.
Background of the Dispute
The dispute stems from the cancellation of the 2025–26 CBSE Board examinations in several subjects in West Asian countries due to the US-Iran war. To evaluate students who could not take the examinations, CBSE on March 27, 2026 prescribed a special assessment scheme. Under this scheme, marks for cancelled papers were calculated based on school-level assessments, including quarterly examinations, half-yearly examinations, and pre-board examinations.
Impact on Higher Education
The petitioners contend that the special assessment scheme adversely affected students’ higher education prospects, particularly those seeking admission under the Direct Admission of Students Abroad (DASA) and Children of Indian Workers in Gulf Countries (CIWG) schemes. These schemes prescribe a minimum aggregate of 75% marks for eligibility. Several students who cleared the JEE Main examination were ineligible for admission solely because of the marks awarded under the special assessment scheme. Many have either been declared failed or placed in the compartment category despite having consistently performed well academically, they contended.
