The Central Board of Secondary Education has released a statement in response to reports about a QR code appearing on the CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam 2026, conducted on March 9, 2026. It is claimed that the QR code on the exam paper led users to a YouTube video of the song 'Never Can Say Goodbye' by singer Rick Astley.
In a statement released by the Board, CBSE has verified the authenticity of the question papers and assured that their security is intact. CBSE also mentioned that although doubts about the authenticity of the question papers have been resolved, the issue is being treated with seriousness, and the Board is implementing measures to prevent similar problems from occurring again.
The QR code on the Class 12 Mathematics exam led users to a YouTube video of the song 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by English artist Rick Astley, causing confusion among students and raising doubts about the authenticity of the exam papers among worried students and their parents. Numerous individuals reported that scanning the QR code on the paper led to a YouTube song video, a famous online prank commonly known as a 'rickroll'.
The CBSE Class 12 Mathematics Exam for 2026 took place on March 9, from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Teachers noted that the Mathematics paper was well-organized and balanced, with the majority of questions derived from the NCERT syllabus and the prescribed curriculum.
The exam assessed students' understanding of concepts and their problem-solving skills. All questions were within the syllabus, making it approachable for students who had thoroughly prepared using NCERT materials and regular practice. Overall, the paper was fair, featuring a good mix of easy, moderate, and application-based questions.