The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an official clarification addressing misleading claims circulating on social media regarding QR codes printed on the 2026 board examination question papers. The board has urged students, parents, and educators to avoid sharing unverified information and speculative content.
In its advisory, CBSE stated that the QR codes included on question papers are not designed to function as clickable web links or direct internet hyperlinks. Instead, these codes are part of the board’s internal system for authentication and tracking, serving as an added security feature to maintain the integrity of the examination process.
The clarification comes in response to viral posts claiming that scanning these QR codes redirected users to unrelated online content, including a ‘Rickroll’ video and images of media personality Orhan Awatramani (popularly known as Orry). CBSE has categorically denied any such connection, calling these claims misleading and factually incorrect.
According to the board, the QR codes display predefined text when scanned and are not linked to external websites. However, if users choose to perform a Google search using the extracted text, the search engine may generate algorithm-driven suggestions or unrelated results. CBSE emphasised that such outputs are generated independently by search engines and have no association with the board or its examination system.
The board further noted that certain elements related to the QR codes are being misinterpreted and used to spread false narratives, potentially harming the institution’s credibility. It stressed that linking QR codes to unrelated individuals or content is baseless and misleading.
CBSE has appealed to all stakeholders to exercise caution and responsibility while sharing information online. The board underscored the importance of relying only on verified and official sources to prevent the spread of misinformation and to uphold the integrity of public institutions.
With this clarification, CBSE aims to reassure students and the public about the security measures in place and to counter any confusion arising from viral social media content.
Read the official notice here.
