CBSE Responds to Viral 'Rickroll' QR Code, Says Exam Security Uncompromised

Mar 10, 2026 Aakanksha Singh

[{"selector":"#anim-bb9c1145-30c7-43a1-a029-1d26e3b56431","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4e25b3f-75e3-4718-845c-62d5224ea337","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.55173%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The CBSE Class 12th Mathematics paper sparked a stir on social media on March 9, 2026, with users claiming that the QR code printed on the question paper leads to a music video. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: The Indian Express

[{"selector":"#anim-b028823e-95f9-4ef6-8c78-522eea2c0593","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ddabdc1b-837a-4c8d-a971-feb095efbdd6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-117.93104%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The QR code on the Class 12th Maths question paper (Set 2) opened a YouTube video of 'Never Gonna Give You Up' by Rick Astley, a prank widely known online as “rickrolling”. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: The Indian Express

[{"selector":"#anim-0567a6a3-1a70-4bc0-9d96-517fc15a1e78","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-88f4e461-c5c7-4efb-83e7-17fd8b5f5a9b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.55173%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Images of the question paper are circulated widely online, with users urging others to scan the QR code printed on the top left corner. CBSE introduced QR codes on question papers in 2018 as a security measure aimed at preventing paper leaks. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: The Indian Express

[{"selector":"#anim-0f0acbcc-3e7a-40a5-8794-62563598ba83","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-136c7750-a062-4d72-b10e-204d76df7879","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.27587%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] In a press release dated March 10, 2026, CBSE states that the QR code and other security features on the question paper are provided to verify its authenticity in the event of a suspected security breach. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: CBSE Press Release

[{"selector":"#anim-83a2e421-eb40-4c8e-b103-609d835d2dbd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea517353-30f6-4495-b7ee-0ac7a8885285","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.27587%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The board confirms that the question papers are genuine, and the security of the question papers remains uncompromised. The board also states that necessary steps are being taken to ensure such issues are not repeated in the future. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: IE Education

[{"selector":"#anim-51618c61-51c3-4769-a35e-8843c1c0c10c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7a56068b-4e28-4468-b5f4-6a9789fff1fc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.27587%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The Class 12 Mathematics exam was conducted on March 9, 2026. Soon after the paper ended, screenshots of the question paper began circulating online, with students claiming that scanning the QR code printed on it redirected them to the music video. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: The Indian Express

[{"selector":"#anim-bdefb5c3-03f9-4af7-bc09-ab58f6cd04f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cec4e5d2-9c43-4c6a-a8e7-5c9c5c1bcbb5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.27587%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] CBSE assures that the concerns raised by students and parents regarding the QR code have been taken seriously. Dashed Trail Dashed Trail Photo: The Indian Express

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[{"selector":"#anim-3610fb81-6985-4c65-aefb-90d62b06d3f5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d4e4acd-4720-4afd-b46f-27c52cbf6f20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-27ff3a46-ea7c-4466-a3d7-7e6c01d2d2be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1000,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-686c2fd7-a03c-4ef8-9da8-660c8251c5ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-603dc413-f3ed-4f4d-8d5f-446005e38920","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab50e06f-87e8-4473-a666-0bd03427657a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dashed Trail Next Read more Click here

CBSE Responds to Viral 'Rickroll' QR Code, Says Exam Security Uncompromised

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