CBSE confirms Class 12th Math question paper genuine despite QR code prank
CBSE has assured that the maths question papers are genuine and that the security of the examination remains fully intact.
After videos showed a QR code on a Central Board of Secondary Education exam question paper linking to a YouTube music video, the Board said Tuesday it “views the matter seriously” and is taking steps to “ensure that such issues are not repeated in the future.”
“Many security features are provided on the question papers. These include QR codes to verify the genuineness of the question paper in case of suspected security breach,” the Board said in a statement.
Read | CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Analysis 2026: Students find exam moderately difficult
The Class 12 Math exam was held on Monday.
“In a few question paper sets, it appears that when one of the given QR codes is scanned, it links to a YouTube video. It appears that this has raised concerns about the veracity of the question papers…,” the statement read.
Read | CBSE gives marks for each correct step, not just final answer: Board
“It is hereby confirmed by the Board that the question papers are genuine. The security of the question papers remains uncompromised,” it added.
CBSE sources said the QR code is a security feature designed to verify that the question paper is genuine.
“The QR code can lead to something…a random code or anything else that is known internally to verify that the paper is genuine. In this case, the QR code led to the music video. The security of the question paper has not been compromised, but we have cautioned the internal unit dealing with this that such links are not to be used in future to determine that the paper is genuine,” a source added.
Read | CBSE postpones Class 12th board exams till March 16 in Middle East
Videos on social media on Monday showed that when the QR code on the math question paper was scanned, it led to a YouTube music video by Rick Astley, for the 1987 song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’.
It’s an internet prank called ‘rickrolling’, where a link meant for something else unexpectedly leads to this music video instead.
Teachers and students’ initial feedback indicated that the paper was moderately difficult, with many candidates highlighting Section D – the long-answer portion – as the most demanding part of the exam.
According to Nilutpal Bora, PGT-Mathematics, Modern English School, Kahilipara, Guwahati, Assam, “The CBSE Class 12 Maths exam paper was well-balanced and aligned with students’ expectations. The paper focused on comprehension, critical thinking, and application-based questions.”
He added that the MCQs involved questions from matrix, determinants, differentiation, application of derivatives, integration, vector 3D, touching almost all the major topics from the syllabus. The MCQs remained consistent across all three sets.
After videos showed a QR code on a Central Board of Secondary Education exam question paper linking to a YouTube music video, the Board said Tuesday it “views the matter seriously” and is taking steps to “ensure that such issues are not repeated in the future.”
“Many security features are provided on the question papers. These include QR codes to verify the genuineness of the question paper in case of suspected security breach,” the Board said in a statement.
Read | CBSE Class 12 Maths Exam Analysis 2026: Students find exam moderately difficult
The Class 12 Math exam was held on Monday.
“In a few question paper sets, it appears that when one of the given QR codes is scanned, it links to a YouTube video. It appears that this has raised concerns about the veracity of the question papers…,” the statement read.
Read | CBSE gives marks for each correct step, not just final answer: Board
“It is hereby confirmed by the Board that the question papers are genuine. The security of the question papers remains uncompromised,” it added.
CBSE sources said the QR code is a security feature designed to verify that the question paper is genuine.
“The QR code can lead to something…a random code or anything else that is known internally to verify that the paper is genuine. In this case, the QR code led to the music video. The security of the question paper has not been compromised, but we have cautioned the internal unit dealing with this that such links are not to be used in future to determine that the paper is genuine,” a source added.
Read | CBSE postpones Class 12th board exams till March 16 in Middle East
Videos on social media on Monday showed that when the QR code on the math question paper was scanned, it led to a YouTube music video by Rick Astley, for the 1987 song ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’.
It’s an internet prank called ‘rickrolling’, where a link meant for something else unexpectedly leads to this music video instead.
Teachers and students’ initial feedback indicated that the paper was moderately difficult, with many candidates highlighting Section D – the long-answer portion – as the most demanding part of the exam.
According to Nilutpal Bora, PGT-Mathematics, Modern English School, Kahilipara, Guwahati, Assam, “The CBSE Class 12 Maths exam paper was well-balanced and aligned with students’ expectations. The paper focused on comprehension, critical thinking, and application-based questions.”
He added that the MCQs involved questions from matrix, determinants, differentiation, application of derivatives, integration, vector 3D, touching almost all the major topics from the syllabus. The MCQs remained consistent across all three sets.
