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CBSE explains QR codes on question papers amid viral confusion and rumours
April 3, 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an advisory cautioning students, parents, and media against misinformation surrounding QR codes on exam question papers. The board clarified that these codes are not clickable web links but part of its internal system for authentication, tracking, and maintaining exam integrity. It stressed that scanning them only displays coded text and does not lead to any external content.
The clarification came after confusion during the Class 12 history exam, when some students linked QR code outputs to influencer Orry. CBSE explained that distorted text like “OOORRRYYY” was auto-corrected by search engines when manually searched online, leading to unrelated results. The board emphasized that such outcomes are algorithm-driven and have no connection to its examination process.
CBSE also warned that certain elements were misrepresenting these incidents to spread false narratives and damage its credibility. It urged the public to avoid sharing unverified claims and rely only on official sources. The board reiterated that QR codes, introduced after past paper leaks, act as digital identifiers to track and verify question papers, ensuring transparency and security in the examination system.