New Delhi, March 6: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled Class 10 Board examinations in several West Asian countries amid escalating tensions in the region following the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, the Embassy of India in Muscat confirmed on Friday.

The Embassy of India in Muscat shared the CBSE circular on its official social media platform X, informing students and parents about the changes in the examination schedule across Gulf countries.

According to the circular dated March 5, 2026, the decision affects CBSE-affiliated schools in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

For Class 10 students, all examinations scheduled between March 7 and March 11 have been cancelled. Additionally, the exams that were earlier postponed and scheduled for March 2, March 5, and March 6, have also been cancelled. The CBSE stated that the mode of declaration of results for Class 10 students in West Asia will be notified separately at a later stage.

Meanwhile, the Class 12 Board examination scheduled for Saturday, March 7 has been postponed. The revised dates for the postponed exam will be announced later. The Board further stated that it will review the prevailing situation on March 7 and issue further instructions regarding examinations scheduled from March 9 onwards.

CBSE has advised all Class 12 students to remain in close contact with their respective schools and closely follow official announcements regarding further updates.

Students have also been urged to stay in regular contact with their schools, rely only on official CBSE notifications, and avoid depending on unofficial sources or rumours for information regarding the examinations.

The cancellation comes against the backdrop of dramatic developments in the region.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a series of missile and drone strikes on multiple targets in Tehran, including the compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, located in the city centre.

Hours later, Iran confirmed that Khamenei had been killed in the attack.

Iran subsequently carried out retaliatory strikes targeting Tel Aviv and other locations in Israel, along with American military bases and diplomatic missions across West Asia.

Iranian attacks also hit civilian and energy infrastructure in neighbouring countries, including an oil refinery in Saudi Arabia and a luxury hotel in Dubai.

The exchange of strikes has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict that could draw in additional West Asian nations and severely disrupt global energy markets.

New Delhi, March 5: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Finland are working to strengthen their ties as a strategic partnership in digitalisation and sustainability, which will accelerate collaboration in advanced technologies ranging from Artificial Intelligence and 6G telecommunications to clean energy and quantum computing.

Speaking after holding bilateral talks with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, the Prime Minister highlighted that cooperation in these high-tech sectors will add new energy and direction to relations between the two countries.

“We are shaping India-Finland relations into a strategic partnership in digitalisation and sustainability,” Prime Minister Modi stated.

“This partnership, from AI to 6G telecom, from clean energy to quantum computing, will give momentum and energy to our cooperation in many high-tech areas,” PM Modi mentioned.

PM Modi also noted that the historic India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, reached earlier this year, will further strengthen trade, investment and technology collaboration between India and Finland.

The two leaders held detailed discussions at Hyderabad House in the national capital, where they explored ways to expand cooperation across several sectors and deepen economic engagement between the two nations.

“In early 2026, a historic India-European Union Free Trade Agreement was signed. This Agreement will further strengthen trade, investment, and technology cooperation between India and Finland,” Prime Minister Modi said.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the talks covered a wide range of issues aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and strengthening strategic ties.

Both sides also exchanged views on regional and global developments and discussed cooperation in multilateral forums.

Prime Minister Modi also hosted a lunch in honour of President Stubb following the talks.

Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the Finnish President and discussed bilateral ties ahead of the high-level meeting with the Prime Minister.

EAM Jaishankar said he also looked forward to President Stubb’s address at the Raisina Dialogue, where the visiting leader is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech.

Srinagar, March 5: Restrictions continued across Kashmir on Thursday, even as the overall situation has improved and tensions are gradually coming down.

The situation had become tense in the wake of the protests over the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israel strikes in Iran.

Authorities said restrictions will remain in place throughout the Valley for the day, and no protests or gatherings of people will be allowed to maintain law and order.

Contingents of police and the CRPF were deployed on the ground at all sensitive locations in Srinagar district and other districts in the Valley.

Barricades and blockades at road intersections were placed to enforce restrictions.

These restrictions are being more strictly enforced in areas dominated by the Shia Muslim population in Srinagar and other districts.

Despite the authorities continuing precautionary measures, the situation was obviously improving in the Valley as people in ones and twos moved out to buy essentials of life in the uptown areas of Srinagar city and all other district headquarters of the Valley.

Except for the city centre Lal Chowk, where barricades, tin sheets and concertina wires were placed to enforce restrictions, shops in other areas of uptown Srinagar started business as usual.

As tensions started easing out, security forces also showed lenient behaviour towards people coming out to resume normal activities of life wherever such activities were possible.

Reports from other district headquarters indicate that markets have started opening with people coming out to buy the essentials of life.

The office-goers in Srinagar city, except for the old city areas, came out to resume their duties in the morning as they did elsewhere in the Valley.

Schools, colleges and universities continued to remain closed for the day and will reopen after March 7.

All exams scheduled up to March 7 have been postponed by Kashmir University, cluster university and the Central University.

Internet services will also continue to be available at 2G speed, while services on prepaid mobile phones will continue to remain suspended till further notice.

Authorities have also lodged FIRs against some people for uploading objectionable content on the Internet. MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi and former Srinagar mayor, Junaid Azim Mattu, are among those against whom FIRs have been lodged for allegedly posting provocative content.

These restrictions have been imposed as a precautionary measure following protests in parts of the Valley over the death of Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli bombing.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday interacted with members of the civil society, including those from the religious, social and business communities in Srinagar.

Omar Abdullah also offered prayers for those, including Ayatullah Ali Khamenei and others, killed in recent developments in Iran.

The Chief Minister called for peace and communal harmony after meeting civil society groups in Srinagar, urging people to express their emotions and grievances peacefully while upholding the spirit of brotherhood and unity.