The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a clarification after a QR code in the Class 12 Mathematics question paper created confusion among students and parents. The issue came to light after images of the question paper went viral on social media, showing that scanning one of the QR codes in certain paper sets led to a popular internet prank video.
The board has now confirmed that the question papers used in the exam were genuine and that the security of the examination process remained intact. In its official statement, CBSE said that there had been no breach of question paper security.
The Class 12 Mathematics examination was conducted on March 9 across many examination centres in India. Soon after the exam ended, some students reported that scanning the QR code printed on the question paper led them to a YouTube video instead of a verification page. This video was related to a well-known internet prank called “Rickroll.”
The situation quickly attracted attention online, with several students and teachers questioning how such an issue could appear in a major national examination. The board responded to these concerns by issuing a public clarification.
According to CBSE, the question papers themselves were authentic and the QR code issue did not affect the integrity of the examination. The board emphasised that the security systems designed to prevent question paper leaks were still fully intact.
QR codes have become an important part of modern exam security systems. CBSE includes these codes on its question papers to help authorities verify whether the paper is genuine if there is any suspicion of a leak or manipulation.
When the QR code printed on the Maths question paper was scanned in certain sets, it reportedly redirected users to the music video of the song “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. This prank, known online as “Rickrolling,” involves unexpectedly directing someone to the famous 1987 song video.
Because the QR code led to this unrelated video, many students and parents began to worry that the question paper might not be genuine. Social media posts quickly spread screenshots of the code and the video link, increasing confusion.
In response, CBSE issued an official statement saying that the question papers were authentic and that there had been no compromise in the examination process. The board explained that the issue was being taken seriously and that steps were being taken to ensure that similar situations do not occur again in future exams.
Officials stated that the purpose of the QR code is purely to verify the authenticity of the question paper if a suspected leak occurs. The board reassured students that the unusual QR code link had not affected the exam or its fairness in any way.
CBSE also acknowledged that the incident raised concerns among students and parents, but it emphasised that the overall security system remained reliable.
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While the QR code issue attracted attention, students and teachers also discussed the difficulty level of the Class 12 Mathematics exam itself. According to several teachers and education experts, the paper was generally balanced and of moderate difficulty.
Many students said the exam tested both conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills. The question paper was structured into five sections, including objective questions, short-answer questions, and longer problem-solving questions.
According to Akhilesh Kumar Tripathi, Head of the Mathematics Department at Global Indian International School in Noida, the paper was overall well-balanced. He explained that most of the questions were based on standard concepts from the NCERT syllabus, which meant students who had prepared well could answer them confidently.
However, some questions in different sections were described as slightly tricky. These questions required students to read carefully and apply their understanding of mathematical concepts rather than simply using formulas.
The exam also included a case study section that asked students to analyse a situation before solving the related mathematical problems. Teachers said these questions took more time because students needed to understand the scenario before applying mathematical methods.
Another mathematics teacher, Vijay Giri from Satya School in Gurugram, said the paper was moderate but somewhat lengthy. According to him, the integration questions required detailed calculations, which made them time-consuming for some students.
He also mentioned that while most questions were manageable, one multiple-choice question created confusion among students. Despite this, students who had practised previous years’ papers were expected to perform well.
According to Giri, students preparing for engineering entrance exams like JEE found the paper relatively easier because they were already familiar with advanced problem-solving techniques.
Another expert, Vikram Singh, Head of Mathematics at DPS Sector 45 in Gurugram, also described the paper as well-structured. He said most questions were directly based on the NCERT syllabus and the prescribed curriculum.
According to Singh, the paper tested both conceptual understanding and the ability to apply mathematical ideas to solve problems. Importantly, none of the questions were outside the syllabus, which made the paper fair for students who had prepared consistently.
Overall, teachers agreed that the paper included a balanced mix of easy, moderate, and application-based questions. Students who had practised regularly and understood the core concepts were likely able to complete the exam successfully.
While the QR code incident created temporary confusion, the exam itself proceeded normally across the country. CBSE has assured students and parents that the issue will be reviewed carefully so that such incidents do not happen again in the future.
For now, students are awaiting the remaining examinations and eventually their results, while education authorities continue to focus on maintaining transparency and trust in the national examination system.
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