New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued an advisory late Thursday, April 2, cautioning parents, students, and the media against spreading “misinformation” about QR codes on question papers.
The Board clarified that the codes are not meant to function as hyperlinks but are part of its internal systems designed to maintain examination integrity and authentication.
“Rather, they show the intended text. However, if the user opts to use Google search on the text, Google search suggests certain other words. This doesn’t occur if standard browsers such as Chrome are used,” said the advisory.
Adivosory amidst recent claims surrounding QR codes
The advisory comes amid recent claims surrounding the QR codes. During a Class 12 History examination on March 30, students reported that the code led them to search results related to internet personality Orry, sparking confusion among students.
Previously, the QR codes on a Math exam question paper redirected users to a YouTube music video of the 1987 song Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley.
The Board emphasised that the results are “algorithm-driven outputs” of search engines and are in no way related to its examination process.
The advisory stated that certain elements are deliberately being misused to create “false propaganda and malign the image of CBSE.”
“The linking of QR codes to unrelated individuals or content is factually incorrect and misleading,” the statement read.
The Board advised students, parents, educators, and media platforms to refrain from sharing unverified claims, verify facts through official CBSE channels, and exercise caution against spreading content that may damage the institution’s reputation.
