The Central Board of Secondary Education rejected claims that QR codes on Class 12 board exam papers link to online content, including references to internet figure Orry and singer Rick Astley, and said the allegations are incorrect.
The board said the QR codes do not function as web links and cannot redirect users to external sites or media. It said the codes are part of internal systems used to verify question papers and support exam monitoring.
The clarification follows online posts after the Class 12 History exam on March 30, where students said scanning QR codes showed results linked to influencer Orry. A similar reaction followed the March 9 mathematics exam, when some students said they were redirected to Rick Astley's song "Never Gonna Give You Up", often used in a prank known as a "rickroll".
Security Purpose
CBSE said the QR codes are used only for verification and to maintain the integrity of the examination process. It said scanning the codes may display encoded text but does not lead to any external content.
Board Response
The board said some people are misrepresenting these outcomes and spreading confusion. "The association of QR codes with unrelated persons or content is factually incorrect and deceptive," CBSE said in its notification.
Process Intact
CBSE said the examination process remains unaffected and that the QR codes serve only as a technical safeguard to confirm the authenticity of question papers.
The statement comes during the ongoing board examination period, when posts on social media have drawn attention to the QR codes on question papers.
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