The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an advisory to address confusion surrounding QR codes printed on board examination question papers after viral social media posts suggested they were linked to internet personalities and online content. The Board said such claims were misleading and factually incorrect and urged students, parents, educators, and media platforms to avoid sharing unverified interpretations.
The clarification comes after posts circulated widely during the ongoing Class 12 board examinations, claiming that scanning QR codes printed on question papers led to references to influencer Orry or to the popular internet prank involving the song Never Gonna Give You Up by singer Rick Astley. Responding to the speculation, CBSE stressed that the examination process remains secure and that the QR codes serve only technical purposes related to the integrity of the exam system.
The discussion gained momentum following the Class 12 History examination held on March 30. Some students reported that scanning the QR code printed on the question paper produced search results referencing internet personality Orry. Videos showing students scanning the code spread quickly across social media platforms, drawing attention and sparking debate about the role of QR codes in the examination papers.
A similar incident had earlier surfaced during the Class 12 Mathematics examination conducted on March 9. Students shared posts claiming that scanning the QR code redirected them to the song Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley. The song is widely associated with an internet prank commonly known as “rickrolling”. Although many students treated the incident with humour, it raised questions about whether the QR codes were connected to external online content.
QR Codes Designed for Authentication and Tracking
Responding to the speculation, CBSE clarified that the QR codes printed on question papers are not designed to function as internet hyperlinks. Instead, they form part of an internal system used for authentication, tracking, and safeguarding the integrity of examination materials.
According to the Board, scanning the QR code reveals encoded text rather than opening external websites or multimedia content. Confusion occurs when users copy this decoded text and search it through online search engines. In such cases, algorithm-based suggestions may generate unrelated results that include references to public figures or trending topics.
CBSE emphasised that these algorithm-driven outputs have no connection with the Board or its examination procedures.
Social Media Buzz Amplifies the Confusion
The online discussion intensified after influencer Orry reacted to the viral posts. In a video shared on social media, he scanned the QR code and saw a search page referencing his own name. Reacting to the moment, he said it felt like a dream to appear on a CBSE exam paper. The clip quickly spread across platforms, further fuelling the online buzz surrounding the issue.
However, the Board reiterated that such results were coincidental outcomes generated by search engine algorithms and were not embedded within the examination papers.
CBSE Urges Caution Against Misleading Claims
In its advisory, CBSE said some individuals were deliberately misrepresenting these unrelated search results in a way that could create confusion and damage the institution’s credibility.
“The linking of QR codes to unrelated individuals or content is factually incorrect and misleading,” the Board said.
CBSE urged students, parents, educators, and media organisations to rely on official communication channels and verify facts before sharing information publicly. It also cautioned against amplifying speculative interpretations that could distort the facts.
Reassuring candidates and schools, the Board reiterated that the integrity of the examination process remains intact. It stressed that QR codes are technical safeguards intended solely to verify the authenticity of question papers and ensure that board examinations are conducted smoothly and securely.
The advisory comes at a time when board examinations are closely followed online, where even minor incidents can quickly escalate into widely shared social media narratives.