A QR code on the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) Class 12 mathematics question paper redirected users to Rick Astley's 'Never Gonna Give You Up' video, a famous internet prank known as rickrolling. The incident went viral on social media, prompting CBSE to clarify that the papers are genuine. The exam took place on March 9, 2026.
On March 9, 2026, during the CBSE Class 12 mathematics exam, a QR code printed on the question paper surprised students by redirecting them to Rick Astley's music video 'Never Gonna Give You Up' upon scanning. The code was intended for verifying the paper's authenticity, but in some sets, it linked to the YouTube video, a prank called rickrolling.
The incident spread rapidly on social media through Instagram videos and X posts, with students questioning CBSE's competence. One user on X asked how the QR code was not checked before printing.
CBSE issued a clarification: "Many security features are provided on the question papers. These include QR codes to verify the genuineness of the question paper in case of suspected security breach. In a few question paper sets, it appears that when one of the given QR codes is scanned, it links to a YouTube video." The board assured that the papers are genuine and security remains uncompromised. "The matter has been viewed seriously and necessary steps are being taken by the Board to ensure that such issues are not repeated in the future," it added.
According to teachers, the QR code appeared on all sets and only on the mathematics paper so far, not on others. The exam ran from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, and the paper was well-structured, based on the NCERT syllabus, with a mix of easy, moderate, and application-based questions.
