‘QR codes are not web links’: CBSE clarifies after back-to-back viral incidents

In an advisory, the Board clarified that when scanned manually, the QR codes can lead to unintended search results.

Almost a month into the ongoing board examinations, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an advisory clarifying the purpose and functioning of QR codes printed on question papers, following a series of viral incidents that triggered confusion among students.

In an advisory dated April 2, the Board said that “misleading information” was being circulated about QR codes and emphasised that these are not intended to function as direct internet hyperlinks.

Clarifying the situation, the Board posted on X, “The QR codes printed on CBSE question papers are not intended to function as direct internet hyperlinks. These codes are part of internal systems for authentication, tracking, and examination integrity, and do not open as web links when scanned. Rather, they show the intended text. However, if the user opts to use Google search on the text, Google search suggests certain other words.”

What prompted the clarification?

The move comes days after a Class 12 History exam paper went viral when students scanning a QR code were redirected to a Google search page for internet personality Orhan Awatramani, popularly known as Orry, with the query appearing as “OOORRRYYY”.

The unexpected result sparked a flood of reactions online, with students sharing screenshots and videos of the question paper across social media platforms. While many initially assumed it to be a prank or an error, the Board has now clarified that such outcomes are not intentional.

Explaining this, CBSE noted, “It has been observed that when users attempt to interpret or manually search QR-related strings online, unrelated search results, including references to any individual/entity are shown.”

These, CBSE said, are algorithm-driven outputs of search engines and bear no connection to the Board or its examination processes.

The displayed search term may have stemmed from encoded text linked to the subject code for the specific question paper, possibly derived from the last three letters of the subject name.

The Board reiterated that such redirections are a byproduct of how search platforms process text, not a feature of the QR code system itself.

Not the first time: The ‘rickrolling’ episode

However, this is not the first instance of QR code-related confusion this exam season.

Earlier, during the Class 12 Mathematics exam, students reported that scanning a QR code led them to Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up, a classic internet prank widely known as “rickrolling”.

At the time, CBSE had acknowledged the issue, stating that while the question paper was “genuine”, the matter was being taken seriously and that steps would be taken to ensure such incidents are not repeated.

Why QR codes are used in CBSE papers

QR codes were introduced by CBSE as part of a broader push to strengthen exam security and prevent paper leaks, particularly after the widely reported 2018 question paper leak incidents.

Since then, the Board has incorporated digital tracking mechanisms — including QR codes to authenticate question papers, trace distribution chains, and to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

In its latest advisory, CBSE stressed that linking these QR codes to unrelated individuals or content is “factually incorrect and misleading”, and urged students, parents, and media platforms to verify information through official channels before sharing.