CBSE Class 12 maths paper QR code leads to Rick Astley song, sparks social media buzz
HYDERABAD: A QR code printed on the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 12 Mathematics question paper triggered widespread discussion online after several users claimed that scanning it redirected them to a music video.
The Class 12 Mathematics and Applied Mathematics examination was held on March 9, 2026, from 10.30 IST to 13.30 IST.
Images of the question paper circulated widely on social media platforms, with users encouraging others to scan the QR code printed on the top-left corner of the paper.
QR code sparks online curiosity
According to several posts online, scanning the code directed users to the 1987 song “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley, widely associated with the internet prank known as the “Rickroll”.
A video shared online also appeared to show a student scanning the QR code from the question paper, after which the song’s video played on the device.
The track, released in 1987, has been streamed more than one billion times on Spotify and became a viral internet meme in the mid-2000s, where users are unexpectedly redirected to the song’s video.
Board says papers are genuine
In a press release issued on March 10, 2026, CBSE said several security features, including QR codes, are embedded in question papers to verify their authenticity in case of a suspected security breach.
The board confirmed that in a few sets of the Class 12 Mathematics paper, scanning one of the QR codes appeared to link to a YouTube video, which raised concerns among students and parents about the authenticity of the question papers.
CBSE clarified that the question papers used in the examination were genuine and that the security of the examination process remained uncompromised.
“While the concern about the veracity of the question papers is put to rest, the matter has been viewed seriously and necessary steps are being taken by the Board to ensure that such issues are not repeated in future,” the board said.
The CBSE Class 12 board examinations began on February 17, 2026, and are scheduled to conclude on April 10, 2026, with the Legal Studies examination.
