A QR code in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Mathematics question paper for Class XII redirects to a YouTube video of English singer Rick Astley’s 1987 song “Never Gonna Give You Up”, sparking confusion and discussion on social media over the safety of the security feature.
Pictures of the question paper began circulating on X, Instagram and Reddit after the Class 12 mathematics exam on Monday.
CBSE started printing QR codes on question papers in 2019, a year after Class 12 Economics and Class 10 Maths papers were leaked on social media and messaging platforms. The leakage forced CBSE to reconduct the Class 12 Economics exam. The board decided not to reconduct the Class 10 Mathematics exam, saying the leakage was limited and many students had already appeared.
Each QR code on a question paper usually acts as a digital identifier, enclosing information such as the subject, exam date, question paper set, and print set. The identifiers help authorities trace the chain of distribution of question papers and trace the source in case of a leak.
Codes are usually intended for verification by authorized testing administrators. When scanned with a regular mobile phone, they generally display either an encrypted string or a set of alphanumeric identifiers linked to CBSE’s internal database, which can then be decrypted by authorized systems to verify the origin of the paper.
Soon after screenshots of a QR code in a Class 12 Maths question paper circulated online, social media users flooded platforms with memes and jokes about students being “beaten” during the board exam.
Rickrolling is an internet meme and joke involving the unexpected appearance of the “Never Gonna Give You Up” music video.
Some users wondered how the YouTube link appeared in a security feature designed to authenticate the test, while others speculated that the image may have been edited or misinterpreted.
CBSE did not immediately respond to HT’s queries on the viral claims.
A mathematics teacher from a private school in Ghaziabad said there was no use of QR code for students. “It is up to the authorities involved in the board examination to ensure the integrity of the question paper. There seem to be some inadvertent errors by CBSE, despite it being a national board that also operates in several foreign countries. Many students have complained about this to me. CBSE should be more careful in designing question papers and ensuring proper QR codes to avoid embarrassment.”
