The decision was taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The exams were scheduled to be held from May 4.
The board exams for class 10 are cancelled. The result will be prepared on the basis of an objective criterion developed by the board, a Ministry of Education (MoE) official said.
Any candidate who is not satisfied with the marks will be given an opportunity to sit for exams when the situation is conducive.
The class 12 exams have been postponed and a review of the situation will be done after June 1. Students will be given at least a 15-day notice before the exams are conducted, the official added.
