Patna: GEC Vaishali’s Shivani Kumari and Aman Kumar have retained their East Zone title in the National Inter-College Crossword Expedition (NICE-2025), securing a second consecutive victory at the Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) on Tuesday. The pair now head to New Delhi for the Grand Finale.
Runners-up were Md. Dilshad Akhtar and Sujata Giri of SCE, Saharsha, while third place went to GEC Vaishali’s Aman Kumar Jha and Prarthana.
In the 13th National Inter-School Cryptic Crossword Contest (CCCC XIII) Patna City round, Don Bosco Academy’s Dhairya Pandey claimed first place. St Michael’s High School’s Shraddha Shree came second, and St. Karen’s High School’s Ambar Sinha and Aayush Sinha took third. The top contestants will also compete in the Delhi final.
The event, held in collaboration with AICTE, IIT Madras, IIM Mumbai and Extra-C, drew students from across the region to Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP)’s auditorium for a morning of competitive cryptic clue-cracking.
Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, Chairman-cum-Member, Board of Revenue & Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Forest & Climate Change Department, gave winners the Prize and ticket to NICE 2025 Finale, as the Chief Guest for the occasion. Guest of Honour was Vivek Kumar Singh, Chairman, RERA Bihar and Chief Mentor, Extra-C, along with Dr. Rana Singh, Director, CIMP, Kumod Kumar, CAO, Dr. Sunil Kumar, Associate Dean and Professor of Practice, CIMP.
The competitions were hosted by quizmaster Kushagra Singh, with the day’s proceedings led by Dr Rana Singh, who urged students to embrace crosswords as a tool for systematic thinking and strategic planning. Associate Dean Dr Sunil Kumar encouraged participation as a route to personal development.
Guest of Honor, Vivek Kumar Singh, said “Crosswords are more than puzzles, they’re exercises in curiosity, logic, and language. They sharpen the mind and ignite the joy of discovery, especially among young learners” He urged students to participate and not think much about winning.
The Chief Guest, Harjot Kaur Bamhrah, emphasised the value of crosswords in enhancing mental agility. She noted that engaging with such puzzles stimulates idea generation, an essential skill for impressing potential investors. Encouraging students to cultivate a habit of reading, she highlighted the importance of continuous learning and knowledge-building. Addressing young women in particular, she urged them to believe in themselves, stating that self-belief is the foundation of confidence, and confidence is key to success.
Vote of thanks was delivered by Kumod Kumar, CAO, CIMP, said: “To all the participants, you are the real spirit of NICE and CCCC. Your enthusiasm, hard work, and competitive spirit have made this event vibrant and meaningful. Whether you win or not, you have already gained valuable experience that will serve you well in the future.”
