Patna: Bihar made a strong mark on the national crossword stage as two of its brightest young minds, Aman Kumar and Adya Singh, delivered outstanding performances in Round ‘C’ of the National Inter-College Crossword Expedition (NICE) 2025.
Aman Kumar, a student at Government Engineering College (GEC), Vaishali, emerged as the state topper for Bihar, showcasing sharp intellect and quick thinking in what was one of the most competitive rounds of the contest yet. His performance comes as a proud moment not just for his college but for the entire state, reinforcing Bihar’s growing presence in academic competitions beyond conventional arenas.
Adding further prestige to Bihar’s crossword legacy, Patna’s Adya Singh clinched the third rank at the national level, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with India’s finest. A former champion of the National Inter-School Cryptic Crossword Contest (CCCC) 2023, Adya’s transition to the inter-college circuit has been smooth and impactful, proving her consistent brilliance in the world of cryptic puzzles.
The national topper of this round was VKS Gayatri from BITS Pilani, Hyderabad campus, while Bhargav Vinayak from Ludhiana, another former CCCC champion, secured second place. The top five scorers were separated by a thin margin, reflecting the intensity and high standards of the contest.
Notably, Bihar also dominated the East Zone, with Shivani Kumari from GEC Vaishali being crowned the East Zonal Winner. This dual recognition — at both the state and zonal level — has firmly placed GEC Vaishali among the premier institutions contributing to the crossword culture in India.
With participants from across the country and zonal winners from states such as Tamil Nadu, Delhi, Assam, and Maharashtra, NICE continues to celebrate intellectual diversity and talent. The contest’s final online round, Round ‘E’, is slated for June 8, 2025, and is expected to draw even higher levels of competition.
As Bihar gears up for the concluding leg of NICE 2025, all eyes remain on Aman, Adya, and others who are shaping the state’s emerging identity as a hub for wordplay and wit.
