New Delhi/Patna : The 13th edition of India’s leading school-level crossword competition, the National Inter-School Cryptic Crossword Contest (CCCC), is set to return this year, with registration now open on the official website, crypticsingh.com. Participation is free and open to students from Classes VII to XII.
Known for testing linguistic flair, lateral thinking and teamwork, the competition will run from July to November in a three-stage hybrid format, culminating in a national final in New Delhi.
The contest opens with a series of online rounds, beginning with a non-scoring practice round on July 27, followed by three competitive rounds on August 3, 10 and 17. Two students from the same school may form a team, regardless of their individual classes. A fresh crossword grid will be uploaded at 2pm IST on each round date, with teams given three hours to submit their solutions.
Teams will be ranked based on both speed and accuracy. The top 100 teams on the cumulative leaderboard will progress to Stage II, alongside the top 20 finishers from each round, even if they fall outside the cumulative top 100.
Stage II will feature face-to-face regional rounds, conducted either online or at designated offline venues depending on local logistics. The highest-scoring teams will then qualify for Stage III — the offline National Grand Finale in New Delhi. Dates for the latter stages will be announced in due course.
Launched in 2013 by the civil society initiative Extra-C, the contest has since evolved into a countrywide intellectual movement, with participation from schools across urban and rural India. Organisers credit the initiative with helping revive crossword-solving culture among the youth, particularly within the educational ecosystem.
All participants will receive certificates, while top-performing teams will be awarded prizes in recognition of their achievement.
For registration and further details, schools and students can visit crypticsingh.com.
