New Delhi: The nation’s sharpest young minds gathered in New Delhi for the National Inter College Crossword Expedition (NICE) 2025 Grand Finale, turning the humble crossword into a stage for wit, competition and cultural pride.
Over two intense days at AICTE headquarters, 23 teams from premier institutions including IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Madras, St Stephen’s College, JNU and SASTRA University battled through a gauntlet of preliminaries, quarter-finals and semi-finals before the final showdown.
When the last clue was cracked, Pranika Seenam and Seerat Kaur of IIT Delhi emerged as champions, sealing IIT’s dominance for a fourth consecutive year. IIT Guwahati’s Ruchira Joshi and Chinmayi Pillamarapu claimed second place, while SASTRA’s Ananya Mishra and Yasaswy Mokkapati secured third.
Dignitaries from government and academia praised the contest as more than a game. Pankaj Mishra, IRS, called crosswords “mental gyms that sharpen logic, memory, and creativity,” while AICTE Secretary Dr Vineet Joshi described NICE as a reflection of India’s new educational ethos, one that prioritises critical thinking and confidence alongside knowledge.
Vivek Singh, Chairman of RERA Bihar and chief mentor of Extra-C, hailed the event as “a cultural movement that nurtures curiosity, critical thinking, and a vibrant community of problem-solvers.” AICTE Chairman Prof T.G. Sitaram said the competition highlighted how play could prepare students for “life’s toughest challenges.”
The finale, opened by AICTE’s Member Secretary Shyama Rath, drew admiration for the precision, teamwork and energy on display. IPS officer Babu Ram linked crossword-solving to leadership qualities such as patience and alertness, while ACP Sharat Kumar Sinha of Delhi Police said the participants embodied “intellect and teamwork hand in hand.”
Launched in March 2025, NICE saw nationwide registrations and culminated with this finale, organised by AICTE, Extra-C, IIT Madras and IIM Mumbai. As AICTE Director Amit Dutta put it in his closing note, watching students decode complex clues with flair was “a reminder of the brilliance and innovation driving young India.”
