Patna: The fourth edition of the National Inter College Crossword Contest (NICE) has been announced, promising another intellectually stimulating journey for college students across India. Organised jointly by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), IIM Mumbai, IIT Delhi and Extra-C, NICE 2025 aims to promote linguistic skill, lateral thinking and quick reasoning through a multi-stage contest spread across the country.
Billed as one of India’s most anticipated crossword championships, the contest is open to all bona fide students of recognised colleges and universities. This year, even students who have just appeared for their Class 12 board exams and are awaiting college admissions will be eligible to participate.
Registrations and Format
Registrations for NICE 2025 are now open at nice.crypticsingh.com. The competition will unfold in three stages:
Stage One: Online Rounds
Participants will begin with a Practice Round on May 4, followed by four weekly competitive rounds—titled N, I, C and E—starting May 11. Clues will be released every Sunday at 10:30am IST, with submissions due by 5pm. Winners will be determined by speed and accuracy, and results will be displayed on both zonal and national leaderboards.
Stage Two: Zonal Rounds
The top 50 solvers from each of the five zones—North, South, East, West and Northeast—will qualify for the offline Zonal Finals. Participants may compete individually or in teams of two, with each institution allowed a maximum of five teams. The top three teams from each zone will advance to the National Grand Finale, with additional wildcard entries possible based on merit or institutional contests.
Stage Three: National Finals
The finale will be held on August 28 and 29 and will include written prelims, Extra-C rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals and a grand final.
Contest Calendar Highlights
- Practice Round: May 4
- N to E Online Rounds: May 11, 18, 25 and June 1
- Zonal Rounds: Between July 21 and August 18
- Grand Finale: August 28–29
Prizes and Recognition
Winners will receive a cash prize of Rs 25,000, with the first and second runner-ups awarded Rs 20,000 and Rs 15,000 respectively. Finalists and top performers will also receive certificates and accolades.
NICE has attracted lakhs of participants over its past editions, establishing a growing crossword culture on Indian campuses. The 2025 edition continues this tradition, blending competition with creativity, and offering a national platform for students to test and showcase their intellectual flair.
