NICE 2025 Launches: India’s Premier College Crossword Contest Returns with a Mind-Bending Challenge

The fourth edition of the National Inter College Crossword Contest (NICE) 2025, India’s most awaited crossword championship for college students, has been officially announced. Organised collaboratively by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), IIM Mumbai, IIT Delhi, and Extra-C, NICE 2025 promises an intellectually charged journey into the world of words, wit, and lateral thinking.

NICE 2025 is open to all bona fide students from recognized colleges and universities across India. The contest, which has grown in stature and reach over the years, offers a national platform to showcase linguistic dexterity, quick reasoning, and a love for puzzles.

Registrations Now Open

Registrations are ongoing at https://nice.crypticsingh.com. Freshers who have appeared for their Class 12 board examinations this year and are awaiting college admissions are also eligible to apply.

Contest Format

The competition is structured in multiple phases:

Stage-1: Online Phase

The Contest will begin with an online Practice Round to familiarize participants with clue formats. Followed by four competitive Online Rounds titled N, I, C, and E, every Sunday. Clues will be published at 10:30 AM IST, with submission due by 5:00 PM IST on the same day. Winners of each round will be selected based on speed and accuracy, and results will be featured on Zonal and National Leaderboards.

Stage-2: Zonal Rounds (Offline)

Top 50 participants from each of the five zones—North, South, East, West, and Northeast—will qualify for the Zonal Finals, which will be held offline. These participants can compete individually or form teams of two. Each college may have up to five teams. Top three teams from each zone will proceed to the National Finals. Wildcard entries may also be considered from city/institutional contests or on merit.

Stage-3: National Grand Finale (Offline)

The final round will feature written prelims, Extra-C rounds, Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Grand Finale

Contest Schedule

Practice Round: 4th May, 2025

N-Round: 11th May, 2025

I-Round: 18th May, 2025

C-Round: 25th May, 2025

E-Round: 1st June, 2025

South Zonal Round: 21st July, 2025

North Zonal Round: 1st August, 2025

East Zonal Round: 6th August, 2025

West Zonal Round: 14th August, 2025

North-East Zonal Round: 18th August, 2025

NICE Grand Finale: 28th and 29th August, 2025

Prizes & Recognition

Winners of the contest will receive a cash prize of ₹25,000, while the first runner-ups and second runner-ups will bag a cash prize of ₹20,000 and ₹ 15,000 respectively. All finalists and top performers across various rounds will be awarded appropriate recognition.

NICE 2025 is more than a contest—it’s a celebration of sharp minds, teamwork, and intellectual curiosity. With lakhs of students having participated in past editions, the contest continues to build a strong crossword culture in Indian campuses.