UGC directs HEIs to ensure active participation in NICE 2023, online mock test to be conducted on April 2

"To bring about the crossword-solving culture in the institutes of higher education through a 'National Inter-college Crossword Expedition (NICE)'a contest involving solving of cryptic crossword clues. It is scheduled to be held between March-August, 2023 for which registration has started. It will be conducted online (initial rounds) and offline modes (zonal and national rounds). ln, this regard AICTE has issued guidelines dated 06.03.2023 for NICE-2023," the UGC said in an official notification. 

UGC directs HEIs to ensure active participation in NICE 2023, online mock test to be conducted on April 2

NICE 2023: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked higher education institutions to widely disseminate information about National Inter-College Crossword Expedition (NICE) and encourage students to participate in the initiative taken by AICTE. Conducted in the spirit of the National Education Policy, the NICE 2023 contest will use three stages — and a mock ‘combat rehearsal’ — to help students develop their critical thinking abilities in a new and interesting manner.

"To bring about the crossword-solving culture in the institutes of higher education through a 'National Inter-college Crossword Expedition (NICE)'a contest involving solving of cryptic crossword clues. It is scheduled to be held between March-August, 2023 for which registration has started. It will be conducted online (initial rounds) and offline modes (zonal and national rounds). ln this regard AICTE has issued guidelines dated 06.03.2023 for NICE-2023," the UGC said in an official notification. 

NICE 2023: How to register

Students of all recognized colleges and universities in the country are eligible to participate. All the candidates who are interested can sign up on nice.crypticsingh.com before the end of March.

An online mock round will also be conducted on April 2 to explain the candidates about the pattern of the contest. Each clue in a cryptic crossword is a word puzzle in itself, solving them quickly requires familiarity with the clueing norms (called conventions). Those new to cryptics are thus strongly advised to not skip this round. Last year’s national winners were Harshul Sagar and Arush Utkarsh from IIT Delhi, who walked away with the INR 25,000 grand prize.