India's Premier School Crossword Contest CCCC Returns for 13th Edition

India’s most prestigious and eagerly awaited school-level crossword competition, the National Inter-School Cryptic Crossword Contest—popularly known as CCCC—returns with its 13th edition this year. The contest will unfold in multiple stages between July and November 2025, and promises to challenge young minds across the country through a unique blend of linguistic acumen, lateral thinking, and teamwork.

Registration for CCCC 13.0 is going on the official website www.crypticsingh.com, and is completely free of cost.

Format and Timeline of CCCC 13.0

The 2025 edition will be conducted in a three-stage hybrid format—beginning with online rounds, followed by face-to-face regional contests, and culminating in a national Grand Finale in New Delhi.

Stage I: Online Rounds

Two students from Classes VII to XII from the same school can team up, regardless of their class levels.

• Practice Round (non-scoring): July 27, 2025

· Round 1: August 03, 2025

· Round 2: August 10, 2025

• Round 3: August 17, 2025

On each of the above dates, a crossword grid will be uploaded at 2:00 PM (IST) and teams will have three hours (until 5:00 PM) to submit their solutions.

Points will be awarded for both accuracy and speed. A cumulative leaderboard will be formed after Round 3. Top 100 teams from the leaderboard will advance to Stage II. Additionally, the top 20 teams of each round will qualify for Stage II, even if they are not in the top 100 cumulatively.

Stage II: Face-to-Face Online/Offline Regional Rounds

Shortlisted teams will compete in face-to-face rounds, either online or at select offline locations, depending on logistical and local considerations.

Stage III: National Grand Finale

The best-performing teams from Stage II will battle it out in a thrilling offline National Grand Finale in New Delhi. Dates for Stages II and III will be announced later.

Who Can Participate: Students from Classes VII to XII enrolled in any school affiliated with a recognized board in India.

How to Register: Teams must register on www.crypticsingh.com. One team member will act as the primary registrant and receive login credentials.

Cost: Participation is entirely free.

Prizes and Recognition

Top-performing teams will win exciting prizes, and certificates will be awarded to all participants, acknowledging their intellectual effort and competitive spirit.

In a world where learning is increasingly driven by curiosity and cognitive development, CCCC 13.0 offers a vibrant platform for school students to challenge themselves, collaborate creatively, and discover the joy of cryptic puzzles.

Launched in 2013 by the civil society initiative Extra-C, CCCC has grown into a pan-India intellectual movement, reaching students from metropolitan hubs to small towns and rural areas. The initiative has played a pivotal role in reviving crossword culture in India, especially in the academic and educational landscape.