NICE 2025: IIT Delhi's Arnav Raju Tops Leaderboard in National Crossword Expedition

The National Inter-College Crossword Expedition (NICE) 2025 has flagged off with an energetic start as the Practice Round went live this Sunday, attracting crossword enthusiasts from across the country. This preliminary round, designed to prepare participants for the upcoming competitive stages, witnessed impressive performances and enthusiastic participation from students of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) nationwide.

Topping the leaderboard with a stellar score of 5 lakh points is Arnav V Raju, a B.Tech student from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi. Arnav, who has already made his mark by winning the April Edition of A Clue A Day (ACAD) Plus 2025 and the Lady Irwin College Crossword Contest, continues to display exemplary form as he sets the tone for this season of NICE.

Closely trailing him is Samruddhi Sinai Salgaonkar, a Bachelor of Dental Surgery student from Goa Dental College. Samruddhi, another top performer from ACAD 2025 and a known name in the NICE circuit, secured the second position.

In third place is Aswath Govindarajan, a B.Tech student from Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA), Tamil Nadu, further showcasing the pan-India talent pool NICE continues to engage.

Completing the top five on the leaderboard are Ashish C T from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras, who secured the fourth position, and Shivani Kumari from the Government Engineering College, Vaishali (Bihar), who claimed the fifth spot with a commendable performance.

Participation Highlights

The Practice Round witnessed widespread participation across the country. Notably, Gujarat emerged as the frontrunner in terms of active participation, followed closely by Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu. This surge underscores the growing appeal of competitive crossword solving in academic spaces.

Registration Leaders

In terms of the number of registrations, Bihar leads the tally, demonstrating the state's continued enthusiasm and proactive engagement with the initiative. The top five states with the highest registrations are:

1. Bihar

2. Madhya Pradesh

3. Karnataka

4. Gujarat

5. Uttar Pradesh

About NICE

Launched in 2022, the National Inter-College Crossword Expedition (NICE) is a flagship initiative collaboratively run by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), IIT Madras, IIM Mumbai, and Extra-C, aimed at nurturing lateral thinking and linguistic prowess among college students. The event has grown in stature each year, attracting participation from prestigious institutions and creating a vibrant crossword culture across India’s higher education ecosystem.

With the successful completion of the Practice Round, all eyes are now set on the competitive rounds of NICE 2025. Participants and enthusiasts alike await the next phase of intellectual battle with great anticipation.