No 13516, Tuesday 29 Mar 2022, Vulcan

Solution to 9A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

ACROSS

1   Capital of Haryana, a strange city (6) HARARE {Ha...a}{A}{RARE}

4   Move out of a dry place (6) DESERT [DD]

8   Aromatic liquid used in coolers perhaps (7) CREOSOL*

9   Permanent surface — not variable (7) ?T?R?A? (Addendum - ETERNAL ExTERNAL - See comments)

11 A bit insane working while away (2,8) IN ABSENTIA*

12 Devise a syllabus that’s somewhat simple (4) EASY [T]

13 Passageway is covered in beer (5) AISLE {A{IS}LE}

14 Executioner is ashamed about execution eventually (8) HEADSMAN {ASHAMED}*{e...oN}

16 British town that’s sunny without end (8) BRIGHTON {BRIGHT}{ON} Anno pending See comments

18 Relative’s counsel not so bad (5) UNCLE CoUNsEL*

20 Live with a university sweetheart (4) BEAU {BE}{A}{U}

21 Houses feature new screen/curtains (10) RESIDENCES {RE{SIDE}NCES*}

23 Choose not to vote? It’s a black mark (7) ABSTAIN {A}{B}{STAIN}

24 Stir is meant for them (7) INMATES* Semi&lit

25 Go back after missing the first exit (6) EGRESS rEGRESS

26 Special group that’s about extremely large (6) SELECT {SE{LargE}CT}

DOWN

1   This girl’s working as a mathematician (5) HERON {HER}{ON}

2   Mob rush out to see a figure (7) RHOMBUS*

3   Difficult to resolve for the president (9) ROOSEVELT* 

5   Very wide, say (5) EXTRA [DD]

6   Students starting off to become breadwinners (7) EARNERS lEARNERS

7   Decode the first of transcripts — managed before schedule (9) TRANSLATE {Tr...s}{RAN}{SLATE}

10 It needs a scratch since this is irritating (9) ITCHINESS {SINCE+THIS}* Semi&lit

13 A lager beer not quite brewed nice (9) AGREEABLE {A+LAGER+BEEr}*

15 Plenty of food following a party (9) ABUNDANCE {BUN}<=>{A} and {DANCE}

17 Good to walk, starting to go leaner (7) GAUNTER {G}{sAUNTER}

19 Kid hollow and depressed (7) CONCAVE {CON}{CAVE}

21 A means of directing commands, say (5) REINS (~reigns)

22 Regular time for contest (5) EVENT {EVEN}{T}

Reference List

Variable = X, University = U, Black = B, Good = G, Time = T