No 13772, Thursday 26 Jan 2023, Hypatia

REPUBLIC DAY GREETINGS

Artwork by Prasanna

Rangoli by Gowri

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

7   Showcased Lucknowi clothes from behind road with no other outlet (3-2-3) CUL-DE-SAC [T<=]

9   Sister cycling in boxer's rings (6) A?N?L? (Addendum - ANNULI   {A{(+n)NNU(-n)}LI} )

10 Lake in lush place (4) SLOT {S{L}OT}

11 Recollect secret port's encrypted (10) RETROSPECT*

12 Read about rupee getting firm (6) STURDY {STU{R}DY}

14 Discourses involving relationship in working society (8) ORATIONS {O{RATIO}N}{S}

15 Is oat chip healthy plant food? (9,4) PISTACHIO NUTS {IS+OAT+CHIP}* [RA]

18 Wedding vows recalled in saga containing many parts (8) EPISODIC {EP{I DOS<=}IC} 

20 Drink sadly on vacation, drowning husband by mistake (6) SHERRY {SadlY} over {H}{ERR}

21 Spooner’s leading lady missing in imdb.com, say (6,4) DOMAIN NAME (~ no main dame to domain name)

22 Founder's flag (4) SINK {S}{INK} [DD] - See comments 

23 Writer starts to plagiarise every new chapter in library (6) PENCIL Acrostic

24 He and I dash, sent away behind the Spanish (8) ELEMENTS {EM}{SENT*}<=>{EL}

DOWN

1   Period lost with flu spreading at the start of pandemic (4,4) FULL STOP {LOST+FLU}*{Pa...c}

2   Modify diet or change (4) EDIT*

3   Bird rising thus before fiery end (6) OSPREY {SO<=}{PRE}{f..rY}

4   Some feeding a dog a dodgy Asian dish (4-4) GADO-GADO [T]

5   Putin tried fighting with Europe to camouflage Russian leader's lack of skill (10) INEPTITUDE {PUTIN+T(-r+e)EID}*

6   The French study backs fine perfume bottle (6) FLACON {LA}{CON}<=>{F}

8   Throw out and catch these to avoid wasting time (3,2,3,5) CUT TO THE CHASE {OUT+CATCH+THESE}*

13 Mutating insects are fighting (10) RESISTANCE*

16 Senior setter, frequently at play passionately (8) ARDENTLY {ARDEN}{aT+pLaY}

17 Picking up rule, engineer gets nth power (8) STRENGTH {R} in {GETS+NTH}*

19 President strayed? It's documented (6) PROVED {P}{ROVED}

20 Say Sushmita's packing to marry in country (6) SWEDEN {S{WED}EN}

22 King lost in search for maiden to appear (4) SEEM SEE(-k+m)M

Reference List

Lake = L, Rupee = R, Society = S, Husband = H, Dash = EM, The in Spanish = EL, Europe = E, Russia = R, The in French = LA, Fine = F, Senior setter = ARDEN, Rule = R, President = P, King = K, Maiden = M