No 14447, Tuesday 01 Apr 2025, Hypatia

Solution to 20D 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. 

Open for anyone to solve, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

7   Pass secured by end of semester's chosen to be remembered (11) RECOLLETED {COL} in {s...eR}{ELECTED}

8   Recipe tossing a bit of mango preserve in container (3) JAR JA(-m+r)R

10 Primarily cozy and friendly eatery! (4) CAFE Acrostic &lit

11 Wipe small baby cuddling close to mother (5) SCRUB {S}{C{m...eR}UB}

12 Sign in Gulf country using English instead of Arabic header (4) OMEN OM(-a+e)EN

13 Gutted transcripts containing old time messages (5) TEXTS {Tr...{EX}{T}..ts}

15 Remove dust from trifle (6,3) FILTER OUT {TRIFLE}* [RA]

16 Parched after cycling around historic waterway? (6) SEARED {RED}<=>{SEA}

18 Humble Mahatma's teachings chiefly inspired poems (6) MODEST {Ma...a}{Te...s} over {ODES}

21 Supporting one charged after second time for advancement (9) PROMOTION {PRO} with {ION}<=>{MO}{T}

23 Pose No. 1 in selfie amidst three articles (5) ASANA {A}{Se...e}{AN}{A}

25 Obligation needing unwavering strength, basically! (4) ONUS Acrostic &lit

26 Bad idea to join guru's final farewell (5) ADIEU {IDEA}*{gurU}

27 Avoid stay oddly lacking travel permit (4) VISA {aVoId+StAy}

28 Basic test with egg soup? (3) PHO {PH}{O} 

29 Spooner's key more expensive for retailer (11) STOREKEEPER (~core steeper to storekeeper)

DOWN

1   Asian seen going West with sweetheart, bored by friend (8) NEPALESE {SEEN<=}{swEet} over over {PAL}

2   Slimy mud over Elephant's head at animal park (4) OOZE {El...t}{ZOO}<=

3   What can be broken by two girls (5) GLASS {G}{LASS}

4   Criminal or cop is giving a sign (7) SCORPIO*

5   Switched vibrate on mobile - literally (8) VERBATIM {VIBRATE}*{M}

6   Some dog ate auntie's creamy cake (6) GATEAU [T]

9   Occasionally cook more and less for colleagues (8) COMRADES {CoOk+MoRe+AnD+lEsS}

14 Mauritius flourishes exporting posh dessert (8) TIRAMISU MAURITIuS*

17 Began rebelling around college and brings down (8) DETRACTS {STARTED<=} over {C}

19 Yeltsin is terrified about dark (8) SINISTER [T]

20 Partly concealed hole on Iyer's  blue underwear (7) ?O?I?R? (Addendum - HOSIERY {HOle}{IYERS*} - See comments)

22 Rich and mostly lively city (6) RANCHI {RICH+ANd}*

24 Starts to quit using after knees essentially tremble (5) QUAKE Acrostic

27 Contend with women's opinion (4) VIEW {VIE}{W}

Reference List

Pass = COL, Recipe = R, Small = S, English = E, Time = T, Second = MO, Basic test = Ph, Girl = G, LASS, Mobile = M, Posh = U, College = C, Women = W