The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 40, Sunday 25 Jan 2026, Incognito

ACROSS

1   Note: Second steak minced results in errors (8) MISTAKES {MI}{S}{STEAK*}

5   One boy accepts counterfeit dime in the same place (6) IBIDEM {1}{B}{DIME*}

10 Goan travels around English city (5) GENOA {G{E}NOA*}

11 Baked deer slaughtered for popular travel guides (9) BAEDEKERS* Error in fodder. extra D and S less 

12 Locates small amounts (6) TRACES [DD]

13 Blake has changed and is capable of being unnerved (8) SHAKABLE*

15 Cook having one boss (5) CHIEF {CH{1}EF}

17 Thorny fruit pie pen pal produced (9) PINEAPPLE*

19 Badly groan during journey by vehicle in American river (3,6) RIO GRANDE {RI{GROAN*}DE}

20 Judge ill treats terrier docked twice! (5) TRIER TERRIer*

21 Use timer wrongly to get honorary title of retired person (8) EMERITUS*

23 Announces, "Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana, for example" (6) STATES [DD]

27 Baked item consumed during tests in judicial forums (9) TRIBUNALS {TRI{BUN}ALS}

28 Offensive poster found in petrol licence (5) TROLL [T]

29 Head of state in country gets steadfast supporters (3-3) YES-MEN {YE{St..e}MEN}

30 Philosopher's distress call about container (8) SOCRATES {SO{CRATE}S}

DOWN

1   Aircraft gains height and power (5) MIGHT {MIG}{HT}

2   Country inside Italy constructing no marinas (3,6) SAN MARINO*

3   Conscious American starting to exercise after battle (5) AWARE {A} and {Ex...e}<=>{WAR}

4   Flower from Sentinel Beach (4) ELBE [T]

6   Staff endlessly get morning meal (9) BREAKFAST {STAFf}* [RA]

7   Daughter with small boy is a nerd (5) DWEEB {D}{WEE}{B}

8   Alien follows business magnate with Eastern queen and soldier armed with a light gun (9) MUSKETEER {ET}<=>{MUSK} with {E}{ER}

9   How the paint robber was caught? (3-6) RED-HANDED [C&DD]

14 "Thicker version of cotton candy", snaps guru irritatedly (4,5) SPUN SUGAR*

15 Fish resting on Gate's woodwork (9) CARPENTRY {CARP}{ENTRY}

16 In times to come, beginnings of revolutionary new ideas to make tables, for example (9) FURNITURE {FU{Re...y}{New}{Id..s}TURE}

18 Indicates options without using egg (6,3) POINTS OUT {oPTIONS}* [RA]

22 Egyptian president starting to take seat leaves (5) EXITS {E}{XI}{Take}{Seat}

24 Teach trout swimming (5) TUTOR*

25 Processed oil carried in ship's storage towers (5) SILOS {S{OIL*}S}

26 Capital from Barbados locality (4) OSLO [T]

Reference List

Note = MI, Boy = B, English = E, Aircraft = MIG, Height = HT, American = A, Daughter = D, Alien = ET, Eastern = E, Queen = ER, Egyptian = E, Ship = SS