The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 61, Sunday 21 Jun 2026,

Artwork by Prasanna

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

Please submit all your answers in one comment.

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

ACROSS

1   Perhaps able to get one married shortly - it's naturally fertilizing (8)

5   Rollover I have overlooked... (6)

10 ...and committed to restrict (7)

11 Old sailors found, say, a mini wearing girl (7)

12 Found before court (5)

13 Strange predilections - not done at face value (4,5)

14 Propagation in half the country (12)

18 Provide cleanest side for a diner (12)

21 One on the wagon with a black paint (9)

23 Cover empty drawer and copy (5)

24 In my opinion, covering history is like a painting technique (7)

25 Country in Europe, is not a representation (7)

26 Some are present at a mid-week rush (6)

27 Harry Morgan's taking time for such a short distance (8)

DOWN

1   Breed born with wealth (6)

2   Spruce up when finally consumed (6)

3   "Pick-me-up after one" - sung in a flat pitch (9)

4   Wind and clothesline - metaphorically, seen as a vulnerability (8,6)

6   Story-teller makes one sit up (5)

7   Perhaps Putin's angry rival is getting clueless (8)

8   Detects record reprints - not counting the odd ones (8)

9   Various cults around Singapore could be seen in a theatre (7,7)

15 Direct ones acted and they're related (9)

16 Romantic thought and inclination (8)

17 Filmed occasionally, photographed outside top Paris strip joint (8)

19 Standard to disqualify her, they say (6)

20 Soothe with an ointment - cover exposed neck (6)

22 State after a pile up (5)

No 14825, Saturday 20 June 2026, Hypatia

 ACROSS
1 Saw grades at first and walked unsteadily around school (8) GLIMPSED {Grades}{LIMP{S}ED}
5 Makes patients consume unlimited drugs (6) CAUSES {CA{drUgs}SES}
10 Some of mine are still closest (7) NEAREST [T]
11 Spotted every now and then, Leonardo must be on the way (2,5) EN ROUTE {lEoNaRdO mUsT bE}
12 Catch hot liquid discharged from the chemical producing resin (5) ELEMI {thE chEMIcaL}*
13 Source of illumination from tip of lamp, one flickering in darkness (4,5) NEON LIGHT{Lamp ONE}* in {NIGHT}

14 Secure investment with a steady income? It's dope! (5,7) FIXED DEPOSIT {IT'S DOPE}* [RA]
18 Are such foods spoiling casino? (5,2,5) HOUSE OF CARDS*
21 Salvaged part of hospital returning to medical complex (9) RECLAIMED {ER<}{CLAIMED*}
23 Initially Arabs brought Yemeni ships safely to Gulf (5) ABYSS [Acrostic]
24 Criminal pushing Ecstasy through sick girl (7) ILLEGAL {ILL}{E}{GAL}
25 Bush shirt embraced by a man going before that woman (7) HEATHER {T} inside {A}<=>{HE}{HER}

26 Stone age building protecting poor men ultimately on time (6) GARNET {AGE}* around {pooR}{meN}+T

27 Audio equipment voyeur heard on board (8) SPEAKERS {PEAKER}(~PEEKER) inside {SS}

DOWN
1 Plant thriving in geranium pots (6) GINGER [T]

2 Pictures Hypatia playing games (6) IMAGES {I}{GAMES*}
3 Drop cost covering diamonds picked up to pawn (9) PRECIPICE {PRICE} around {ICE<}{P}
4 Relatives of former spouse cared for at a filmy set (8,6) EXTENDED FAMILY {EX}{TENDED}{A FILMY}*
6 Leaders of all parties realigned in last month (5) APRIL [Acrostic]
7 Slow // to respond like a bullet? (8) SLUGGISH [D & CD]
8 Suspect a terrorist keeping watch (8) SPECTATE [T]
9 Where to find items people used to sell? (6-4,4) SECOND-HAND SHOP [CD]
15 Meditative stance of director in American space agency with plan to retire (9) PADMASANA {A}{NASA}{M{D}AP}<

16 Spooner's stepping in line? That's lovely (8) CHARMING {Spoonerism of MARCHING}
17 Strong Greek character concealing extremely unusual lesion (8) MUSCULAR {MU}{SC{UnusuaL}AR}
19 Discontented lady these days eating hard oriental fruit (6) LYCHEE{LadY}{C{H}{E}E}

20 Egyptian God of love coming up regularly from said ruins (6) OSIRIS {O}{SaId RuInS}<

22 Fish in corner (5) ANGLE [DD]

REFERENCE LIST

School=S, Hot=H, Part of Hospital=ER (Emergency Room), Ecstasy=E, Man=He, That woman=Her, Time=T, On Board=inside Ship (SS), Pawn=P, Former Spouse=Ex, Director=D, American=A, Space Agency=NASA, These days=CE (Christian Era), Oriental=E, Love=0=O.

No 14824, Friday 19 Jun 2024, Dr. X

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Start to secure line frantically, return to save new climber (7,6) SCARLET RUNNER {SCAR{L}E}{TRU{N}NER*}

8   Daughter sent back substandard flag (5) DROOP {D}{POOR<=}

9   What happens when you're having fun in liaison, ensnaring married female with fibs (4,5) TIME FLIES {TI{M}E}{F}{LIES}

11 Plainly enthralled by marijuana, stylish lady enters pool (5-5) POINT-BLANK {PO{IN}T}{B{L}ANK}

12 Write yarn about catching mythical creature (4) YETI [T<=]

14 Mental disability in males after a transient ischaemic attack (7) AMENTIA {A}{MEN}{TIA}

16 Cockney thief's remarkable feat, stealing each jewel finally (3,4) TEA-LEAF {T{EA}{j..eL}EAF*}

17 Trendy type embracing husband briefly (2,5) IN SHORT {IN}{S{H}ORT}

19 Rescue Liberal arrested by brute (7) SALVAGE {SA{L}VAGE}

21 One beginning to butcher old mountain goat (4) IBEX {1}{B0}{EX}

22 How people at a funeral might be making a profit (2,3,5) IN THE BLACK [DD]

25 Be proud in enclosure after winning bronze medal at centre (5,4) STAND TALL {S{TAN}{meDal}TALL}

26 Polish male crushed by English goal (5) EMEND {E}{M}{END}

27 Memorable times, say, dancing after wine with character on date (3-6,4) RED-LETTER DAYS {SAY*}<=>{RED}{LETTER}{D}

DOWN

2   Connoisseur at opening tucking into exquisite frozen dessert (4-3) CHOC-ICE {CHO{Co...r}ICE}

3   Character helping to smuggle Ecstasy, say (10) REPUTATION {R{E}{PUT}ATION} 

4   Praise leader of elected group, returning after winning vote (5) EXTOL {El...d}{LOT<=} over {X}

5   Thinks about developing antiserum (9) RUMINATES*

6   Unpleasant smell at home repulsed fellows (4) NIFF {IN<=}{FF}

7   Be taken aback by extremely elderly European's malevolent glare (4,3) EVIL EYE {LIVE<=}{El...lY}{E}

8   Immoral acts of perverted padre on six tapes (11) DEPRAVITIES {PADRE*}{VI}{TIES}

10 Obstinate lass finally kissed after quarrel (5-6) STIFF-NECKED {lasS}{NECKED}<=>{TIFF}

13 One's living in fear, having trouble with ultimately nasty Mob (5,5) DAILY BREAD {D{AIL}{n..tY}{moB}READ}

15 Case of abhorrent lodger throttling Dutch escort (9) ATTENDANT {Ab...nT}{TEN{D}ANT}

18 Discover hole around bottom of pipe resulting in leak (7) SEEPAGE {SEE}{GAP<=}{pipE}

20 Lady came out, dropping learner in school (7) ACADEMY {lADY+CAME}*

23 Handle a little hitch day before hosting fifty (5) HELVE {Hitch}{E{L}VE}

24 I perform with Latin superstar (4) IDOL {I}{DO}{L}

Reference List

Line = L, Daughter = D, Married = M, Female = F, Lady = L, Each = EA, Husband = H, Liberal = L, Male = M, English = E, Wine = RED, Date = D, Ecstasy = E, Vote = X, Fellow = F, European = E, Dutch = D, Learner = L, Fifty = L, Latin = L

No 14823, Thursday 18 Jun 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 3D 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Say plainly what one thinks of boy stealing top and denims slyly (5,4,4) SPEAK ONES MIND {S{PEAK}ON}{DENIMS*}

8   Vitality in bedroom, phenomenal (5) OOMPH [T]

9   In addition to iodine, uranium found in unusual chemical element (9) RUTHENIUM {THEN}{I}{U} in {RUM}

11 Speculating in article on crypto finally going up (10) THEORISING {THE}{c...tO}{RISING}

12 Roll with bit of cheese and cream (4) COIL {Ch...e}{OIL}

14 Quickly controls anger, being most dispassionate (7) FAIREST {FA{IRE}ST}

16 Vaguely stealthy, consuming ecstasy behind toilet (7) LOOSELY {S{E}LY}<=>{LOO}

17 Policeman's suggestion to catch international head of criminals (7) OFFICER {OFF{I}{Cr...s}ER}

19 Really skilful ball, trapping Australia's opener on hundred (2,5) DE FACTO {DEFT}{0} over {Au...a}{C}

21 A little kid painting small motor-racing vehicle (4) KART {Kid}{ART}

22 Bar-hopped in Peru on vacation and fought outside clubs (3-7) PUB-CRAWLED {PerU}{B{C}RAWLED}

25 Checking lump in body (9) THWARTING {TH{WART}ING}

26 India's top star in retreat getting close to hottie is engaged (2,3) IN USE {In...s}{SUN<=}{h...iE}

27 High-strung European overwhelmed by myalgic problem and high blood sugar in US (13) HYPERGLYCEMIA {HYPER}{GLYC{E}MIA*}

DOWN

2   Show that is about Italy's archaeological site (7) POMPEII {POMP}{IE<=}{I}

3   Hate blunder in retrospect, taken in by rogue on beach (10) A?H?R?E?C?  (Addendum - ABHORRENCE {ERR<=} in {ON+BEACH}* - See comments)

4   Root's run out, taken aback by abrupt leap (5) ORRIS {RO<=}{RISe}

5   Twisted knee after a little tumble in finale (9) ENTANGLED {ANGLE}<=>{Tu...e} in [END}

6   Patient beginning to moan with cry of fright (4) MEEK {Moan}{EEK}

7   Smelly moose in compound (7) NOISOME*

8   Where thief might take wallet, being without money (3,2,6) OUT OF POCKET [DD]

10 Awfully comely doll captivating daughter's baby (11) MOLLYCODDLE {COMELY+DOLL} over {D}

13 Wild animal mauled emir at compound (10) WOLFRAMITE {WOLF}{EMIR+AT}*

15 Distressing nonsense about code-breaker (9) TORTURING {ROT<=}{TURING}

18 Dreamy fellow beginning to attract women in a flash (7) FARAWAY {F} with {At...t}{W} in {A}{RAY}

20 Contact medicos at centre about copper getting kidney stones (7) CALCULI {CAL{CU}L}{medIcos}

23 Secretive Academy Award-winning actor concealing name (5) CAGEY CAGnEY

24 Real crazy brute killing bishop (4) TRUE bRUTE*

Reference List

Unusual = RUM, Ecstasy = E, Toilet = LOO, International = I, Hundred = C, Clubs = C, European = E, Italy = I, Run out = RO, Daughtr = D, Fellow = F, Women = W, Name = N, Bishop = B

No 14822, Wednesday 17 Jun 2026, Dr. X

Solution to 7D 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Primarily sexy mate turned on bar girl immediately (4-4) SLAP-BANG {Sexy}{PAL<=}{BAN}{G}

5   Smuggles exotic snakes (6) SNEAKS*

10 & 6 What diligent geologists will do to make every possible effort (5,2,5,8) LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED [C&DD]

11 Extorts a definite promise from foolish son-in-law stifling daughter (5,4) NAILS DOWN {SON IN LAW}* over {D}

12 Impression made by English nationalist ranting about Government (9) ENGRAVING {E}{N}{RAVING} over {G}

13 Young bird of duck, beginning to leap into water (5) OWLET {0}{W{Leap}ET}

14 Whispers of women going astray, enthralled by dope (6) ASIDES {AS{wIDE}S}

15 Rat is over top of rusted grille (7) TRELLIS {T{Ru...d}ELL}{IS}

18 Hamper in cabin, extremely large (7) SHACKLE {SHACK}{LargE}

20 Dog at home stops crook (6) CANINE {CAN{IN}E}

22 Start to examine decay over back of leg in fungal disease (5) ERGOT {Ex...e}{R{leG}OT}

24 Drug that arouses remarkable lust, mating endlessly (9) STIMULANT {LUST+MATINg}*

25 What may cause quivering lips to meet, expressing first sign of passion? (9) MISTLETOE {LIpS+TO+MEET}* Semi&lit

26 Overwhelmed by tackling a nasty parasitic disease of livestock (5) NGANA [T]

27 Director went up after drinking whiskey to sleep (6) DROWSE {D}{RO{W}SE}

28 Be able to lazily captivate date in a forthright manner (8) CANDIDLY {CAN}{IDLY} over {D}

DOWN

1   Collect rupees over large tray (6) SALVER {SA{L}VER}

2   Swilling ales again for relief of pain (9) ANALGESIA* 

3   American in wild bender lets loose after take-off for fun (4,3,8) BEER AND SKITTLES {A} in {BENDER}* with {LETS}*<=>{SKIT}

4   Sister thus returned to welcome hundred and one papal ambassadors (7) NUNCIOS {NUN}{SO<=} over {CI}

6   See 10 Across

7   Key left behind a parcel in retreat (5) A?O?L (Addendum - ATOLL {L}<=>{A}{LOT<=} - See comments))

8   Clean seats in compound outside institute (8) SANITISE {SEATS+IN}* over {I}

9   Gifted extraordinary toy (6) FIDGET*

16 Help design a hotel in property (4,1,4) LEND A HAND {END}{A}{H} in {LAND}

17 Admirable seed easily wins match, making a comeback (8) ESTEEMED {SEED}* over {MEET<=}

19 Phoney arrested by officers at Zurich (6) ERSATZ [T]

20 Fancy songstress captivating one million admirers at premiere (7) CHIMERA {CH{1}{M}ER}{At}

21 Regular boyfriend in filthy place, cuddling topless escort (6) STEADY {ST{lEAD}Y}

23 Relish breeze on top of observatory (5) GUSTO {GUST}{Ob...y}

Reference List

Girl = G, Daughter = D, English = E, Nationalist, Government = G, Women = W, Director = D, Whiskey = W, Date = D, Large = L, Hundrea and one = CI, Left = L, Institute = I, Hotel = H, Million = M

No 14821, Tuesday 16 Jun 20266, Dr. X

Solution to 24 A 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Fail to impress female? Totally overweight after gaining pounds (4,4) FALL FLAT {F}{ALL}{F{L}AT}

5   Save share certificate to receive money (6) SCRIMP {SCRI{M}P}

10 Resume painting after break (7) RESTART {ART}<=>{REST}

11 Special talent of performer behind revolutionary special effects (1,6) X FACTOR {ACTOR}<=>{FX<=} 

12 Personnel in academy checking nuclear physics device (5) LINAC [T]

13 Consuming drink, sailor played cards (9) ORIGINALS {ORI{GIN}ALS*}

14 Position providing a clear view of singer at ground entertaining team (8,4) RINGSIDE SEAT {SINGER+AT}* over {SIDE} Semi&lit

18 Most innocent groups broken by swindler primarily getting control of finances (5,7) PURSE STRINGS {PUR{Sw...r}EST}{RINGS}

21 One at the helm of small steamer moving close to lagoon (9) STEERSMAN {S}{STEAMER*}{l...oN}

23 Old lady having constant fatigue, finally better (5) EXCEL {EX}{C}{f...uE}{L}

24 Popular detective inspector penning book about foremost of criminals (7) D?M?T?C (Addendum - DEMOTIC {D{TOME<=}I}{Cr...s} - See comments)

25 Tell about liaison with model giving satisfaction (7) SATIETY {SA{TIE}{T}Y}

26 Criminal cut fellow's part of outer ear (6) CONCHA {CON}{CHAp}

27 Bind together granite rocks containing sulphur (8) ASTRINGE {A{S}TRINGE*}

DOWN

1   In spite of slump, acquires gold (3,3) FOR ALL {F{OR}ALL}

2   Missing error in journal (6) LOSING {LO{SIN}G}

3   Husband lives in European country? Right (9) FRANCHISE {FRANC{H}{IS}E}

4   Ability to tolerate unpleasant things is a result of doing sit-ups? (1,6,7) A STRONG STOMACH [DD]

6   Raccoon-like animal in bed, biting a kid at centre (5) COATI {CO{A}T}{kId}

7   Endlessly nattering about private communications system (8) INTRANET NATTERINg*

8   Hanger-on in usual spot, drinking alcohol at premiere (8) PARASITE {PAR}{Al...l}{SITE}

9   Show-offs, both in sixties, romping around island (14) EXHIBITIONISTS {BOTH IN SIXTIES} over {I}

15 One seen in kitchen, say, above good British diner (9) EGG BEATER {EGG}{G}{B}{EATER}

16 Picaresque novel is copied (8) EPISODIC*

17 American economist fired reckless fellow (8) FRIEDMAN {FIRED*}{MAN}

19 Observed stealing crown in disguise (6) SCREEN {S{CR}EEN}

20 Twisted ankle, crossing ultimately slippery compound (6) ALKYNE {ALK{s...rY}NE*}

22 Mechanical device stolen by robber at chalet (5) RATCH [T]

Reference List

Female = F, Pounds = L, Money = M, Special effects = FX, Small = S, Old = EX, Lady = L, Constant = C, Model = T, Husband = H, Island = I, Good = G, British = B, Crown = CR

No 14820, Monday 15 June 2026, Afterdark

 Solution to 27 A 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

Standing-in for Colonel today.

ACROSS

1 Assume that a piano expert's press release is having one worried (11) APPROPRIATE {A}{P}{PRO}{PR}{I}{ATE}

9 It's tricky to contain West Indies with force on time quickly (7) SWIFTLY {S{WI}{F}{T}LY}

10 Tails of rhinoceros, cheetah, impala, lizard, kangaroo, cow, hippopotamus are tails (7) SHADOWS [Tail Acrostic]

11 Man wearing hat is shoddy (5) CHEAP {C{HE}AP}

12 Collected grant? Heard wrongly outside(9) HARVESTED {VEST} inside {HEARD}*

13 One having primarily rugged muscles, horses perhaps (5) ARABS {A}{Rugged}{ABS}

15 Report on plight faced by people with temperature (9) STATEMENT {STATE}{MEN}{T}

18 Old tax I have is too much (9) EXCESSIVE {EX}{CESS}{I'VE}

21 From the time the French seceded, its quiet (5) SINCE {SIleNCE}

22 Don angrily poses for reforms first (9) PROFESSOR {POSES FOR Reforms}*

24 Kisses Nora, Erica, Carol, Kate, Susan on the heads (5) NECKS {Acrostic]

26 Stage of surgeon! (7) THEATRE [CD]

27 Say, Ivy was 151 metres last year-end (7) C?I?B?R CLIMBER {CLI}{M}{BE}{yeaR} See comments

28 Country handles rent haphazardly(11) NETHERLANDS*

DOWN

1 Partner's a saint, hence spies cantered essentially (9) ASSOCIATE {A}{S}{SO}{CIA}{canTEred}

2 Prince's journey gave satisfaction (5) PRIDE {P}{RIDE}

3 Say, MNCs upset COO terribly on Saturday (9) OCTOPUSES {UPSET COO}*{S}

4 Beats HR myths extraordinarily (7) RHYTHMS*

5 Playing sitar at one university in European country (7) AUSTRIA {SITAR}* <=> {A}{U}

6 Searches area covering from south to north for excise (5) ERASE [T<]

7 Relating to a direction, the Royal Navy follows shogun intermittently (8) SOUTHERN {THE}{RN}<=>{ShOgU}

8 Second-hand bus Edward secured (4) USED [T]

14 Tied up with a routine overnight and essentially intense day (8) ANCHORED {A}{N}{CHORE}{D} "Essentially intense" superfluous

16 Principal with teens sail at sea (9) ESSENTIAL*

17 Heartless trader promises to detain apprentice ultimately and release son for money (9) TREASURES {TradeR}{apprenticE}{ASsURES}

19 Audit in school, physical education coach initially faces tempo (7) INSPECT {IN}{S}{PE}{Coach}{T}

20 Painful condition is clear, AC here is suffocating (7) EARACHE [T]

22 First person at say, Pondicherry collecting cess at the end for Lays (4) PUTS {Person}{UT}{cesS}

23 Had hybrid tea (Earl) with some nougats (5) EATEN {TEA}*{E}{Nougats}

25 Ministers expel stranger out of room (5) CABIN {CABINet}

Reference List

Piano=P, Press Release=PR, One=I, West Indies=WI, Force=F, Time=T, Man=He, Temperature=T, The French=Le, 151=CLI, Metres=M, Saint=S, Prince=P, Saturday=S, Royal Navy=RN, Night=N, Day=D, Son=S, School=S, Physical Education=PE, Tempo=T, Earl=E, Stranger=ET(Extra-Terrestrial).

Special, Sunday 14 Jun 2026, K Koteswar Rao

Three answers per commenter till 6 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Grid will be updated with solutions after 8 PM.

Enjoy.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 60, Sunday 14 Jun 2026

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations Compulsory)

Please submit all your answers in one comment.

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

Thanks for the response. Here's the regular blog. 

ACROSS
1 Son going back to hug female near stream gets plain vanilla, perhaps (2-6) NO-FRILLS {SON<}around {F}{RILL}
5 Adult movies edited in absence of European author (6) ASIMOV {A}{MOVIeS}*

10 Fight for a piece (5) SCRAP [DD]
11 Showed the ibex running around one near end of field (9) EXHIBITED {THE IBEX}* around {I}+{fielD}
12 Insect was returning next to zipper (6) SAWFLY {WAS<}{FLY}

13 Malicious elf is put adrift (8) SPITEFUL*
15 Impromptu commencement of dance in Bali is funny (2-3) AD-LIB {Dance}in {BALI}*
17 Silly to cover mummy... It's not literal! (9) IDIOMATIC {IDIO{MA}TIC}
19 Will try a setter by the book (9) TESTAMENT {TEST}{A}{ME}{NT}
20 Weight, perhaps, of article in vehicle (5) CARAT {CAR{A}T}
21 Cocks rifle at first, placing on damaged rests after a couple of rounds (8) ROOSTERS {Rifle}+{RESTS}*<=>{O}{O}
23 Remaining ones having troubled rest around hospital behind job centre (6) OTHERS {REST}* around {H}<=>{jOb}
27 Place to keep papers from short court proceeding (9) BRIEFCASE {BRIEF}{CASE}
28 Bird starting to die in rush (5) CROWD {CROW}{Die}
29 Signs up travelling salespersons without passes (6) ENROLS {saLespERsONS}*
30 Tape container that may be obtained from test case (8) CASSETEE*

DOWN
1 Where birds may reside in greenest surroundings... (5) NESTS [T]
2 Goodbyes were wrongly included in autumn speech at first (9) FAREWELLS {WERE}* inside {FALL}{Speech}
3 Drive tortuous mile around front of palace (5) IMPEL {MILE}* around {Palace}
4 Fibbed, "There's a note in the cover" (4) LIED {LI{E}D}
6 Excitedly I combust a quark like particle, for example (9) SUBATOMIC*

7 Wrongly omit female's dominant theme (5) MOTIF {OMIT}*{F}
8 Cite devil wrongly, to wit (9) VIDELICET*
9 Without it, pilot shifts awkwardly and takes without paying (9) SHOPLIFTS {PiLOt SHIFTS}*
14 Plumber's unachievable vision (4,5) PIPE DREAM [CD]
15 American-Indian actor is at Elba resort and can be changed (9) ALTERABLE {ALTER}{ELBA*}
16 Pretty futile arrangement by boy to collect gold (9) BEAUTIFUL {FUTILE}* around {AU}<=>{B}
18 Happened // to be evicted (6,3) TURNED OUT [DD]
22 Shaped Rosie's willow (5) OSIER*

24 Check Mark's // parasites (5) TICKS {DD]
25 Grass like plant contained in processed gels (5) SEDGE [T]
26 Letter from Druze tablet (4) ZETA [T]

Reference List

Female=F, Adult=A, European=E, One=1=I, Setter=Me, The Book=NT, Round=O, Hospital=H, Note=E, Gold=Au.

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 60, Sunday 14 Jun 2026,

Three answers per commenter till 4 PM (Annotations compulsory) 

Please submit all your answers in one comment.  

(COMMENTS ENTERED WITH LESS THAN THREE ANSWERS/ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED WITHOUT NOTICE, UNLESS THE COMMENTER SPECIFIES THAT IT IS A COMPENSATION FOR A REPEAT)

No 14819, Saturday 13 June 2026, Afterdark

 ACROSS
7 Pass surplus income (8) OVERTAKE {OVER}{TAKE}
9 Marvel character gets one leading cameraman's callback(6) ICEMAN {I}{Cameraman}{NAME<}

10 Directed to hail girl in front (4) GAVE {AVE}<=>{G}
11 Straying from purpose by accepting daughter's mistake endlessly (10) MEANDERING {D}{ERr} in {MEANING}
12 Ship officers' captain arrests one (6) BOSUNS {BOS{UN}S}
14 Director to acknowledge fine in front of everyone (8) DOWNFALL {D}{OWN}{F}{ALL} Where is the definition?
15 Departs as crowd enters ship (6) SCRAMS {S{CRAM}S}
17 Cat could be Welsh (6) CYMRIC [DD]

20 Fail to meet expectations in dislocating wolf and lion primarily (4,4) FALL DOWN {WOLF AND Lion}*
22 Suit is special, a leading designer brought to East and South (6) SPADES {SP}{A}{Designer}{E}{S}

23 Page dear Bob, pa ordered material for making boxes (10) PAPERBOARD {P DEAR BOB PA}* One B is extra and one R missing from fodder
24 Star featuring in love games (4) VEGA [T]

25 Tips from co-star included new editing methods applied in movies (6) CINEMA [Acrostic]
26 Assume control of profits at head office absolutely for the most part (4,4) TAKE OVER {TAKE}{Office}{VERy}

DOWN
1 Pilots are new navigators? No, not good (8) AVIATORS {nAVIgATORS} Anagram indicator, new, not required?
2 Not starting rush for egg (4) URGE {sURGE}
3 Grandmother in Chennai's at leading sanatorium unit (6) GAMMAS {G}{AMMA}{Sanatorium} Unit or Units?
4 Diana and Edward; in the absence of love, some sex always faded (4,4) DIED AWAY {DI}{ED}{AlWAYs}
5 Silly errata sinking company that is in solid ground (5,5) TERRA FIRMA {ERRATA}* around {FIRM}
6 Erotic Four chucked out of festival (6) CARNAL {CARNivAL}
8 Antelopes found on ground in El Salvador (6) ELANDS {E{LAND}S}

13 Not a fake explosive planted around half of Kiev is unmitigated (10) UNRELIEVED {UNREaL}{I{kiEV}ED}
16 Township in Ontario has natural light (8) MOONBEAM [DD]
18 Churchmen with no answer? Sacrilege in disguise (8) CLERGIES {SaCRILEGE}*
19 Determined to get an apartment near nurse's residence in the front (6) ENRAPT {APT}<=>{EN}{Residence} Definition Ok?
21 An auditors spies a plant (6) ACACIA {A}{CA}{CIA}

22 American back's fine, being behind Germany for all to see is a puzzle (6) SUDOKU {US<}+{OK}<=>{D}+{U}
24 Instrument is available for 5 + 10 + 50 (4) VIOL {V}{IO}{L}

Reference List

One=1=I, Girl=G, Daughter=D, One=Un, Director=D, Fine=F, Ship=SS, Special=Sp, East=E, South=S, Not Good=NG, Grand=G, Diana=Di, Edward=Ed, Love=L, Four=IV, El Salvador=ES, Explosive=IED, Answer=A, Apartment=Apt, Nurse=EN (Enrolled Nurse), American=US, Germany=D, For All to see=U (Universal), 5=V, 10=IO, 50=L.

No 14818, Friday 12 Jun 2026, Afterdark

RULES FOR POSTING COMMENTS FOR FRIDAY ONLY

All those who are not regular commenters but who are rookie commenters or silent followers of the blog are requested to post answers with annotations in the comments section. In your own interest please avoid looking up the answers from the interactive version. Don't hesitate to post your annotations, in case you make a mistake in the annotation someone will correct it with the right annotation.

PLEASE NOTE, SOLUTIONS WITHOUT ATTEMPTING THE ANNOTATIONS WILL BE DELETED

Each commenter is requested to post only 5 answers thereby giving others also a chance to participate. Please provide all your answers in one comment.

Regular solvers/Veterans can post 1 answer each, but after 11 AM only.

Thanks for the response, here's the regular blog.

ACROSS

1   Understanding layers in microphone design without echos essentially (13) COMPREHENSION {HENS} in {MICROPhONE}*

10 A strategy to suppress rule in continent (9) ANTARCTIC {AN}{TA{R}CTIC} The continent is Antarctica! Antarctic is the region

11 Captains of Australia, Rhodesia, England, New Zealand, Afghanistan in the ground (5) ARENA Acrostic

12 Dodge is electric vehicle? Commercial enunciates at the beginning (5) EVADE {EV}{AD}{En...s}

13 Irish band finishes early to welcome associate (9) CORRELATE {CORRs}{ELATE}

14 Start to drink noisily at a distance (3,3) TEE OFF {(~tea)TEE}{OFF}

16 Say, David the English filmmaker is at bank (4) LEAN [DD]

19 Smile at crush almost (4) GRIN GRINd

20 Master's knowledge is beyond the peak of Ultar (6) GENIUS {GEN{I{Ul..r}S} Beyond as c/c indicator?

25 I have little time before and after theatre work that is crucial (9) OPERATIVE {I'VE}<=>{Time}  after {OPERA}

26 Broadcast on good man's step (5) STAIR {AIR}<=>{ST}

27 Next ration will include bonus (5) EXTRA [T]

28 Deport 27 dissenters in the beginning and fifteen regularly (9) EXTRADITE {EXTRA}{Di...s}{fIfTeEn}

29 Say, yellow lorry (car) transporting opium stash (7,6) PRIMARY COLOUR {LORRY+CAR+OPIUM}*

DOWN

2   Old-fashioned girlfriend's behind forbidden drugs primarily (8) OUTDATED {DATE}<=>{OUT} with {Dr..s}

3   Tomato pulp is unadulterated at Spain (5) PUREE {PURE}{E}

4   Draw in second test, Mark avoids duck (6) ENTICE {tEst}{NoTICE}

5   Licence issued to arrest leader of rioting crowd (8) ENCIRCLE {LICENCE}* over {Ri...g}

6   Trisha redrew square in the second half with free program (9) SHAREWARE {triSHA}{redREW}{squARE}

7   Traffic system at the circle's new, absent by end of Sunday (3-3) ONE-WAY {O}{NEW}{A}{s...aY}

8   Complaint on poor book (6) LAMENT {LAME}{NT}

9   In part, prelate reached following (5) LATER [T]

15 Gangster holstering gun, say with safety device (4,5) FIRE ALARM {AL} in {FIREARM}

17 England has a new Eastern European rival starting to manipulate (8) ENGINEER {ENG}{1}{N}{E}{E}{Ri..l}

18 Panchatantiram is under wraps? Sweet (8) TIRAMISU [T]

21 Ship passes over lake on course (6) SERIES {S{ERIE}S}

22 Head Office order extremely empty and rubbish (5) HOOEY {HO}{O}{EmptY}

23 Man caught by heartless officer who is a bully (6) HECTOR {HE}{CT}{Of...eR}

24 Poisoned primarily clueless doubter (6) SEPTIC ScEPTIC

26 Ashley Cole, first and last to be sacked by confused Arsenal in a tangle (5) SNARL aRSeNAL*

Reference List

Rule = R, Commercial = AD, Good man = ST(Saint), Spain = E, Absent = A, Book = NT(New Testament), Gangster = AL(Capone), New = N, Eastern = E, European = E, Ship = SS, Order = O, Caught = CT

No 14817, Thursday 11 Jun 2026, KrisKross

Solution to 12A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered 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 answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Chemist's quick to wrap wound (8) PHARMACY {P{HARM}ACY}

5   Reportedly delivers heavy woollen fabric (6) FRIEZE (~frees)

9 &13 They are used to revive sailors with BO? (8,5) SMELLING SALTS {SALTS}<=>{SMELLING}

10 It can hold breakfast food for one - greasy pot originally lined with copper (6) EGGCUP {EG}{Gr...y}{CU}{Pot}

12 Opponents try drills. Many give up (4,5) L?S? H?A?T (Addendum - LOSE HEART - {LO{S,E{HEAR}T}See comments)

13 See 9A

14 Top trends in poems (4) ODES {mODES}

16 Temple town's function for a zealot (7) PURITAN {PURI}{TAN}

19 Obscure quotations seen in memes regularly (7) ECLIPSE {mE{CLIPS}mEs}

21 Panel changing sides in a month (4) JURY JU(-l+r)RY

24 Country's popular face left out (5) INDIA {IN}{DIAl}

25 Pin ads around a flyer (9) SAND PIPER {PIN+ADS}*{PER}

27 AI software not opening novel - it's an irritating problem (6) IRITIS {sIRI}{ITS*}

28 Primarily many people excited in arena, resulting in this? (8) STAMPEDE {STA{Many}{Pe...e}{Ex...d}DE} Semi&lit

29 One suffering hurt before try-out (6) MARTYR {MAR}{TRY*}

30 Woman is pinched by spoilt kid, most rude (8) BRASHEST   {BRA{SHE'S}T}

DOWN

1   Step dancing with extremely lovable crush (6) PESTLE {STEP*}{Lo...lE}

2   Doctored images revealing bias (6) AGEISM* 

3   Enrich soil greatly, taking in fertilisers essentially (5) MULCH {MU{f...iLi...s}CH}

4   Dismiss very stupid person in campaign (7) CANVASS {CAN}{V}{ASS}

6   Administrator is back, charged with direction to rule (9) REGISTRAR {R{E{GIST}RA<=}{R}Anno not clear (Addendum - {RE{GIST}{R}AR} - See comments)

7   Intensify police case, missing deadline (8) ESCALATE {CASE*}{LATE}

8   Showing ten pigeons flying all around (8) EXPOSING {E{X}POSING*}

11 Break small plaything (4) STOP {S}{TOP}

15 Evil God filled with power, chiefly crazy (9) DEPRAVITY {DE{PR}{crAzy}}ITY} (Correction - {DE{P}{RAVe}ITY} - See comments)

17 Idle vagrant, a bit intoxicated, overwhelmed by strange fever (8) DELIRIUM {IDLE*}{R{In...d}UM}

18 Glue dries for the most part, turning more muddy Glue mostly dries turning more muddy (8) SLUDGIER {GLUe+DRIES}*

20 Some require a strategic direction (4) EAST [T]

21 After a month, bread counter becomes cleaner (7) JANITOR {JAN}{ROTI<=}

22 Ball's area (6) SPHERE [DD]

23 Tune with hint of romance… girl starts crying (6) URGENT {TUNE+Ro...e+G}*

26 American uncle excited about cats (5) PUMAS {SAM}{UP}<=

Reference List

Opponents = S,E(South and East in Bridge card game), Function = TAN, Popular = IN, Very = V, Rule = R, Small = S, American uncle = SAM