No 14875, Tuesday 18 Aug 2026, Incognito

Solution to 26A 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

8 Lad returned with one artist (4) DALI {LAD<}{I}

9 Eggs warmed to some extent for group of insects (5) SWARM [T]
10 Bob leaves bamboos for prophet (4) AMOS {bAMboOS}

11 Admen injured and dead, creating want for goods (6) DEMAND {ADMEN*}{D}
12 Self-centred persons got sites redistributed (8) EGOTISTS*
13 New order of popes let legal prohibition (8) ESTOPPEL*
15 Coin forged by setter resulting in earning (6) INCOME {COIN*}{ME}
17 Sage //astronaut who left Earth on April 1st 2026 (7) WISEMAN [DD]

19 Picture American soldier having nice experience initially behind Indian Military Academy (7) IMAGINE {GI}{Nice}{Experience}<=>{IMA}
22 Charlie really likes spices (6) CLOVES {C}{LOVES}
24 Transliterated code term "Germ layer" (8) ECTODERM*
26 Once right in court, I composed musical pieces (8) ?O?C?R?I CONCERTI {C{ONCE+R}T}I See Comments
28 King from October onwards (6) OBERON [T]

30 This kind of stick can make you jumpy! (4) POGO [CD] 

31 Revolutionary's small game (5) CHESS {CHE'S}{S}
32 Remaining, relax! (4) REST [DD]

DOWN
1 Animal found in Chandigarh area (4) HARE [T]

2 Apron parking with erstwhile Indian army has fighter next to gate near first exit (8) PINAFORE {P}{INA}{F}{OR}{Exit}

3 Badly suppurated part removed and consumed fully (4,2) USED UP {SUPpUratED}
4 Inform a father, at first, 'It's part of the knee joint" (7) PATELLA {TELL}{A}<=>{PA}

5 Shop's premium cocktail contains a bit of orange (8) EMPORIUM {PREMIUM*} around {Orange}
6 Killer retires after mother becomes lunatic (6) MANIAC {CAIN<}<=>{MA}
7 Told off idiot (4) DOLT*
14 Yet // not moving (5) STILL [DD]
16 Roman building large house with estate (5) MANOR*

18 Remove // summary (8) ABSTRACT [DD]
20 Before horrible tragedy, girl made equipment (8) GADGETRY {TRAGEDY*}<=>{G}
21 Alien carried by rider on tour is no longer working (7) RETIRED {ET} in {RIDER*}
23 Directed force that is carrier of disease? (6) VECTOR [DD]
25 Belief in the Orient, "It's Mao reincarnated" (6) TAOISM*
27 Instrument carried by palaeobotanist on retirement (4) OBOE [HIPS<]
29 Oats processing kiln (4) OAST*

REFERENCE LIST

One=1=I, Dead=D, Setter=me, American Soldier=GI, Charlie=C, Right=R, Court=Ct, Small=S, Parking=P, Erstwhile Indian Army=INA, Fighter=F (military abbreviation as in F-16 fighter plane), Gate=Or ( Electronic gate), Father=Pa, Mother=Ma, Girl=G, Alien=ET(Extra Terrestrial).