The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 15, Sunday 03 Aug 2025, Arden

Rangoli by Gowri

ACROSS

1   One in pieces returned to governor (6) SATRAP {PART{A}S}<=

4   Ancient treatise represented last game (8) ALMAGEST*

9   High and mighty couple - at heart showing compassion (6) UPPITY {coUPle}{PITY}

10 Can sign for those representing two categories (8) BINARIES {BIN}{ARIES}

12 Performed around that place? Wasn't sure (8) DITHERED {DI{THERE}D}

13 Red maid regularly gets income (6) COMMIE {MaId} in {COME}

15 Bomb burst - it's half on the surface (2,5,5) AT FIRST BLUSH*

18 Sharing and copying hidden part (12) APPORTIONING {AP{PORTION}ING}

21 Agree to fish eating - fit to return (6) RATIFY {RA{FIT<=}Y}

22 Graveyard shift to follow - keep an eye (8) DOGWATCH {DOG}{WATCH}

24 Scoundrel born to start a fire (8) BLIGHTER {B}{LIGHTER}

25 Armature winding about to go - giving shock (6) TRAUMA {ARMATUre}*

26 Perhaps a setter retains love for a marine creature (3,5) SEA OTTER {A+SETTER}* over {0}

27 Returning part of the deposit is allowed at present (2,2,2) AS IT IS [T<=]

DOWN

1   DC current passes through straight briefly in a police vehicle (5,3) SQUAD CAR {SQUA{DC}{A}Re}

2   Court official's past it - moving with forces (8) TIPSTAFF {PAST+IT}*{F}{F}

3   Father had potato salad without hesitation (2,3,4,2,1,3)  AT THE DROP OF A HAT*

5   Ex-PM gets no British accommodation (4) LAIR bLAIR

6   Shot Star Wars - fools do become dumbfounded (2,1,4,3,5) AT A LOSS FOR WORDS*

7   Puzzle over extortion involving mafia films (6) ENIGMA {Ex...oN}{In...nG}{MafiA}

8   Looks less attractive - taking up some ornamentation... (6) TASSEL [T<=]

11 Use soft one to make it attractive (7) FESTOON*

14 Police station unreliable - cities perhaps need a military unit (7) PLATOON {POLice+stATiON}* [CA]

16 Film on decay creates suspicion (8) MISTRUST {MIST}{RUST}

17 Leader in clutch of intellectuals (8) EGGHEADS {EGG{HEAD}S}

19 Agreed to be inside, rising with darkness (6) EREBUS {SU{BE}RE}<=

20 Loft above a place in Greece (6) ATTICA {ATTIC}{A}

23 Asked to start grant (4) CEDE (~seed)

Reference List

Born = B, About = RE, Current = A, Force = F, British = B, Clutch = EGGS

No 14552, Friday 01 Aug 2025, Arden

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   Fancy act, expose everything inside (7) CABARET {CA{BARE}T*} &lit

5   Horse gets crabby at regular intervals - it's horrible (7) MACABRE {MA{CrAbBy}RE}

9   Sent a criminal behind (5) NATES*

10 Essentially halt in place for an abrupt evolutionary change (9) SALTATION {S{hALt}TATION}

11 Retain collection - agree to entertain a complaint (9) EYESTRAIN {E{YES}TRAIN*}

12 It was decreed that butter was short (5) FATWA {FAT}{WAs}

13 Sprinkles half of them by dropping (4) SCAT SCATters

15 Badly disillusioned dudes leave the state (8) ILLINOIS dISILLusIONed* 

18 Glad at heart to increase value (8) APPRAISE {hAPPy}{RAISE}

19 One follows hard grind (4) HONE {ONE}<=>{H}

22 Openly corrupt - people finally withdrew support (5) PYLON OPeNLY*

24 Discontented landlord pockets potential earning in city (9) LENINGRAD {La...rD} over {EARNING}*

26 European boy in China upset with hot dish (9) ENCHILADA {E}{NCHI{LAD}A*}

27 Money in box returned to banks (5) RAMPS {SP{M}AR<=}

28 Regularly resells product like fish (7) EELPOUT {rEsElLs+PrOdUcT}

29 Broken twit reveals duplicity (7) TREASON {T}{REASON}

DOWN

1   Caught up with Ayrton on the French Riviera (6) CANNES {C}{SENNA<=}

2   Ramstein gets cut flower (9) BUTTERCUP {BUTTER}{CUP}

3   Start from zero again as others receive a point (5) RESET {RES{E}T}

4   Conductor contains alternative current (9) TOSCANINI {CONTAINS}*{I}

5   Italian PM is short but sweet (5) MELON MELONi

6   About 12.5 mm, in other words not large bird (9) CHAFFINCH {C}{(~half inch)HAFFINCH}

7   Suitably contrived, don't say constructed (5) BUILT sUITaBLy*

8   Perhaps need an answer to Nina from Carolina (6) ENNEAD* 

14 American actor combining nation and art somehow (9) TARANTINO {NATION+ART}*

16 Bide one's time till criminal in law caught - that's it (3,2,4) LIE IN WAIT {IN+LAW}* over {IE} with {IT}

17 Funny or amusing? One doesn't know (9) IGNORAMUS*

20 Extremely sharp - he is on a round (6) SPHERE {SharP}{HE}{RE}

21 No side-stepping initially for him to come up with an invention (6) EDISON [T<=] Semi&lit

23 Resident in Kargil - a cold place going up north (5) LOCAL [T<=]

24 Minimum is close to five in the final (5) LEAST {L{fivE}AST}

25 Doctor, surgeon go away as one tends to patients (5) NURSE SURgEoN*

Reference List

Hard = H, European = E, Money = M, Caught = C, Ram = BUTTER, Stein = CUP, Point = E, Current = I, About = C, Large = L, On = RE

No 14551, Thursday 31 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 22D 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

1   Workers get in, complain about spindles (8) DISTAFFS {DI{STAFF}S}

5   Bit of a methodical person - brings back calm (6) PLACID [T<=]

10 Rich widow's advice on taking a chance (7) DOWAGER {DO WAGER}

11 A hybrid crop - it could bear fruit (7) APRICOT {A}{CROP+IT}*

12 Long time for horse to enter - prod it (3,2) EGG ON {E{GG}ON}

13 Watchdog for thousand American friends in the country (9) OMBUDSMAN {O{M}{BUDS}MAN}

14 Digital entertainment - a special gift (6,6) HIDDEN TALENT [C&DD]

18 Wine and ale can do perhaps in this country (3,9) NEW CALEDONIA {WINE+ALE+CAN+DO}*

21 Against history - only a course (9) ANTIPASTO {ANTI}{PAST}{O}

23 New area can be costly (5) NACRE {N}{ACRE}

24 It helps some people's aspirations (7) INHALER [CD]

25 Repeating it - time not to lose heart (7) ITERANT {IT}{ERA}{NoT}

26 Look, it's somewhat wavering and erratic (6) GANDER [T]

27 Serial killer's last known address? (5,3) DEATH ROW [CD]

DOWN

1   Not happy about keeping an animal inside lower walls (6) DADOES {SAD<=} over {DOE}

2   Refuse to allow comedian to enter Vatican, perhaps (6) SEWAGE {SE{WAG}E}

3   Spy right inside in a country... (9) ARGENTINA {A{R}GENT}{IN}{A}

4   ...besides our fearsome dog barking (3,4,7) FOR GOOD MEASURE*

6   Persuaded a bit - order ultimately came from the South (5) LURED [T<=]

7   Coppers order to surrender finally, but one is cool as they say (8) CUCUMBER {CU}{CU}{MBE}{s...eR}

8   Go off with boyfriend outside school (8) DETONATE{D{ETON}ATE}

9   Heart of a Scot, in short, is poisonous (6,8) CARBON MONOXIDE {sCOt}

15 Lamenting about alliance (9) ALIGNMENT*

16 Making some dough and wanting to announce it (8) KNEADING (~needing)

17 Start with an issue about the terrible women (6,2) SWITCH ON {S{WITCH}ON}

19 Some money the church returned - that's sweet (6) ECLAIR {RIAL}{CE}<=

20 Grant is in Paris, covered by missile launcher (6) BESTOW {B{EST}OW}

22 Cry over endless beat (5) P?L?E (Addendum - PULSE {PUL{lesS}E} - See comments)

Reference List

Complain = DIS, Horse = GG, Thousand = M, Only = O, New = N, Right = R, Church = CE, Is in French = EST

No 14550, Wednesday 30 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 26D 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

1   Working with sales force - one way to reach there fast (2,3,4,5) AS THE CROW FLIES*

10 Crime in Madras found to have happened regularly (5) ARSON {mAdRaS+fOuNd}

11 Weapon assessed and smashed (9) MACERATED {MACE}{RATED}

12 Business representative on a ship within reach (7) COMPASS {CO}{MP}{A}{SS}

13 Grounds are ground issues (7) REASONS {ARE*}{SONS}

14 For these old two-wheelers, ban drink leading to social unrest (5) RIOTS chaRIOTS

16 Creams get special mention on Times covers (9) OINTMENTS {MENTION}*{TimeS}

19 It's the mirror image of a tongue (9) MALAYALAM<=>

20 Lament about electronic network (5) DIRGE {E}{GRID}

22 Book about power distribution in a Welsh town (7) NEWPORT {N{POWER*}T}

25 Intend to stop payment for clothing (7) RAIMENT {R{AIM}ENT}

27 See Indian shop with short soldier guarding (9) BISHOPRIC {B{I}{SHOP}RICk} Soldier/Brick? See comments

28 Talk about Indian PM shielding top industrialist (5) IDIOM {MO{In...t}DI}<=

29 Doctor to use algorithm, perhaps (14) RHEUMATOLOGIST*

DOWN

2   Dirty bottles point to same cooking medium (6,3) SESAME OIL {S{E}{SAME}OIL}

3   Dye found within the borders of state capital (5) HENNA cHENNAi

4   You can sit on it if current temperature is cool outside (9) CAMPSTOOL {C{AMPS}{T}OOL}

5   Only Mark gets the prize (5) OSCAR {O}{SCAR}

6   Was ready for any eventuality with a reformed criminal (9) FOREARMED*

7   Pinpoint role so as to allow formal initiation (5) INTRO [T]

8   Somehow assist bury the dead - they are vicious (7) SADISTS {SA{D}ISTS*}

9   House sickness? (6) CANCER [DD]

15 It may sort of turn into a packaging material (9) STYROFOAM*

17 Broken arm in clue is digital (9) NUMERICAL*

18 Run up and run down where plants and trees are grown (9) NURSERIES {RUN<=}{SERIES}

19 Dress restriction you'll find in hotel rooms (7) MINIBAR {MINI}{BAR}

21 Bury original bottom line, wasted toil (6) ENTOMB {BOTtoM+liNE}*

23 A way to stop us spend (5) WASTE {W{A}{ST}E}

24 Sailor to come up on deck (5) TAROT {TAR}{TO<=}

26 Watching - not over bonus (5) I?I?G (Addendum - ICING notICING - See comments)

Reference List

Business = CO, Ship = SS, Electronic = E, Book = NT(New Testament). Indian = I, Point = E, Temperature = T, Only = O, Dead = D, Sailor = TAR

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 12, Sunday 13 Jul 2025, Arden

ACROSS

1   Safe keeping - I reach out to an ever-smiling character (8,3) CHESHIRE CAT {CHES{I+REACH}*T}

7   Entry not by sky (3) LOB LOBby

9   Permit refused to enter a joint (5) MITRE [T]

10 Help poor Monica to come inside compound (5,4) AMINO ACID {A{MONICA*}ID}

11 Principality runs into a mansion, perhaps (3,6) SAN MARINO  {R} in {A+MANSION}*

12 Bear it in Japan, daily (5) PANDA [T]

13 Principal, after a change of heart is letting (7) LEASING LEA(-d+s)SING

15 Indian cosmetic for an Indian cricketer? Shows no interest (4) KOHL KOHLi

18 Retreating bear - not like some birds (4) EMUS asSUME<=

20 Scale up original module (7) CAPSULE*

23 Copying centre page - fix inside (5) APING {pA{PIN}Ge}

24 Healing in cuts - turns to incidental music (9) MEDICINAL {MEDICINAL+IN+CUTS}*=INCIDENTAL MUSIC

26 Work listed - take him in to strip (9) DISMANTLE {DIS{MAN}TLE*}

27 Regular pear, cut in half with another fruit (5) PAPAW {PeAr}{PAre}{W}

28 Light material not on (3) RAY RAYon

29 Harry no matter has a cap (3-1-7) TAM-O-SHANTER*

DOWN

1   River fish I caught for teddy (8) CAMISOLE {CAM}{SOLE} over {I}

2   European sea, not in pollution (8) ESTONIAN*

3   Scavenger shortly has to receive some money (5) HYENA {H{YEN}As}

4   Peregrine migration possible without it (7) ROAMING MiGRtIAON*

5   Fish caught in hook outside (7) CHINOOK {C}{IN+HOOK}* (Correction - {C}{H{IN}OOK} - See comments)

6   Joint support for military transport (9) TROOPSHIP {HIP}<=>{TROOPS}

7   Clear blue film - removed and despatched as told (6) LUCENT {bLUe}{(~sent)CENT}

8   Deadline to block light - there is uproar (6) BEDLAM {BE{D}{L}AM}

14 Trimming allocation to house a settler (9) IMMIGRANT {TRIMMING}* over {A}

16 Dog breed tips? (8)  TURNSPIT {TIPS}* [RA]

17 Does flow in and spoil (8) DEFLOWER {DE{FLOW}ER}

19 Post my operation there is minute mark (7) SYMPTOM {POST+MY}*{M}

20 They keep asking basketball players to get close to hundred (7) CADGERS {CA{h...eD}GERS}

21 Keep sharp and erect please (6) PANDER [T]

22 Regret sending forces into such an awful place (6) PIGSTY {PI{G'S}TY}

25 Oil source starts - cartel's oil production rises again (5) COPRA Acrostic

Reference List

Runs = R, Interest = I, With = W, Caught = C, Dead = D, Line = L, Minute = M

No 14527, Thursday 03 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 1D 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

6   Exult as the ultimate champion bags final medal (5) GLOAT {G{m..aL}OAT}

7   Fancy yachts carrying it is seen as a virtue (8) CHASTITY {CHAST{IT}Y*}

10 Reason it's said to make one laugh in hell (7) INFERNO {INFER}{NO} NO or N2O?

11 Activity protects America flooding (7) DOUSING {DO{US}ING}

12 Fought over how the woman was dressed overall (7) CLASHED {CLA{SHE}D}

13 Small place in China ruined Charlie (7) CHAPLIN {CHA{PL}IN*}

14 Compromising on death - there is hidden rage (11) ENDANGERING {END{ANGER}ING}

19 Home gets, say, butane fuel (7) BAGASSE {BA{GAS}SE}

21 Arranged in sets - a kind of poetic form (7) SESTINA {IN+SETS}*{A}

23 Help set back foundation of black granite (7) DIABASE {AID<=}{BASE}

25 Reportedly not a pleasant end for the family (7) DYNASTY (~die nasty}

26 Copier, it provided a welcome drink (8) APERITIF {APER}{IT}{IF}

27 Works with team leader on lubricants (5) TOILS {Team}{OILS}

DOWN

1   Combine ideas with Charlie, one gets even (8) ?O?F?A?E (Addendum - CONFLATE  {C}{ON{FLAT}E} - See comments)

2   Request architects to provide a stiffener (6) STARCH [T]

3   Agreement that electric cable can be wound close to armature (10) ACCORDANCE {AC}{CORD}{CAN*}{a...rE}

4   Poet's come up with something mediocre (4) BARD<=

5   A material to suit oneself (2,4) AT WILL {A}{TWILL}

6   Malfunction starts - good luck charm has it inside (6) GLITCH {Good}{Luck}{Charm}{Has} over {IT}

8   Huge waves have no rocky mountains (7) TSUNAMI {TSUNAMI+NO}*=MOUNTAINS [CA]

9   Any indoor game is a pain (5) AGONY {A{GO}NY}

13 Angry VIP will raise (7,3) CHEESED OFF {CHEESE}{DOFF}

15 Anguish of the French couple (7) DESPAIR {DES}{PAIR}

16 Denied profits, Matilda dropped the odds (8) GAINSAID {GAINS}{mAtIlDa}

17 Follow a union member right away (5) ABIDE {A}{BrIDE}

18 Greek gods deal with strays (6) SATYRS*

20 Drink and academic performance gets hit (6) GRAPPA {G{RAP}PA}

22 Witness Brown coming up into the house (6) SENATE {SE{TAN<=}E}

24 Leaders enjoy and take sufficient provisions (4) EATS Acrostic

Reference List

Ultimate champion = GOAT(Greatest of all time), Charlie = C, Electric = AC, Of the in French = DES, Right = R

No 14526, Wednesday 02 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 21D 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

1   Stray cattle interrupt Indian game - it's in Chennai (7,6) LATTICE BRIDGE {LATT{I}CE*}{BRIDGE}

10 Expert on conservative framework (5) CRACK {C}{RACK}

11 Special separator for, say, Placido Domingo (5,4)  OPERA STAR* 

12 Uncompromising one - cleans it out (9) INELASTIC {1+CLEANS+IT}*

13 Part of outdoor pineapple plant (5) ORPIN [T]

14 Anger building within - loves the plant (7) OREGANO {O{ANGER*}O}

16 Provokes Finnachio - regularly faces defeat (7) INCITES {fInNaChIo}{SET<=}

18 Pick an artist - a tragic character (7) ELECTRA {ELECT}{RA}

20 Country garden - oddly none in Spain (7) GRENADA {GaRdEn}{NADA}

22 Wealth American invested in public convenience (5) MEANS {ME{A}NS}

24 New Englander on Trump's shopping list (9) GREENLAND*

26 Puts up with later changes in digits (9) TOLERATES {TO{LATER*}ES}

27 Bury where the ashes are kept (5) INURN {IN URN}

28 It's cooling off around the border - he knows how crooks operate (13) CRIMINOLOGIST {ITS+COOLING}* over {RIM}

DOWN

2   Scholarship - expert has made mistake (7) ACADEME {AC{MADE*}E}

3   Dismantle or participate around first of April (4,5) TAKE APART {TAKE {Ap..l}PART}

4   Power threat using day time switch... (5) CLOUT CLOU(-d+t)T

5   ...for every one inland violating the law (9) BREACHING {BR{EACH}ING}

6   Kids can show all of them in the middle of the state (5) IDAHO {kIDs}{cAn}{sHOw}

7   Run down with round head ingot (2,2,3) GO TO POT {G{O}{TOP}OT}

8   Sea urchins do come up amidst the American wreckage (13) ECHINODERMATA {DO<=} in {THE+AMERICAN}*

9   With impressive stature, playing to the gallery (13) GRANDSTANDING {GRAND}{STANDING}

15 Great ape gets most of the fruit and a groundnut (9) ORANGUTAN {ORANGe}{A+NUT}*

17 Can single appliance lead to thorough washing? (9) CLEANSING* 

19 Upcoming report includes Indian online shop (1-6) E-TAILER {REL{I}ATE}<=

21 Danger signals as in framing painting from bottom to top (7) A?A?U?S ()

23 Credit in total leads to a scuffle (5) SCRUM {S{CR}UM}

25 Rest left to stand (5) EASEL {EASE}{L}

Reference List

Indian = I, Conservative = C, Artist = RA, None in Spain = NADA, American = A, Day = D, Time = T, Credit = CR, Left = L

No 14525, Tuesday 01 Jul 2025, Arden

Solution to 4A 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

1   Australian native crazy to get a business degree (6) NUMBAT {NU{MBA}T}

4   Having the means to vent Nitrogen through the back (8) ?F?L?E?T (Addendum - AFFLUENT {AF{FLUE}{N}T} - See comments)

10 Beer drinking - entire publicity is on a singer (9) BALLADEER {B{ALL}{AD}EER}

11 The diminished part of reclaimed compound (5) IMIDE [T<=]

12 A bizarre topic, "Eating right fruit" (7) APRICOT {A}{TOPIC*} over {R}

13 Difficult astride a horse - looking exhausted (7) HAGGARD {H{A}{GG}ARD}

14 After weekend rains join regular Chinese characters (5) KANJI {weeK}{rAiNs+JoIn}

15 First of all make missing employees go into another shift - there will be resistance shown (8) OHMMETER {Make}{Mi...g}{Em...s} in {OTHER}*

18 Plants spiked device (8) CALTROPS [DD]

20 'Royal Crown', part of Nova Scotia rail road (5) TIARA [T]

23 Cup of tea left to become cold (7) CHALICE {CHA}{L}{ICE}

25 A country blocks message - taking a break (7) PAUSING PA{USING} Anno pending (Addendum - {P{A}{US}ING} - See comments)

26 Books houses - time to go for hotel (5) TOMES (-h+t)TOMES

27 Grounds restrict parking as they get into their shells (9) TERRAPINS {TERRA{P}INS}

28 Reporters go about collecting some money to back horses (8) HACKNEYS {HACK{YEN<=}S}

29 Cancel river crossing permit (6) DELETE {DE{LET}E}

DOWN

1   Bankers involved a state (8) NEBRASKA {BANKERS}*{A}

2   Average in America for a factory to manage (7) MILLRUN {MILL}{RUN}

3   A new car, perhaps this could be revolutionary (9) ANARCHIST {A}{N}{CAR*}{THIS*}

5   Opt for the smart activity usually (3,3,4,4) FOR THE MOST PART*

6   Fish bit the fly finally - you're not telling the truth (5) LYING {L{flY}ING}

7   Domain equilibrium - both sides cross (7) EMIRATE {Eq...uM}{IRATE}

8   Strive to nab, close in (6) TRENDY {TR{END}Y}

9   Other converts not yet ostracised (4,2,8) SENT TO COVENTRY*

16 Following gents without clothes - how old are we? (9) ENTOURAGE {gENTs}{OUR AGE}

17 Willingness to provide gearless version (8) LARGESSE*

19 Harry came in around the second of January looking pale (7) ANAEMIC {CAME+IN}* over {jAn...y}

21 Spaniard's admission in a square perhaps is absurd (7) ASININE {A}{SI}{NINE}

22 Put a lid on a drink (6) SCOTCH [DD]

24 Norwegian playwright in describing our stock market (5) IBSEN {I{BSE}N}

Reference List

Publicity = AD, Right = R, Horse = GG, Left = L, Time = T, Hotel = H, Parking = P, New = N, Yes in Spain = SI

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 9, Sunday 22 Jun 2025, Arden

ACROSS

9   Aunty in trouble withe investment contract (7) ANNUITY* 

10 Tough to hold out - nothing inside? Sounding uncertain (7) HOODLUM {HO{O}DL*}{UM}

11 Obstructs containers (7) HAMPERS [DD]

12 Polish figure crossing the line of no return (7) RUBICON {RUB}{ICON}

13 Country came out - no stopping aid going west (9) MACEDONIA {CAME}*{AI{NO}D<=}

15 High rent all around - it's a source of irritation (5) THORN {T{H}ORN}

16 Some lad abandoned the maiden (7) DAMOSEL*

19 Zany, zany get a flower (7) YANGTZE*

20 Warriors name in German admission (5) NINJA {N}{IN}{JA}

21 Makes fun of outputs - not out, but that's OK (2,2,5) UP TO SNUFF {FUN+OF+outPUTS}*

25 Showing interest in special race, so refuse (7) SCORIAE {I} in {RACE+SO}*

26 Call within a month to capital (7) ABIDJAN {A}{BID}{JAN} Former capital

28 Vulgarian - trust a crook to keep quiet (7) UPSTART {TRUST+A}* over {P}

29 Some come back and get selected - it's heavenly (7) CELESTE [T<=]

DOWN

1   Growing tuber on the border creates disturbance (6) MAYHEM {YAM<=}{HEM}

2   Coming around is incomprehensible (6) GNOMIC* Is this definition correct?

3   Award for play (4) GIVE [DD]

4   Compound featuring setter's very big home (6) MYOSIN {MY}{OS}{IN}

5   Drug dealer's fast to contain damage (8) PHARMACY {P{HARM}ACY}

6   Groom workers to get hold of a top team of fighters (10) COMBATANTS {COMB}{ANTS} over {A}{Team}

7   Need to stop fight for a state of oblivion (8) BLACKOUT {B{LACK}OUT}

8   Nice men appointed by English Cardinal (8) EMINENCE {NICE+MEN}*{E}

14 Book on Indian political party's rise - talk about accepting a constant input (3,7) DAS KAPITAL {SAD<=}{KA{PI}TAL*}

16 Victim of a natural disaster is around, moving (8) DINOSAUR* 

17 Big animal entertains volunteer group, becomes much smaller (8) MONGOOSE {MO{NGO}OSE}

18 Award winner delayed importing fertiliser (8) LAUREATE {LA{UREA}TE}

22 Leadership change - country in a daze (6) TRANCE (-f+t)TRANCE

23 Only under central fund - that's not fair (6) UNJUST {JUST}<=>{fUNd}

24 Plant experience - news trickling in (6) FENNEL {FE{N}{N}EL}

27 Invested legitimately, banks doing nothing (4) IDLY {In...eD}{Le...lY}

Reference List

High = H, Name = N, Yes in German = JA, Interest = I, Quiet = P, Very big = OS, Home = IN, English = E, Constant = PI, Volunteer group = NGO, New = N

The Hindu Cryptic on Sunday No 7, Sunday 08 Jun 2025, Arden

 ACROSS

1   Hector determines VAT for commercial (13) ADVERTISEMENT*

10 Promote tutor taking over emergency response team (9) ADVERTISE {ADV{ERT}ISE}

11 Established American University hires a lecturer (5) USUAL {US}{U}{A}{L}

12 Interpol arrived to arrest Siberian (5) POLAR [T]

13 Extends short game after rest (break) and some tea (9) STRETCHES {CHESs}<=>{REST*} over {Tea}

14 Issues at peak, first person cheats heartlessly (6) TOPICS {TOP}{I}{Ch..tS}

16 Even if the first character is replaced, it is always kiss (4) NECK (p or n)NECK

19 Single son's game lacks power (4) SOLO {S}{pOLO}

20 Appreciating a cathedra in Germany (6) SEEING {SEE}{IN}{G}

25 Short race arranged for group (9) ORCHESTRA*

26 Climbed with dad falling off at location (5) SCENE aSCENdEd

27 Having tea outside home in country (5) CHINA {CH{IN}A}

28 Surprise; team name is misspelt outside zone (9) AMAZEMENT {TEAM+NAME}* over {Z}

29 Record mark, not top though suggested not having a presentation (13) ENTERTAINMENT {ENTER}{sTAIN}{MEaNT}

DOWN

2   Engineering learner cracks Devops and advances (8) DEVELOPS {DEV{E}{L}OPS}

3   Herr Orel hides mistake (5) ERROR [T]

4   After taking 5th wicket, hitters smack long (6) THIRST HITTeRS*

5   Controlling young ox in ground at the front (8) STEERING {STEER}{IN}{Gr...d}

6   Ouch, mate's cut facial hair (9) MOUSTACHE*

7   Purchased note for boy for nothing (6) NOUGHT (-b+n)NOUGHT

8   Floor-covering of vehicle has uneven pleats (6) CARPET {CAR}{PlEaTs}

9   Blue? Almost used green (5) BLUSH {BLUe}{SH} Blush/Green? 

15 Work together for a performance inside cottage (9) COOPERATE {CO{OPERA}TE}

17 Shrink in study with pamphlet (8) CONTRACT {CON}{TRACT}

18 Back at home to clear, even take out some vessels - becomes one less than a score (8) NINETEEN {IN<=}{NET}{EvEN}

21 Visitors at Germany by New York time in US (6) GUESTS {G}{U{EST}S}

22 As per sources, velocity of inter city express is express (5) VOICE Acrostic

23 Party leader evicted by force (6) ACTION fACTION

24 State that husband and wife are in India from the beginning (6) HAWAII Acrostic

26 A male gamete cut out of spectrum (5) SPERM SPEctRuM

Reference List

University = U, Lecturer = L, Son = S, Power = P, Cathedra = SEE< Germany = G, Home = IN, Zone = Z, Engineering = E, Learner = L, Note = N, Boy = B, Used = SH(Second Hand)