Patna: Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday launched the fifth edition of the daily online cryptic crossword challenge, A-Clue-A-Day, in a function at Delhi Public School here.

The first clue will be uploaded on www.crypticsingh.com at 3.30pm on January 16 and then at the same time everyday. The answer can be submitted by 3pm the following day. The first champions' gallery will be formed on January 17 and then every day till October 15, when the competitive phase of the contest will end.

"The most important resources of a country are not its physical infrastructure but young educated minds," Malik told the students and guests.

He cited the example of the World War II and said: "During the war, the British parliament cut budgetary provisions for all sectors except education."

The governor praised senior Bihar cadre IAS officer Vivek Kumar Singh, the chief mentor of the contest, for starting an exercise that provokes children to learn while having fun. Singh spoke about the significance of crosswords.

He said of about 3 lakh words, people use only 3,000. "We should have a passion for learning more words so that we are able to use the most appropriate word in a given situation," he added.

Another senior IAS officer and principal labour resource secretary Deepak Kumar Singh, who was a special invitee, too addressed the gathering and exhorted the students to take part in competitive pursuits like ACAD and build self-confidence which is so crucial for success.

DPS principal B. Vinod thanked the organisers, Extra C, a Patna-based civil society initiative, for launching the contest from the school premises for the third consecutive year. He urged students to exploit the learning opportunities provided by this unique game.

Popularly known as ACAD, the contest is the only daily online crossword contest for schoolchildren in the country. Launched in 2014, it involves cracking a fresh clue every day on crypticsingh.com, the website of the organisers, Extra-C.

A clue is uploaded on the site every day at 3.30pm and answers can be submitted by 3pm the following day. Depending on the speed with which contestants solve the clues and consistency of correctness, a champions' gallery is formed and top contestants are honoured.

To play ACAD 2018, contestants may register on the website and get a unique password. The registration is free of cost.

Shashwat Sanjeev, a student of Don Bosco Academy, Patna, had won the contest in 2017 and had been awarded with the winner's shield at a function held in Delhi in November last year.