Adventure · OFFICIAL RULES

Chapter Chase

Follow the clues, crack the puzzles and race to the treasure. Think sharp, work together and let the chase lead you to victory.

21–22 November 2026 · Report 30 minutes before your scheduled competition. Exact timings and venues will be shared with registered schools.

Chapter Chase — Treasure hunt. Official NCLF event poster.

Eligibility: Senior Category · Grades 9–12
Participation: Team of 5 students from the same school
Format: Treasure hunt
Registration deadline: To be confirmed
Prize: Exclusive goodies and merchandise
Awards: Certificates for winners

COMPETITION 01

Everything you need to know.

Read the competition-specific format and requirements carefully. The festival-wide rules below apply as well.

How the chase works

Teams solve literature-inspired riddles, decode clues and navigate across the venue to uncover the final treasure.
Every clue connects to famous books, characters, authors, poems or iconic literary moments.
Teams must complete every stage in order before moving to the next clue.

Rules and progression

A maximum of 2 teams per school will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, up to 20 teams.
Teams must remain together throughout the hunt. Splitting up adds a 5-minute penalty to the team’s completion time.
Mobile phones may be used only for the venue map supplied by the organisers. Internet access, search engines and AI tools are prohibited for solving clues, and phones may be checked at any stage.
Tampering with, removing or damaging clues or property will result in disqualification and/or a fine.
The hunt has 4 stages. Teams are shortlisted after each stage by accuracy and completion time: 20 teams → 12 → 8 → 4 finalists.
The time limit is 90 minutes. Teams that do not reach the treasure within the limit will be ranked by the number of stages cleared.
The first team to complete the final stage and reach the treasure wins. If two teams finish within the same minute, the team that used fewer hints wins.
Staff rooms, laboratories, examination halls and marked out-of-bounds areas are not part of the hunt. Running on staircases or in corridors is not permitted.

APPLIES TO ALL SIX COMPETITIONS

General competition rules.

All participants must be bona fide students of the school they represent and must carry their school ID card.
The festival will be held on 21 and 22 November 2026. Competition-wise timings and venues will be shared with registered schools.
Participants must report at the venue 30 minutes before their scheduled competition.
Registration closes on a date to be confirmed. Entries received after the announced deadline will not be accepted.
Unless stated otherwise in a competition’s rules, a maximum of 2 entries or teams per school per competition will be allowed.
Mobile phones, smart watches, dictionaries, the internet and AI tools of any kind are prohibited during all on-site rounds, except where a competition’s rules expressly permit them.
Plagiarism, unfair means or misconduct towards volunteers, judges, organisers or other participants will lead to immediate disqualification.
The judges’ decision is final and binding in all competitions. No appeals will be entertained.
The organisers reserve the right to amend, reschedule or cancel any competition, and to photograph and publish the event and submitted entries, with credit to the participants.
The competition help-desk contact will be announced. For urgent assistance, call +91 77498 34857.

READY TO TAKE PART?

Claim your place.

Registration is live through the official NCLF form. Fields marked “To be confirmed” will be published by the organising team when finalised.

General competition rules.

All participants must be bona fide students of the school they represent and must carry their school ID card.

The festival will be held on 21 and 22 November 2026. Competition-wise timings and venues will be shared with registered schools.

Participants must report at the venue 30 minutes before their scheduled competition.

Registration closes on a date to be confirmed. Entries received after the announced deadline will not be accepted.

Unless stated otherwise in a competition’s rules, a maximum of 2 entries or teams per school per competition will be allowed.

Mobile phones, smart watches, dictionaries, the internet and AI tools of any kind are prohibited during all on-site rounds, except where a competition’s rules expressly permit them.

Plagiarism, unfair means or misconduct towards volunteers, judges, organisers or other participants will lead to immediate disqualification.

The judges’ decision is final and binding in all competitions. No appeals will be entertained.

The organisers reserve the right to amend, reschedule or cancel any competition, and to photograph and publish the event and submitted entries, with credit to the participants.

The competition help-desk contact will be announced. For urgent assistance, call +91 77498 34857.

Chapter Chase

Everything you need to know.

How the chase works

Rules and progression

General competition rules.

Claim your place.

SEE YOUAT NCLF.

Chapter Chase

Everything you need to know.

How the chase works

Rules and progression

General competition rules.

Claim your place.

SEE YOU
AT NCLF.