Circular Seating Reasoning Puzzle for IBPS PO — 16 Jul 2026
The puzzle
Farhan, Divya, Esha, Jaya, Geeta, Karan, Uma — sit around a round table, all facing the centre — work out the seating order clockwise. Using the clues below, work out the arrangement.
- Jaya does NOT sit next to Uma.
- Geeta does NOT sit next to Karan.
- Divya does NOT sit next to Uma.
- Farhan does NOT sit next to Uma.
- Farhan does NOT sit next to Geeta.
- Farhan does NOT sit next to Divya.
- Karan does NOT sit next to Uma.
- Esha sits immediately to the right of Divya (all facing the centre).
Question: Determine the arrangement.
Reveal the answer
Answer: Divya, Karan, Farhan, Jaya, Geeta, Uma, Esha (clockwise around the table).
- Start: 720 distinct seatings (up to rotation) of 7 people around the table. Fix Divya at seat 1 and count clockwise — only rotations of the same seating differ.
- Clue 8 — "Esha sits immediately to the right of Divya (all facing the centre)." ⇒ Esha → seat 7 (120 possibilities left). Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 1 — "Jaya does NOT sit next to Uma." narrows it to 72 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 2 — "Geeta does NOT sit next to Karan." narrows it to 48 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 3 — "Divya does NOT sit next to Uma." narrows it to 38 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 4 — "Farhan does NOT sit next to Uma." narrows it to 20 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 5 — "Farhan does NOT sit next to Geeta." narrows it to 11 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 6 — "Farhan does NOT sit next to Divya." narrows it to 7 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · Esha
- Clue 7 — "Karan does NOT sit next to Uma." ⇒ Farhan → seat 3, Jaya → seat 4, Geeta → seat 5, Karan → seat 2, Uma → seat 6 (1 possibility left). Table (clockwise from Divya): Divya · Karan · Farhan · Jaya · Geeta · Uma · Esha
- Exactly one seating (up to rotation) survives every clue: Divya, Karan, Farhan, Jaya, Geeta, Uma, Esha clockwise.
How to crack circular seating puzzles faster
- Circular seating has no fixed start — anchor any person first, then place others relative to them.
- "Immediately to the left" in a circle means clockwise-adjacent (when facing the centre).
- "Opposite" in an even-N circle means exactly halfway around the table.
- Draw a rough circle and mark positions as you deduce — visual elimination is faster than mental tracking.
FAQ
What is the seating order in this circular arrangement?
The order clockwise is: Divya, Karan, Farhan, Jaya, Geeta, Uma, Esha. In circular seating, all relative positions are preserved regardless of where you start — the relationship between neighbours is what matters.
How do you solve circular seating arrangement puzzles?
Start by fixing one person, then place others using relative clues (immediately left, opposite, between). In a circle, 'left' means clockwise-adjacent when facing the centre. Work outward from the anchored person.
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This post is one worked example. The topic page for circular seating arrangement carries the full method, the clue-wording table, the mistakes that cost marks and more practice questions.
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