Order and Ranking Reasoning Puzzle for IBPS PO — Bhavna, Geeta, Imran, Harsh, Tarun, Isha
The puzzle
Bhavna, Geeta, Imran, Harsh, Tarun, Isha — are ranked from 1 (highest) to 6 (lowest) — work out each person's exact rank. Using the clues below, work out the arrangement.
- Tarun and Isha are NOT ranked next to each other.
- Geeta is ranked neither FIRST nor LAST.
- Geeta and Tarun are NOT ranked next to each other.
- Geeta and Imran are NOT ranked next to each other.
- Geeta and Isha are NOT ranked next to each other.
- Isha is ranked neither FIRST nor LAST.
- Bhavna is ranked immediately above Tarun.
- Imran and Harsh are NOT ranked next to each other.
Question: Determine the arrangement.
Reveal the answer
Answer: Imran, Isha, Harsh, Geeta, Bhavna, Tarun (rank 1 = highest, down to rank 6 = lowest).
- Start: 720 possible rankings of 6 people.
- Clue 7 — "Bhavna is ranked immediately above Tarun." narrows it to 120 possibilities.
- Clue 2 — "Geeta is ranked neither FIRST nor LAST." narrows it to 72 possibilities.
- Clue 6 — "Isha is ranked neither FIRST nor LAST." narrows it to 36 possibilities.
- Clue 1 — "Tarun and Isha are NOT ranked next to each other." narrows it to 28 possibilities.
- Clue 3 — "Geeta and Tarun are NOT ranked next to each other." narrows it to 20 possibilities.
- Clue 4 — "Geeta and Imran are NOT ranked next to each other." narrows it to 11 possibilities.
- Clue 5 — "Geeta and Isha are NOT ranked next to each other." ⇒ Bhavna → rank 5 (5th from top), Geeta → rank 4 (4th from top), Imran → rank 1 (top), Harsh → rank 3 (3rd from top), Tarun → rank 6 (bottom), Isha → rank 2 (2nd from top) (1 possibility left).
- Exactly one ranking survives every clue — that is the answer.
How to crack order & ranking puzzles faster
- "Ranked higher" means a smaller rank number — rank 1 outranks rank 2. Fix that direction before anything else.
- Lock the anchors first — "exactly k-th from the top/bottom" fixes a rank instantly.
- "Exactly k people between" gives a fixed gap — try it at each valid pair of ranks.
- Treat it as a row: write ranks 1 to N on paper and fill names as each clue eliminates possibilities.
FAQ
Who is ranked highest in this puzzle?
Imran holds rank 1 (highest). The full order from rank 1 to rank 6: Imran, Isha, Harsh, Geeta, Bhavna, Tarun.
How do you solve order and ranking puzzles for bank exams?
Fix direct rank anchors first (k-th from the top/bottom), then apply relative clues (higher/lower, immediately above, exactly k between). Remember rank 1 is the highest — 'higher than' means a smaller rank number. Eliminate until one order satisfies every clue.
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