Circular Seating Reasoning Puzzle for IBPS PO — Sanjay, Bhavna, Chetan, Arjun, Tarun, Uma
The puzzle
Sanjay, Bhavna, Chetan, Arjun, Tarun, Uma — sit around a round table, all facing the centre — work out the seating order clockwise. Using the clues below, work out the arrangement.
- Bhavna sits immediately to the right of Tarun (all facing the centre).
- Sanjay sits directly opposite Uma.
- Chetan sits 2nd to the right of Uma (all facing the centre).
- Chetan sits next to Arjun.
Question: Determine the arrangement.
Reveal the answer
Answer: Arjun, Uma, Bhavna, Tarun, Sanjay, Chetan (clockwise around the table).
- Start: 120 distinct seatings (up to rotation) of 6 people around the table.
- Clue 1 — "Bhavna sits immediately to the right of Tarun (all facing the centre)." leaves 24 possibilities.
- Clue 2 — "Sanjay sits directly opposite Uma." leaves 4 possibilities.
- Clue 3 — "Chetan sits 2nd to the right of Uma (all facing the centre)." leaves 1 possibility. The surviving clockwise order is Arjun, Uma, Bhavna, Tarun, Sanjay, Chetan.
- Clue 4 — "Chetan sits next to Arjun." leaves 1 possibility. The surviving clockwise order is Arjun, Uma, Bhavna, Tarun, Sanjay, Chetan.
- Exactly one seating (up to rotation) survives every clue: Arjun, Uma, Bhavna, Tarun, Sanjay, Chetan 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: Arjun, Uma, Bhavna, Tarun, Sanjay, Chetan. 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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