Circular Seating Reasoning Puzzle for IBPS PO — 28 Oct 2026
The puzzle
Sanjay, Imran, Lata, Isha, Bhavna, Sneha, Rahul — 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 next to Sneha.
- Isha sits immediately to the left of Bhavna (all facing the centre).
- Imran sits immediately to the left of Rahul (all facing the centre).
- Exactly 2 people sit between Sanjay and Rahul (the shorter way).
- Exactly 1 person sits between Lata and Sneha (the shorter way).
Question: Determine the arrangement.
Reveal the answer
Answer: Bhavna, Isha, Rahul, Imran, Lata, Sanjay, Sneha (clockwise around the table).
- Start: 720 distinct seatings (up to rotation) of 7 people around the table. Fix Bhavna at seat 1 and count clockwise — only rotations of the same seating differ.
- Clue 2 — "Isha sits immediately to the left of Bhavna (all facing the centre)." ⇒ Isha → seat 2 (120 possibilities left). Table (clockwise from Bhavna): Bhavna · Isha · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 3 — "Imran sits immediately to the left of Rahul (all facing the centre)." narrows it to 24 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Bhavna): Bhavna · Isha · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 4 — "Exactly 2 people sit between Sanjay and Rahul (the shorter way)." narrows it to 8 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Bhavna): Bhavna · Isha · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 5 — "Exactly 1 person sits between Lata and Sneha (the shorter way)." ⇒ Sanjay → seat 6, Imran → seat 4, Rahul → seat 3 (2 possibilities left). Table (clockwise from Bhavna): Bhavna · Isha · Rahul · Imran · _ · Sanjay · _
- Clue 1 — "Bhavna sits next to Sneha." ⇒ Lata → seat 5, Sneha → seat 7 (1 possibility left). Table (clockwise from Bhavna): Bhavna · Isha · Rahul · Imran · Lata · Sanjay · Sneha
- Exactly one seating (up to rotation) survives every clue: Bhavna, Isha, Rahul, Imran, Lata, Sanjay, Sneha 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: Bhavna, Isha, Rahul, Imran, Lata, Sanjay, Sneha. 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.
Learn the method for this puzzle type
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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