Circular Seating Reasoning Puzzle for IBPS PO — 13 Nov 2026
The puzzle
Aditi, Tanvi, Manish, Karan, Sneha, Pooja, Bhavna — sit around a round table, all facing the centre — work out the seating order clockwise. Using the clues below, work out the arrangement.
- Aditi does NOT sit next to Bhavna.
- Sneha sits next to Pooja.
- Exactly 2 people sit between Aditi and Manish (the shorter way).
- Sneha sits next to Bhavna.
- Bhavna sits 3rd to the left of Tanvi (all facing the centre).
- Exactly 2 people sit between Karan and Pooja (the shorter way).
Question: Determine the arrangement.
Reveal the answer
Answer: Aditi, Tanvi, Karan, Manish, Bhavna, Sneha, Pooja (clockwise around the table).
- Start: 720 distinct seatings (up to rotation) of 7 people around the table. Fix Aditi at seat 1 and count clockwise — only rotations of the same seating differ.
- Clue 5 — "Bhavna sits 3rd to the left of Tanvi (all facing the centre)." narrows it to 120 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Aditi): Aditi · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 3 — "Exactly 2 people sit between Aditi and Manish (the shorter way)." narrows it to 48 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Aditi): Aditi · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 6 — "Exactly 2 people sit between Karan and Pooja (the shorter way)." narrows it to 24 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Aditi): Aditi · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 2 — "Sneha sits next to Pooja." narrows it to 8 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Aditi): Aditi · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 4 — "Sneha sits next to Bhavna." narrows it to 2 possibilities. Table (clockwise from Aditi): Aditi · _ · _ · _ · _ · _ · _
- Clue 1 — "Aditi does NOT sit next to Bhavna." ⇒ Tanvi → seat 2, Manish → seat 4, Karan → seat 3, Sneha → seat 6, Pooja → seat 7, Bhavna → seat 5 (1 possibility left). Table (clockwise from Aditi): Aditi · Tanvi · Karan · Manish · Bhavna · Sneha · Pooja
- Exactly one seating (up to rotation) survives every clue: Aditi, Tanvi, Karan, Manish, Bhavna, Sneha, Pooja 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: Aditi, Tanvi, Karan, Manish, Bhavna, Sneha, Pooja. 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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