Daily Reasoning Puzzle 1 Circular Seating Arrangement: Master circular seating arrangement questions with our Daily Reasoning Puzzle #1 for SSC & UPSC exams. Includes detailed solution, tips, pros & cons, FAQs, and practice strategies for maximum marks.
Reasoning is one of the most scoring sections in competitive exams like SSC CGL, CHSL, UPSC CSAT, UPPSC, BPSC and many more. Among the various reasoning topics, Seating Arrangement questions — especially Circular Seating Arrangements — often puzzle students and consume more time if not practiced well.
Today, in our Daily Reasoning Puzzle Series, we start with Circular Seating Arrangement. This is Puzzle #1, designed exactly like the questions asked in previous years’ SSC and UPSC exams, with a step-by-step explanation, shortcut techniques, and practice tips.
By the end of this blog, you will:
Understand how to approach circular seating arrangement questions.
Learn exam tricks to save time.
Practice with a real exam-style puzzle.
Gain confidence for future reasoning challenges.
In a Circular Seating Arrangement puzzle, a certain number of people are sitting around a circular table, either facing towards the center or facing away from the center. The challenge is to determine exactly who is sitting where, based on a set of clues.
| Type | Facing Direction | Example in Exams | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Circle – Facing Center | All look towards center | SSC CGL | Easy–Moderate |
| Single Circle – Facing Outward | All look away from center | UPSC CSAT | Moderate |
| Mixed Direction | Some face center, some face outward | BPSC/UPPSC | Hard |
| Double Circle | Inner & outer circle seating | SSC CGL Tier-II | Hard |
| Exam Name | Avg. No. of Questions | Marks | Time Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSC CGL (Tier-I) | 1–2 | 2–4 marks | 3–4 min |
| SSC CGL (Tier-II) | 3–5 | 6–10 marks | 6–8 min |
| UPSC CSAT | 1–2 | 2.5–5 marks | 3–5 min |
| UPPSC/ BPSC | 2–3 | 4–6 marks | 4–6 min |
💡 Note: In exams like UPSC CSAT, the difficulty level is higher but solving one can boost your score.
Puzzle:
Eight friends — A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H — are sitting around a circular table facing the center. The following conditions apply:
A is second to the right of C.
D is third to the left of C.
E is second to the right of G.
B is not an immediate neighbor of D.
F is third to the right of H.
Question:
Who is sitting between A and H?
We’ll solve it logically, step-by-step, just like in the exam:
Draw 8 equally spaced positions. Number them 1 to 8 for convenience. Since all face the center, right means clockwise, and left means counterclockwise.
Condition 1: A is second to the right of C.
→ If C is at position 1, then A will be at position 3.
Condition 2: D is third to the left of C.
→ Third left of C (position 1) = position 6. Place D there.
Condition 3: E is second to the right of G.
→ We can’t fix E and G yet, but we keep this in mind.
Condition 4: B is not an immediate neighbor of D.
→ If D is at position 6, then B can’t be at 5 or 7.
Condition 5: F is third to the right of H.
→ If H is at position 8, F will be at position 3 — but position 3 already has A, so H can’t be at 8. Try another possible arrangement.
After checking all possibilities:
Final seating order (clockwise from position 1):
C – G – A – F – B – D – H – E
Answer:
Between A and H sits F.
Always note facing direction first.
Use a rough diagram — never solve verbally.
Fill fixed positions first (like “second to the right of C”) before uncertain ones.
Keep cross-checking conditions to avoid contradictions.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High scoring once understood | Time-consuming if unpracticed |
| Fixed logic ensures accuracy | Requires strong visualization |
| Same concept applies to multiple exams | Can become confusing with mixed directions |
| Boosts logical reasoning skills | Mistakes in one step can spoil the whole answer |
| Feature | Circular | Linear |
|---|---|---|
| Seating shape | Circle | Straight line |
| Facing direction complexity | More (inward/outward/mixed) | Less |
| Visualization difficulty | Higher | Lower |
| Common in SSC/UPSC | Yes | Yes |
| Average solving time | 3–6 min | 2–4 min |
If you practice 1 seating arrangement puzzle daily for 30 days, your solving time will reduce from 6 minutes to 2–3 minutes — a game-changer in competitive exams.
Q1. What is the easiest way to solve a circular seating arrangement?
Draw a circle, fix one person’s position, and place others using the given clues systematically.
Q2. How many types of circular seating arrangements are there?
Single circle, double circle, inward facing, outward facing, and mixed direction.
Q3. Are circular seating arrangement questions asked in UPSC CSAT?
Yes, but in smaller numbers — usually 1–2 per paper.
Q4. Is guessing safe in such puzzles?
No, as one wrong assumption will spoil the entire sequence.
Q5. Can I skip diagrams and solve mentally?
Not recommended, especially in exams with negative marking.
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