Six persons A, B, C, D, E and F are sitting equidistant from each other around a circular table (facing the centre of the table).
Consider the Question and two Statements given below:
- Question: Who is sitting on the immediate left of A?
- Statement–1: B is sitting opposite to C and D is sitting opposite to E.
- Statement–2: F is sitting on the immediate left of B.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the Question and the Statements?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) Both Statement–1 and Statement–2 are not sufficient to answer the Question
Together the statements fix A opposite F, B next to F and C opposite B, which settles who is on A’s right (C) but not on A’s left: that seat can hold D or E. So even both statements are not sufficient.
- Statement–2 alone says nothing about A’s neighbours. Not sufficient.
- Statement–1 alone: with B–C and D–E opposite, A and F must be opposite each other, but A’s neighbours are still open. Not sufficient.
- Together: number the seats 1 to 6 clockwise with A at 1, so F is at 4. For people facing the centre, the immediate left is the next seat clockwise. F on B’s immediate left puts B at 3, and C (opposite B) at 6.
- D and E take seats 2 and 5 in either order. A’s immediate left is seat 2, which can be D or E.
- So both statements together are still not sufficient. (With the opposite left–right convention the picture is only mirrored, and A’s left is again D or E.)
Remember · In seating data sufficiency, draw the combined arrangement and look for a pair of people who can still swap.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2022, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·