Blood Relations

Key Concepts & Formulas

#ConceptQuick Explanation
1GenerationsIdentify 3 generations: Grandparents (1st), Parents/Siblings (2nd), Children (3rd)
2Gender IndicatorsMale: He, him, father, son, brother, uncle; Female: She, her, mother, daughter, sister, aunt
3Maternal vs PaternalMaternal = Mother’s side; Paternal = Father’s side
4In-law RelationsSpouse’s relatives: Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law
5Coding MethodUse symbols: ↑ = Parent, ↓ = Child, ↔ = Sibling, = = Marriage
6Relationship ChainTrace backwards from unknown to known person: A→B→C→D

10 Practice MCQs

Q1. Pointing to a man, Sunita said, “He is the son of my father’s only son”. How is the man related to Sunita? A) Brother B) Son C) Cousin D) Nephew

Answer: B) Son

Solution:

  • My father’s only son = My brother OR myself (if I’m male)
  • Since Sunita is female (name), my father’s only son = my brother
  • Son of my brother = my son

Shortcut: “Father’s only son” = “My son” (if speaker is mother)

Concept: Blood Relations - Direct relationship identification

Q2. If A is the brother of B; B is the sister of C; and C is the father of D, how is A related to D? A) Uncle B) Father C) Brother D) Grandfather

Answer: A) Uncle

Solution:

  • A → Brother → B → Sister → C → Father → D
  • A and C are siblings
  • A is brother of D’s father = Uncle

Shortcut: Sibling of parent = Uncle/Aunt

Concept: Blood Relations - Chain relationships

Q3. A train driver’s wife is the daughter of your mother’s only brother. How are you related to the train driver? A) Son B) Nephew C) Brother-in-law D) Son-in-law

Answer: D) Son-in-law

Solution:

  • Your mother’s only brother = Your maternal uncle
  • His daughter = Your cousin sister
  • Train driver married to your cousin sister = Your brother-in-law
  • You are his son-in-law (married to his daughter)

Shortcut: Spouse of cousin = Brother/Sister-in-law

Concept: Blood Relations - In-law relationships

Q4. In a railway colony, P is the mother of Q; R is the brother of Q; S is the father of R. How is P related to S? A) Wife B) Sister C) Daughter D) Mother

Answer: A) Wife

Solution:

  • P → Mother → Q
  • R → Brother → Q (same parents)
  • Therefore, P is mother of R
  • S is father of R
  • P and S are parents of R = Husband and Wife

Shortcut: Common child = Husband-Wife relationship

Concept: Blood Relations - Parental relationships

Q5. A station master said, “She is the daughter of my grandmother’s only child”. How is the girl related to the station master? A) Sister B) Daughter C) Niece D) Aunt

Answer: A) Sister

Solution:

  • My grandmother’s only child = My parent (father/mother)
  • Daughter of my parent = My sister

Shortcut: “Grandmother’s only child” = “My parent”

Concept: Blood Relations - Single child relationships

Q6. In a train crew, X and Y are brothers; R is the father of X; S is the sister of Y’s mother. How is S related to R? A) Wife B) Sister C) Sister-in-law D) Mother

Answer: C) Sister-in-law

Solution:

  • X and Y are brothers → Same parents
  • R is father of X → R is father of Y
  • Y’s mother = R’s wife
  • S is sister of Y’s mother = Sister of R’s wife
  • Sister of wife = Sister-in-law

Shortcut: Sibling of spouse = Sister/Brother-in-law

Concept: Blood Relations - Extended in-law relationships

Q7. A railway employee said, “The man’s mother is my mother’s only daughter-in-law”. How is the railway employee related to the man? A) Father B) Uncle C) Grandfather D) Brother

Answer: A) Father

Solution:

  • My mother’s only daughter-in-law = My wife
  • Man’s mother = My wife
  • Therefore, I am the man’s father

Shortcut: “Mother’s daughter-in-law” = “My wife”

Concept: Blood Relations - Generation gap analysis

Q8. In a railway family, A is the father of B, but B is not A’s son. C is the daughter of B and wife of D. E is the brother of C’s mother. How is E related to D? A) Father-in-law B) Brother-in-law C) Uncle D) Grandfather

Answer: B) Brother-in-law

Solution:

  • A is father of B, but B is not son = B is daughter
  • C is daughter of B = Granddaughter of A
  • E is brother of C’s mother (B) = Brother of B
  • D is married to C, so D is son-in-law of B
  • E is brother of B = Brother-in-law of D

Shortcut: Brother of spouse’s parent = Uncle, but here it’s brother-in-law

Concept: Blood Relations - Complex gender identification

Q9. A train guard has 3 children. The guard’s son is the father of X, who is the nephew of Y, who is the guard’s daughter. How is Y related to X? A) Aunt B) Mother C) Sister D) Cousin

Answer: A) Aunt

Solution:

  • Guard’s son = Father of X
  • X is nephew of Y → Y is aunt/uncle of X
  • Y is guard’s daughter = Sister of X’s father
  • Therefore, Y is aunt of X

Shortcut: Nephew relationship → Aunt/Uncle relationship

Concept: Blood Relations - Nephew-niece relationships

Q10. In a railway workshop family, P’s father’s only sister’s only son is Q. Q’s mother’s only brother’s wife is R. R’s only daughter’s husband is S. How is S related to P? A) Brother-in-law B) Uncle C) Cousin D) No relation

Answer: A) Brother-in-law

Solution:

  • P’s father’s only sister = P’s aunt
  • Her only son Q = P’s cousin brother
  • Q’s mother’s only brother = Q’s maternal uncle
  • His wife R = Q’s aunt
  • R’s only daughter = Q’s cousin sister
  • Her husband S = Q’s brother-in-law
  • S is also P’s brother-in-law (married to P’s cousin sister)

Shortcut: Trace through each relationship step-by-step

Concept: Blood Relations - Multiple generation chain

5 Previous Year Questions

PYQ 1. Pointing to a photograph, a railway TC said, “She is the daughter of my grandfather’s only son”. How is the man related to the girl? RRB NTPC 2021 CBT-1

Answer: Brother

Solution:

  • My grandfather’s only son = My father
  • Daughter of my father = My sister
  • Therefore, man is brother of the girl

Exam Tip: “Only son” always means single child - no brothers

PYQ 2. A is B’s sister. C is B’s mother. D is C’s father. E is D’s mother. How is A related to D? RRB Group D 2022

Answer: Granddaughter

Solution:

  • A → Sister → B
  • C → Mother → B (and A)
  • D → Father → C
  • E → Mother → D
  • A is child of C, C is child of D
  • A is granddaughter of D

Exam Tip: Draw vertical family tree for clarity

PYQ 3. If X is the brother of the son of Y’s son, how is X related to Y? RRB ALP 2018

Answer: Grandson

Solution:

  • Y’s son = Son of Y
  • Son of Y’s son = Grandson of Y
  • Brother of grandson = Another grandson
  • X is grandson of Y

Exam Tip: Work backwards from the relationship

PYQ 4. A railway engineer has no brothers. His mother is the daughter of X. X is the husband of Y. Y is the grandmother of the engineer. How is X related to the engineer? RRB JE 2019

Answer: Maternal grandfather

Solution:

  • Engineer has no brothers → Only child or has sisters
  • Mother is daughter of X → X is maternal grandfather
  • X is husband of Y → Y is grandmother
  • X is maternal grandfather of engineer

Exam Tip: “No brothers” confirms maternal/paternal line

PYQ 5. In a railway station, P is the father of Q but Q is not his son. R is the spouse of P. S is the brother of Q. T is the sister of S. How is T related to R? RPF SI 2019

Answer: Daughter

Solution:

  • P is father of Q, Q is not son = Q is daughter
  • R is spouse of P = Mother of Q
  • S is brother of Q = Son of P and R
  • T is sister of S = Daughter of P and R
  • T is daughter of R

Exam Tip: Gender clues (“not his son”) are crucial

Speed Tricks & Shortcuts

SituationShortcutExample
“Only son/daughter”Always means single child“My father’s only son” = Me
“Mother’s only brother”Maternal uncleNo other maternal uncles
“Spouse’s sibling”Brother/Sister-in-lawWife’s brother = Brother-in-law
“Nephew/Niece”Child of siblingBrother’s son = Nephew
“Grandfather’s child”ParentGrandfather’s only child = Parent

Common Mistakes to Avoid

MistakeWhy Students Make ItCorrect Approach
Ignoring gender cluesAssuming all relationships are maleLook for “he/she”, “son/daughter”
Skipping generationsMissing intermediate relationshipsWrite down each generation
Confusing in-lawsMixing blood and marriage relationsUse different symbols for marriage
Wrong directionTracing forward instead of backwardAlways trace from known to unknown
Overlooking “only”Missing single child information“Only” = No siblings

Quick Revision Flashcards

Front (Question/Term)Back (Answer)
Paternal UncleFather’s brother
Maternal AuntMother’s sister
Brother-in-lawSister’s husband OR Wife’s brother
Nuclear familyParents + children
Extended familyIncluding grandparents, uncles, aunts
ConsanguinityBlood relations
AffinityRelations by marriage
LinealDirect line (grandparent-parent-child)
CollateralSide relations (uncle, aunt, cousin)
Generation gapDifference of one generation = 25-30 years

Topic Connections

  • Direct Link: Seating Arrangement - Family members sitting in order
  • Combined Questions: Puzzle Test - Blood relations mixed with age/occupation
  • Foundation For: Data Sufficiency - Determining relationships from given clues