Blood Relation

Chapter Overview & Core Concepts

Blood Relation questions test your ability to decode familial descriptions, trace relationships across generations, and establish precise links between individuals.

1. Standard Gender Notations

To keep family trees clean and prevent confusion, use standard symbols:

• Square (□) or Plus (+): Male
• Circle (∘) or Minus (−): Female
• Horizontal Double-Line (⟺): Married Couple
• Vertical Line (↓): Parent-to-Child Relationship
• Horizontal Single-Line (−) / Dashed Line: Siblings (Brother/Sister)

2. Generation Hierarchy (The Family Ladder)

Understanding generation gaps is crucial for eliminating incorrect options quickly:

• Grandparents’ Generation: Grandfather, Grandmother, Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother.
• Parents’ Generation: Father, Mother, Uncle, Aunt, Maternal Uncle, Maternal Aunt, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law.
• Self / Peers’ Generation: Self, Brother, Sister, Cousin, Brother-in-law, Sister-in-law, Spouse.
• Children’s Generation: Son, Daughter, Nephew, Niece, Son-in-law, Daughter-in-law.

Key Terminology Rules

• Paternal: Related through the father (e.g., Paternal Uncle = Father’s brother).
• Maternal: Related through the mother (e.g., Maternal Uncle = Mother’s brother / Mama).
• Niece: Brother’s daughter or Sister’s daughter.
• Nephew: Brother’s son or Sister’s son.
• Cousin: Children of paternal or maternal uncles/aunts (Note: Do not use terms like “cousin brother” or “cousin sister”—just “cousin”).

Previous Year Questions:

1. Pointing to a photograph, a woman said, “He is the son of my grandfather’s only son.” How is the man in the photograph related to the woman? (SSC CGL 2025)

(A) Brother
(B) Uncle
(C) Cousin
(D) Father

Answer: (A) Brother

Solution:
Woman’s grandfather’s only son = Woman’s father.
Son of woman’s father = Woman’s brother.

Diagram:

2. 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? (SSC CHSL 2025)

(A) Father
(B) Uncle
(C) Grandfather
(D) Brother

Answer: (B) Uncle

Solution:
A (+) is brother of B (−).
B is sister of C (+). Therefore, A, B, and C are siblings.
C (+) is the father of D (+/−).
Since A is the brother of C (D’s father), A is D’s uncle.

Diagram:

[A (+)] ─── [B (-)] ─── [C (+)] (Father)
                            │
                         [D (+/-)]

3. Introducing a man, a woman said, “His wife is the only daughter of my mother.” How is the woman related to the man? (SSC CPO 2024)

(A) Sister-in-law
(B) Wife
(C) Mother-in-law
(D) Aunt

Answer: (B) Wife

Solution:
Woman’s mother’s only daughter = The woman herself.
Man’s wife is the woman herself.
Therefore, the woman is the man’s wife.

Diagram:

4. A is the father of C, but C is not his son. D is the daughter of C. E is the spouse of A. B is the brother of C. Who is the grandmother of D? (SSC CGL 2024)

(A) A
(B) E
(C) C
(D) Cannot be determined

Answer: (B) E

Solution:
A (+) is father of C. Since C is not his son, C (−) is his daughter.
E (−) is the spouse of A (so E is mother of C).
D is the daughter of C.
Grandmother of D is E (mother of C).

Diagram:

5. If ‘P + Q‘ means ‘P is the mother of Q’, ‘P − Q‘ means ‘P is the wife of Q’, and ‘P × Q‘ means ‘P is the brother of Q’, which of the following equations means ‘A is the maternal uncle of B’? (SSC GD 2024)

(A) A × C + B
(B) A + C × B
(C) A × C − B
(D) A − C × B

Answer: (A) A × C + B

Solution:
A × C means A is the brother of C.
C + B means C is the mother of B.
Therefore, A is the mother’s brother of B, which makes A the maternal uncle of B.

Diagram:

[A (+)] (Brother) ─── [C (-)] (Mother)
                            │
                         [B (+/-)]