Eight research scholars: Jaya, Komal, Lohit, Manoj, Nikhil, Umesh, Pallavi, and Vibhav.
1) Umesh is sitting third to the left of Manoj.
2) Manoj is second to the left of Jaya.
3) There are only three people between Jaya and Komal.
4) Pallavi is to the immediate right of Jaya.
5) There are only three people between Pallavi and Lohit.
6) Nikhil is sitting opposite Umesh.
The correct sitting arrangement is as follows;
Second to the left of Vaibhav is Jaya.
Second to the left of Jaya is Manoj.
Hence, "Manoj" is the correct answer.