An application was received by an inward clerk in the afternoon of a weekday. Next day he forwarded it to the table of the senior clerk, who was on leave that day. The senior clerk next day evening put up the application to the desk officer. The desk officer studied the application and disposed of the matter on the same day, i.e., Friday. Which day was the application received by the inward clerk?

Let's track the timeline backwards from the final day:
1. The matter was disposed of by the desk officer on Friday.
2. The senior clerk put up the application to the desk officer on "next day evening" after his leave, meaning he did this on Friday.
3. The senior clerk was on leave the previous day when it reached his table, which means his leave day was Thursday.
4. The inward clerk forwarded it to the senior clerk's table on the "Next day", which means the forwarding day was Thursday.
5. Therefore, the inward clerk originally received the application on the previous day, which was Wednesday.