UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Nigamana is the concluding member of the Nyaya five-part inference in which the original thesis is reasserted as proved. It summarises the effect of hetu, drstanta and upanaya, affirming that the sadhya holds in the paksha. In this way it functions like the conclusion of a Western syllogism. Thus the restated and established thesis described in the stem is called nigamana.

Option A:
Option A, pratijna, is the initial assertion of the thesis before any support is provided. It introduces the claim rather than concluding it.

Option B:
Option B, hetu, supplies the reason or ground for the thesis but is not itself the final summarising statement.

Option C:
Option C, upanaya, applies the universal relation to the paksha, paving the way for the conclusion but not replacing it.

Option D:
Option D is correct because nigamana literally means “drawing together” and marks the completion of the inferential process with a confirmed statement.

Nigamana is the concluding step in which the original pratijna is reiterated as proven in light of the presented hetu, drstanta and upanaya. It summarises the inferential achievement by affirming that the sadhya indeed holds in the paksha. This closure makes the argumentative status of the thesis explicit. Therefore the final member described in the stem is called nigamana.

Option A:
Option A, pratijna, is the initial thesis statement that precedes justification and cannot be the concluding affirmation. It opens rather than closes the argument.

Option B:
Option B, hetu, provides the reason and appears as the second member, offering support but not functioning as the summarising conclusion.

Option C:
Option C, udaharana, gives the general rule with example and is located in the middle of the sequence, not at the end.

Option D:
Option D is correct because nigamana literally means "drawing together" and is reserved for the point at which the argument is brought to a formal close by restating the now-supported claim.