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.

In the five-membered form of Indian inference, nigamana is the concluding statement that reasserts the original thesis after the intervening reasoning has been presented. It summarises the outcome that the sadhya has been established in the paksha. This step formally closes the inferential sequence. Therefore the final step described in the stem is called nigamana.

Option A:
Option A, pratijna, is the initial statement of the thesis to be proved, not its final restatement. It opens the inferential process rather than completing it. Thus pratijna is not the correct answer.

Option B:
Option B, hetu, provides the reason supporting the thesis and appears as the second step in the five-membered structure. While essential to the argument, hetu does not mark the conclusion.

Option C:
Option C, drstanta, gives an example that illustrates the universal connection between hetu and sadhya, such as the kitchen where smoke and fire co-occur. It helps justify vyapti but is not the concluding assertion.

Option D:
Option D is correct because nigamana explicitly names the stage at which the thesis is declared as proven based on the preceding steps. It is structurally analogous to the conclusion in Western syllogistic reasoning.

Nigamana is the concluding member of the Nyaya five-step inference where the original thesis (pratijna) is restated in light of the supporting reasoning. After presenting hetu, drstanta and upanaya, nigamana summarises that the sadhya has been established in the paksha. It functions similarly to the conclusion of a syllogism in Western logic. Therefore the final step described in the stem is called nigamana.

Option A:
Option A, pratijna, is the initial statement of the thesis to be proved, not its final restatement. It opens the inference rather than closing it. Thus it does not fit the description.

Option B:
Option B, hetu, is the reason or ground offered to support the thesis, typically presented as the second member of the inference. It explains why the thesis should be accepted but is distinct from the concluding restatement.

Option C:
Option C, upanaya, is the step that applies the general concomitance shown in the drstanta to the specific paksha, bridging universal and particular. It precedes, rather than replaces, the final conclusion.

Option D:
Option D is correct because nigamana explicitly names the act of drawing together the prior steps into a final, affirmed conclusion. It completes the inferential chain and signals that the argument has achieved its goal.