UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Statements A, B, C, D and E accurately describe the core roles of pakṣa, sādhya, hetu, sapakṣa and vipakṣa, whereas F is false. The hill–smoke–fire example neatly illustrates how these roles work together in an inference. Nyaya insists that the hetu must actually qualify the pakṣa; if the reason is absent there, the inference collapses. Sapakṣa and vipakṣa then help to test the reliability of the connection between hetu and sādhya in other cases. Hence F contradicts a basic requirement of Indian inference theory.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits E, failing to mention the important supporting notions of sapakṣa and vipakṣa that appear in many exam items. While A, B, C and D are correct, they do not fully capture the wider inferential context. Therefore A, B, C and D only is not a complete answer.

Option B:
Option B is wrong as it leaves out A and includes only B, C, D and E. Without A, the definition of pakṣa as the locus of inference is missing, even though it is central to the question. This omission means B, C, D and E only cannot be the correct combination.

Option C:
Option C is correct since it gathers all five true statements and excludes F, which wrongly allows a hetu that does not apply to the pakṣa. It presents the standard structure of Indian inference as taught in UGC NET syllabi. Hence A, B, C, D and E only is the appropriate answer.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B, leaving out the definition of sādhya as the probandum, and includes only A, C, D and E. Without B, the description of the inferential triad is incomplete. As such, this option does not represent all the correct statements.

Hetu is the middle term or reason whose presence in the paksha, together with an established vyapti, justifies the conclusion that the sadhya also occurs there. Smoke functions as such a reason in the famous Nyaya example. Its role is to connect the observed fact on the hill with the unobserved presence of fire. Thus "smoke" in the sentence given is the hetu.

Option A:
Option A, paksha, refers to the subject "hill" and not to the property used as evidence. The hill is where the reasoning is applied, not the reason itself.

Option B:
Option B, sadhya, is the probandum "fiery" which the argument aims to prove; it stands as the conclusion rather than the ground.

Option C:
Option C, vyapti, names the universal connection between smoke and fire but is not identical with the particular instance of smoke on the hill that acts as the hetu.

Option D:
Option D is correct because hetu is precisely characterised as the inferential sign that, when present in the paksha, indicates the presence of the sadhya.