UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

A, B and C correctly describe variations in pramāṇa lists across schools, and E reflects a common exam question pattern. D is false because Cārvāka is generally sceptical and does not accept Nyaya’s full set, rejecting scriptural authority. Thus A, B, C and E only are correct.

Option A:
Option A is correct because it includes all true statements and excludes D (false about Cārvāka).

Option B:
Option B is incomplete because it omits E (exam pattern).

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes D (false) and omits A (Nyaya four).

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it omits B (arthāpatti) and includes D (false).

Statements A, B, C, E and F are correct, whereas D is false. Nyaya recognises four main pramāṇas, and Advaita Vedānta typically extends the list to six, adding arthāpatti and anupalabdhi. Cārvāka is famous for its near-exclusive reliance on perception, and Mīmāṃsā highlights arthāpatti as a distinct means of knowledge. F is right that different schools endorse different sets of pramāṇas, but D is wrong because Buddhist schools do not simply duplicate Nyaya’s list. Therefore A, B, C, E and F only is the correct combination.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits F, failing to emphasise the cross-school variation in pramāṇa theory, which is central for comparative questions. While A, B, C and E are true, leaving out F makes the portrayal less accurate. Thus A, B, C and E only cannot be accepted.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it includes D (which is false) and omits E and F (which are true). Therefore it does not match the full set of correct statements A, B, C, E and F.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it explicitly groups A, B, C, E and F, capturing both specific school positions and the general fact of variation. It excludes D, which oversimplifies Buddhist pramāṇa theory. This reflects the nuanced picture expected in UGC NET questions on Indian epistemology.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect as it includes D while omitting A, thereby accepting a false uniformity of Buddhist and Nyaya pramāṇas and ignoring Nyaya’s own list. The combination therefore contradicts well-known doctrinal differences. Hence B, C, D, E and F only cannot be chosen.

Statements A, B, D and F are correct, whereas C and E are false. Nyaya recognises four independent pramāṇas and treats comparison as a distinct source of knowledge based on similarity linking a word to its object. Mīmāṃsā and some Vedānta schools add arthāpatti and anupalabdhi, so D is correct. Cārvāka famously restricts itself mainly to perception and is sceptical about other pramāṇas, so E is wrong, and Nyaya extends verbal testimony beyond scripture to reliable persons generally, making C false. UGC NET questions often ask candidates to identify which items belong to Nyaya’s list.

Option A:
Option A is incomplete because it omits F, failing to mention the exam-style use of pramāṇa lists. While A, B and D correctly state Nyaya and Mīmāṃsā positions, they do not capture how this knowledge is tested. Therefore A, B and D only is not a fully satisfactory answer.

Option B:
Option B is correct as it includes A, B, D and F, the statements that align with standard presentations of Nyaya and related schools and that reflect the structure of UGC NET questions. It excludes C and E, both of which misrepresent the scope of verbal testimony and the Cārvāka position. Thus this option accurately lists the correct statements.

Option C:
Option C is wrong because it omits A, leaving out the basic statement of Nyaya’s four pramāṇas, and includes only B, D and F. Without A, the picture of Nyaya epistemology is incomplete. Hence B, D and F only cannot be the right combination.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it includes C, which wrongly restricts Nyaya śabda to scripture alone, and omits F’s contribution in other contexts. The presence of C introduces a clear error, making A, B, C, D and F only an unacceptable choice.