UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Nirvikalpa pratyaksha is characterised as a bare awareness of an object without recognition of its name, class or properties. It is prior to judgment and conceptual articulation. Nyaya holds that such a stage precedes determinate cognition in the perceptual process. Therefore the indeterminate perception mentioned in the stem is nirvikalpa pratyaksha.

Option A:
Option A is correct because nirvikalpa literally means “without differentiation,” capturing the non-conceptual nature of this awareness. It is a subtle epistemic stage discussed by Indian logicians.

Option B:
Option B, savikalpa, is determinate perception that includes classification and predication, such as “this is a cow.” It does not fit the content of being free from relational details.

Option C:
Option C, laukika, refers to ordinary perception via external senses and can be either determinate or indeterminate; it is not defined specifically by the absence of conceptualisation.

Option D:
Option D, alaukika, denotes extraordinary perception beyond normal sense contact, such as yogic or universal perception, which is a different distinction from determinate versus indeterminate.