UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

Upanaya explicitly connects the general vyapti exemplified in the drstanta with the paksha by affirming that the hetu occurs in the subject in the same way as in the example. This shows that the subject falls under the scope of the universal rule. It prepares the ground for the final conclusion that the sadhya is present in the paksha. Hence the step described in the stem is called upanaya.

Option A:
Option A, udaharana, states the general rule along with the illustrative example but does not yet link that rule to the specific paksha. It functions earlier in the sequence to establish vyapti.

Option B:
Option B, nigamana, is the final conclusion that restates the thesis as established after upanaya has been made. It is the outcome rather than the application step.

Option C:
Option C is correct because upanaya literally means "leading towards" and signifies bringing the paksha under the general relation, which is exactly what the stem describes.

Option D:
Option D, pratijna, introduces the thesis at the beginning of the argument and does not perform the explicit application of the rule to the subject.