Plagiarism and academic integrity – UGC NET Question

Statement C is the only wrong statement because paraphrasing without acknowledging the source is also a form of plagiarism. Statements A, B and D correctly describe plagiarism and the importance of citation and detection tools. Even in ICT-rich environments, ethical norms apply equally to copied and paraphrased material. Therefore, the option that selects only C as wrong is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it treats both A and C as wrong statements. Statement A is a standard description of plagiarism involving unacknowledged copying. Including A in the wrong set denies a basic principle of academic integrity.

Option B:
Option B is incorrect because it groups C and D as wrong statements. While C is false, D is correct in stressing the role of proper referencing in maintaining integrity. Mixing a true statement with a false one makes this option invalid.

Option C:
Option C is correct because it isolates C as the only incorrect statement. It recognises that paraphrasing without citation is still plagiarism and affirms that A, B and D conform to accepted academic norms. This precisely matches the intent of the question.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect because it lists A, C and D as wrong. A and D accurately capture how plagiarism occurs and how referencing combats it. Misclassifying them as wrong shows a misunderstanding of academic ethics.