Given below are two statements:

Statement I: The aim of Naiyāyikas in formulating the anumāna theory is to obtain pramā (right knowledge).
Statement II: The aim of Naiyāyikas in formulating the anumāna theory is to verify only and only formal validity.

In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

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Correct option is C

Statement I is true but Statement II is false

• Statement I is true because the Naiyāyikas (followers of the Nyaya school of philosophy) formulated the theory of anumāna (inference) to arrive at pramā (right knowledge). According to Naiyāyikas, inference is one of the key means to acquire valid knowledge (pramā) by drawing conclusions based on the relationship between the premises and the conclusion.

• Statement II is false because while the anumāna theory is focused on verifying valid knowledge, it does not merely focus on verifying formal validity. The goal of anumāna is to verify the substantive truth of the knowledge being inferred, not just the formal structure of the inference. The theory aims to ensure that the inference leads to correct knowledge based on valid premises and logical reasoning.