Aman, Billu and Sonu were partners in a firm sharing profits and loss…

Aman, Billu and Sonu were partners in a firm sharing profits and losses in the ratio of 2 : 2 : 1. Sonu was guaranteed that her share of profit will not be less than Rs. 25,000. The firm's profit for the year ending on 31st March, 2025 was Rs. 1,00,000. The amount of deficiency to be borne by Aman was:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 3

The correct answer is Option (3) → Rs. 2,500

Note 1: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, the question does not say who gave the guarantee to Sonu, and with that reading Option (2) could also be a possible answer, as explained below.

When a partner is guaranteed a minimum profit, the shortfall is borne by the other partners in their profit sharing ratio, unless the agreement says otherwise.

Sonu’s share = 1/5 × Rs. 1,00,000 = Rs. 20,000
Guaranteed amount = Rs. 25,000
Deficiency = Rs. 25,000 − Rs. 20,000 = Rs. 5,000
Borne by Aman and Billu in 2 : 2, so each bears Rs. 2,500
Aman’s share of the deficiency = Rs. 2,500

Option (1) Rs. 37,500 — Incorrect. Aman’s share is 2/5, and the deficiency is only Rs. 5,000, so his part of it can never reach Rs. 37,500.

Option (2) Rs. 5,000 — Should also be correct, though not the answer given by NTA. If Aman alone had given Sonu the guarantee, he would bear the whole deficiency of Rs. 5,000.

Option (3) Rs. 2,500 — Correct. With the guarantee given by Aman and Billu together, the Rs. 5,000 is shared in their ratio 2 : 2, so Aman bears Rs. 2,500.

Option (4) Rs. 1,250 — Incorrect. This would be a quarter of the deficiency; with two partners bearing it equally, each bears half.

Note 2: NTA picked this question from an NCERT (2026-27) illustration and changed the figures. Do not ignore NCERT while practising numericals.

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Guarantee of Profit to a Partner – “Sometimes a partner is admitted into the firm with a guarantee of certain minimum amount by way of his share of profits of the firm. Such assurance may be given by all the old partners in a certain ratio or by any of the old partners, individually to the new partner.”

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Guarantee of Profit to a Partner – “… For example, Madhulika and Rakshita, who are partners in a firm decide to admit Kanishka into their firm, giving her the guarantee of a minimum of Rs.25,000 as her share in firm’s profits. The firm earned a profit of Rs.1,20,000 during the year and the agreed profit sharing ratio between the partners is decided as 2:3:1. As per this ratio, Madhulika’s share in profit comes to Rs.40,000 (2/6 of Rs. 1,20,000); Rakshita, Rs. 60,000 (3/6 of Rs. 1,20,000) and Kanishka Rs. 20,000 (1/6 of Rs. 1,20,000). The share of Kanishka works out to be Rs.5,000 short of the guaranteed amount. This shall be borne by the guaranteeing partners Madhulika and Rakshita in their profit sharing ratio, which in this case is 2:3, Madhulika’s share in the deficiency comes to Rs.2,000 (2/5 of Rs. 5,000), and that of Rakshita Rs.3,000.”

NCERT (2026-27 edition):
Guarantee of Profit to a Partner – “… If only one partner gives the guarantee, say in the above case, only Rakshita gives the guarantee, the whole amount of deficiency (Rs.5,000) will be borne by her only.”