Q.The Current Ratio of Megh Raj Ltd. is 1·5 : 1. Which of the following transactions will reduce the ratio ? (A) Sale of furniture of ₹ 18,000 at a loss of ₹ 2,000 (B) Goods purchased on credit ₹ 75,000 (C) Sale of goods costing ₹ 60,000 for ₹ 80,000 (D) Payment of trade payables ₹ 40,000
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →The transaction that will reduce the Current Ratio (from 1.5:1) is (B) Goods purchased on credit ₹ 75,000, because it increases current assets and current liabilities by the same amount, which lowers a ratio greater than 1:1.
Concept First: Why the Current Ratio Changes
The Current Ratio is Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities. Megh Raj Ltd. has a ratio of 1.5:1 — meaning for every ₹1 of current liability, the firm holds ₹1.50 of current assets. This is a ratio greater than 1:1.
Here is the key rule you must remember:
When a ratio is greater than 1:1, adding an equal amount to both numerator (current assets) and denominator (current liabilities) reduces the ratio. When a ratio is less than 1:1, the same transaction increases the ratio.
Why? Think of it as a fraction. If you have 3/2 = 1.5, and you add 1 to both top and bottom, you get 4/3 ≈ 1.33 — which is smaller. The same logic applies to any transaction that increases both current assets and current liabilities by the same rupee amount.
Now let us examine each option.
Analysing Each Transaction
Option (A): Sale of furniture of ₹ 18,000 at a loss of ₹ 2,000
Furniture is a non-current asset (fixed asset). Selling it converts it into cash (a current asset). The book value of the furniture is ₹ 20,000 (since loss of ₹ 2,000 on sale of ₹ 18,000 means cost was ₹ 20,000).
- Effect on Current Assets: Cash increases by ₹ 18,000.
- Effect on Current Liabilities: No change.
- Effect on Current Ratio: Numerator increases, denominator unchanged → Ratio increases.
So (A) does not reduce the ratio.
Option (B): Goods purchased on credit ₹ 75,000
- Effect on Current Assets: Inventory (stock) increases by ₹ 75,000.
- Effect on Current Liabilities: Trade payables (creditors) increase by ₹ 75,000.
- Effect on Current Ratio: Both numerator and denominator increase by the same amount (₹ 75,000). Since the original ratio is 1.5:1 (>1:1), this reduces the ratio.
Let us verify with numbers. Suppose original current assets = ₹ 1,50,000 and current liabilities = ₹ 1,00,000 (ratio = 1.5:1). After the transaction:
Current assets = ₹ 1,50,000 + ₹ 75,000 = ₹ 2,25,000
Current liabilities = ₹ 1,00,000 + ₹ 75,000 = ₹ 1,75,000
New ratio = 2,25,000 ÷ 1,75,000 = 1.2857:1 — which is lower than 1.5:1.
So (B) reduces the ratio.
A common mistake is to think that any increase in current liabilities reduces the ratio. That is only true if current assets do not also increase. Here, both increase equally, so the effect depends on whether the original ratio is above or below 1:1.
Option (C): Sale of goods costing ₹ 60,000 for ₹ 80,000
This is a credit sale (or cash sale — either way, the effect is the same on current assets and liabilities).
- Effect on Current Assets:
- Inventory decreases by ₹ 60,000 (cost of goods sold).
- Debtors (or cash) increase by ₹ 80,000 (sale price).
- Net increase in current assets = ₹ 80,000 – ₹ 60,000 = ₹ 20,000.
- Effect on Current Liabilities: No change (assuming no credit purchase involved). …
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