CBSE Class 11 Financial Accounting Chapter 2: Theory Base of Accounting NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 11 PDF

This chapter delves into the fundamental principles and concepts that form the bedrock of accounting. It explains the 'Going Concern' concept, emphasizing the assumption that a business will continue operating indefinitely, which impacts how expenditures are classified into revenue and capital. The 'Revenue Recognition' principle is detailed, outlining when income should be recorded, typically upon sale or establishment of the right to receive income, with exceptions for hire purchase and long-term contracts. The basic accounting equation, Assets = Liabilities + Capital, is presented as the core of double-entry bookkeeping. The chapter also covers the 'Realisation Concept', 'Conservatism', 'Business Entity', 'Dual Aspect', 'Consistency', and 'Money Measurement' concepts, explaining their practical application in financial reporting. These solutions provide clear explanations and examples to help students grasp these essential accounting theories for their exams.

Quick info

BoardCBSE
ClassClass 11
SubjectFinancial Accounting
Session2026
LanguageEnglish
TypeNCERT Solutions
ChapterChapter 2

Chapter summary

Chapter 2 of the CBSE Class 11 Financial Accounting syllabus focuses on the 'Theory Base of Accounting'. It systematically explains key accounting concepts such as Going Concern, Revenue Recognition, Realisation, Conservatism, Business Entity, Dual Aspect, Consistency, and Money Measurement. The solutions clarify the importance of these concepts in preparing accurate financial statements and making informed business decisions, covering short answer questions and practical applications.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the Going Concern concept and its implications.
  • Explain the principle of Revenue Recognition and its exceptions.
  • State and explain the basic accounting equation.
  • Apply the Realisation concept to determine sales recognition.
  • Identify and explain the Conservatism, Business Entity, Dual Aspect, Consistency, and Money Measurement concepts.

Topics covered

Paper topics

  • Going Concern Concept
  • Revenue Recognition Principle
  • Realisation Concept
  • Basic Accounting Equation
  • Conservatism Concept
  • Business Entity Concept
  • Dual Aspect Concept
  • Consistency Concept
  • Money Measurement Concept
  • Capital Expenditure
  • Revenue Expenditure
  • Depreciation

Important topics

  • Going Concern Concept
  • Revenue Recognition Principle
  • Basic Accounting Equation
  • Conservatism Concept
  • Dual Aspect Concept
  • Consistency Concept

PDF preview

Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.

Loading document …
Page of
Loading page …

Questions and Solutions

Q1. Why is it necessary for accountants to assume that business entity will remain a going concern?

Why is it necessary for accountants to assume that business entity will remain a going concern?
Solution: The Going Concern Concept is a fundamental accounting assumption that posits a business entity will continue its operations for an indefinite period into the future. This assumption is vital because it allows accountants to differentiate between expenditures that benefit only the current accounting period (revenue expenditures) and those that provide benefits over multiple periods (capital expenditures). For instance, if a company purchases machinery for Rs 1,00,000 with an expected useful life of 10 years, the entire cost is treated as a capital expenditure. The benefit of this machinery extends beyond one year. Consequently, an annual charge for depreciation, say Rs 10,000, is recognized as a revenue expenditure for each of the 10 years, reflecting the consumption of the asset's economic benefit during that period.

Q2. When should revenue be recognised? Are there exceptions to the general rule?

When should revenue be recognised? Are there exceptions to the general rule?
Solution: Revenue should be recognized when the sale of goods or services occurs, whether the payment is received in cash or on credit, or when the right to receive income from any source is legally established. Revenue is not recognized if payment is received in advance of providing the goods or services, or if the income is earned but not yet receivable. In essence, revenue recognition hinges on the establishment of the right to receive income. For example, if Mr. A sells goods in January and receives payment in February, the revenue is recognized in January because that's when the sale occurred and the right to receive payment was established. However, if Mr. A receives cash in advance in December for goods to be delivered in January, the revenue is recognized in January when the goods are delivered and the sale is made, not in December.

The general rule for revenue recognition has the following exceptions:

  1. Hire Purchase System: In a hire purchase agreement, where goods are sold and paid for in installments, the revenue is recognized as and when the installments are received.
  2. Long-term Construction Contracts: For projects like building dams or highways that span several years, income is recognized proportionally based on the work certified by an independent party during the accounting period, rather than waiting for the entire contract to be completed.

Q3. What is the basic accounting equation?

What is the basic accounting equation?
Solution: The basic accounting equation, which forms the foundation of the double-entry bookkeeping system, is:

Assets = Liabilities + Capital

This equation signifies that the total monetary value of all assets owned by a firm must always be equal to the sum of the total claims against those assets. These claims arise from two sources: external creditors (liabilities) and the owners (capital).

Q4. The realisation concept determines when goods sent on credit to customers are to be included in the sales figure for the purpose of computing the profit or loss for the accounting period. Which of the following tends to be used in practice to determine when to include a transaction in the sales figure for the period. When the goods have been: a. dispatched b. invoiced c. delivered d. paid for. Give reasons for your answer.

The realisation concept determines when goods sent on credit to customers are to be included in the sales figure for the purpose of computing the profit or loss for the accounting period. Which of the following tends to be used in practice to determine when to include a transaction in the sales figure for the period. When the goods have been:

a. dispatched

b. invoiced

c. delivered

d. paid for

Give reasons for your answer.
Solution: In practice, the transaction is typically included in the sales figure when the goods have been b. invoiced.

Reason: According to the realisation concept, revenue is recognized when the right to receive the payment arises. When goods are invoiced, it signifies the formal transfer of ownership of the goods from the seller to the buyer. This act of invoicing creates a legal obligation for the buyer to pay and establishes the seller's right to receive the payment, thus fulfilling the criteria for revenue recognition.

Q5. Complete the following work sheet:

Complete the following work sheet:

(i) If a firm believes that some of its debtors may "default", it should act on this by making sure that all possible losses are recorded in the books. This is an example of the _____ concept.

(ii) The fact that a business is separate and distinguishable from its owner is best exemplified by the _____ concept.

(iii) Everything a firm owns, it also owns out to somebody. This co-incidence is explained by the _____ concept.

(iv) The _____ concept states that if straight line method of depreciation is used in one year, then it should also be used in the next year.

(v) A firm may hold stock which is heavily in demand. Consequently, the market value of this stock may be increased. Normal accounting procedure is to ignore this because of the _____.

(vi) If a firm receives an order for goods, it would not be included in the sales figure owing to the _____.

(vii) The management of a firm is remarkably incompetent, but the firms accountants cannot take this into account while preparing book of accounts because of _____ concept.

Solution:

(i) If a firm believes that some of its debtors may "default", it should act on this by making sure that all possible losses are recorded in the books. This is an example of the conservatism concept.

(ii) The fact that a business is separate and distinguishable from its owner is best exemplified by the business entity concept.

(iii) Everything a firm owns, it also owns out to somebody. This co-incidence is explained by the dual aspect concept.

(iv) The consistency concept states that if straight line method of depreciation is used in one year, then it should also be used in the next year.

(v) A firm may hold stock which is heavily in demand. Consequently, the market value of this stock may be increased. Normal accounting procedure is to ignore this because of the conservatism concept.

(vi) If a firm receives an order for goods, it would not be included in the sales figure owing to the revenue recognition concept.

(vii) The management of a firm is remarkably incompetent, but the firm's accountants cannot take this into account while preparing book of accounts because of the money measurement concept.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing revenue expenditure with capital expenditure.
  • Incorrectly applying the revenue recognition principle.
  • Misinterpreting the scope of the Money Measurement concept.
  • Failing to distinguish between the Business Entity and the owner.

Revision tips

  • Focus on understanding the core logic behind each accounting concept.
  • Practice identifying which concept applies to different business scenarios.
  • Memorize the basic accounting equation and its components.
  • Review the exceptions to the Revenue Recognition principle.

Practice MCQs

Q1. The assumption that a business will continue to operate for the foreseeable future is known as:

Q2. Under which concept is revenue recognized when the right to receive income is established, not necessarily when cash is received?

Q3. Which accounting concept states that 'all possible losses should be recorded, but all possible gains should be ignored until realized'?

Q4. The accounting equation Assets = Liabilities + Capital is based on which concept?

Q5. Which concept ensures that if a particular method of depreciation is used in one year, the same method should be used in subsequent years?

Frequently asked questions

What is the primary purpose of the Going Concern concept in accounting?

The Going Concern concept assumes a business will continue operating indefinitely. This assumption is crucial for classifying expenditures as revenue or capital and for valuing assets over their useful lives.

When is revenue recognized according to the basic accounting principles?

Revenue is generally recognized when a sale takes place (either for cash or on credit) or when the right to receive income is established. It's not recognized when cash is received in advance or when an order is simply received.

What is the fundamental accounting equation?

The fundamental accounting equation is Assets = Liabilities + Capital. It signifies that a firm's total assets are always equal to the sum of its liabilities and owner's capital.

How does the Conservatism concept affect financial reporting?

The Conservatism concept guides accountants to anticipate potential losses but to defer recognition of potential gains until they are realized. This leads to a cautious approach in financial reporting, ensuring assets are not overstated and liabilities are not understated.

Why is the Consistency concept important in accounting?

The Consistency concept ensures that once an accounting method is adopted, it is followed consistently year after year. This enhances the comparability of financial statements over different accounting periods.

What does the Business Entity concept imply?

The Business Entity concept states that a business is treated as a separate and distinct entity from its owners. This means the owner's personal transactions are kept separate from the business's financial records.

Content reviewed by the NCERT Help team. Editorial Team and update policy

NCERT Solutions PDF PDF on NCERT Help. URL unchanged for search indexing.