[Commerce Class Notes] on The Indian Partnership Act, 1932 Pdf for Exam

When two or more people come together as partners, they can form a partnership firm. This partnership firm is governed by the rules and regulations of the Indian Partnership Act, 1932. The partnership is also governed by the Indian Contract Act in areas where the Partnership Act, 1932 is silent. Let us have an overview of this act by understanding its meaning, scope, and different kinds of partnerships. 

 

Definition of Partnership

Section 4 of the Indian Partnership Act defines a partnership as “Partnership is the relation between persons who have agreed to share the profits of a business carried on by all or any one of them acting for all”.

 

Meaning of Partnership

In a partnership firm, two or more people come together to carry out a business for the purpose of earning profits and sharing those profits. The partners combine their capital resources and work jointly to carry on the business. According to Section 12 of the Indian Partnership Act, a partnership must be formed for the purpose of carrying a business that is legal in nature. Co-ownership of a property is not considered as a partnership.

 

Essentials of a Partnership

• There must be an agreement between the partners to carry on the business of the partnership firm.

• The aim of the formation of the partnership should be to earn profits and share them among partners. The sharing of profit and losses can either be according to the ratio of the capital contributed by each partner or be equally among all the partners unless otherwise specified.

• The partnership agreement must state that the business will be jointly carried on by all of them or some of them acting on the behalf of all. According to Section 13 of the Partnership Act, 1932, the mutual agency exists between the partners. Every partner in a partnership acts as a principal as well as an agent for other partners. The actions of a partner are binding on the actions of all the other partners.

• Unlimited Liability- The partners can be held liable jointly for any debts of the firm. They have an unlimited liability that extends to their private assets for the disposal of the firm’s debts.

 

Number of Partners in a Partnership

According to the Indian Partnership Act, there is no limit on the maximum number of partners that can be there in partnership but there must be a minimum of two partners. However, according to Companies Act 2013, the maximum number of partners must not exceed 100 in case of a partnership. If the number of members in a partnership exceeds 100 then it is termed as an illegal association as per Section 464 of the Companies Act, 2013. As per Section 11 of the Companies Act, the maximum number of partners for banking purposes is 10 and for other purposes is 10. 

 

Partnership Deed

The partnership agreement forms the basis of a partnership. It is the foundation that creates a legal relationship between the partners to carry out the business of the partnership firm. A partnership agreement can either be written or oral but in the written format it is known as the partnership deed. Some of the details mentioned in a partnership deed are as follows.

• Name and address of the partnership firm as well as that of the business

• Name and address of all the partners

• Rights, duties, and obligation of partners

• Profit and loss sharing ratio

• Capital contribution by each partner

• Rate of interest on capital, loan, drawings 

• Settlement of accounts in the event of the dissolution of the firm

• Mode of settlement in the event of disputes among partners

• Salaries and commission payable to partners

• Rules to be followed in the event of the admission of a new partner, retirement and death of an existing partner

• Any other provisions affecting the rights of the partners

The Indian partnership act of 1932 is an extremely important act that is studied by students in the commerce stream. The Indian partnership act of 1932 is started as a part of the accountancy class 12 NCERT book of accounts This act contains 3 to 4 chapters that are based on the concept of partnership in the firms. These chapters are extremely important as they not only hold significant weightage in the class 12 board examination of accounts but also, the knowledge and the impact are extremely important to have in mind as it will help people who are interested in building a firm to stay vigilant as they will know about all the legal features that are associated with it.

The Indian partnership act of 1932 can be read from the chapter called accounting for partnership – basic concepts 2. After reading the study notes provided by on the topic of the Indian partnership act of 1932, students will be able to define partnership and will also be able to list the essential features They will be able to identify the provisions of the Indian partnership act of 1932 that are related to accounting, they will know how to prepare partners capital accounts under fixed and fluctuating capital methods, repairing the profit and loss appropriation account and partners, calculate interest on capital, they will have knowledge on how guarantee for a minimum account of profit affect the distribution of profit among the partners, they will be able to make adjustments to rectify the past errors, they will also learn how to prepare final accounts of a partnership firm.

According to the Indian partnership act of 1932, a partnership can be defined as a “relation between persons who have agreed to share the profits of a business carried on by all or any of them acting for all’.

People who have entered into a partnership willingly with the knowledge of every other detail relating to the firm are called partners and they collectively form a firm. They agree on a particular name under which the business will be carried on which is called the firm’s name. A partnership firm does not have a separate legal entity other than the partners constituting it. 

Essential Features of a Partnership

Two or More than Two Persons – in order for a firm to come into existence, it should involve two or more than two partners, who have a vested interest in a  common goal. However, according to section 464 of the companies act of 2013, the central government has prescribed a limit on the maximum number of partners a firm can hold. Therefore, According to the central government, the maximum number of partners a firm can hold is 50.

Legal Agreement– Partners who come together to form a firm, already have a mindset that they will be sharing both profits and losses of the firm equally. These agreements, if made orally are valid however it is advised to get these agreements written in a legal form to avoid disputes in the future.

Partners in Business– In order to be partners in business, there should be some business going on in the firm that only then can they be called Business partners and only then can the Indian partnership act of 1932 be applicable to them.

Mutual Agreements – In order for a partnership to take place, a Mutual agreement on the mutual agency is extremely important. Partners of a firm can make rules and bind other partners to it and also bound to the rules that are made by other partners of the firm. Every partner is allowed to make decisions and conduct the affairs of the business according to him/her.