In Tally accounting software, which keyboard shortcut is commonly used to quit from the current screen or company without saving changes?

Introduction / Context:
Tally is one of the most widely used accounting software packages in India. Many job interviews for accounting roles include basic questions about Tally shortcuts. This question asks which shortcut key combination is used to quit from the current screen or company without saving changes. Familiarity with such shortcuts demonstrates hands on experience with the software.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The environment is Tally ERP or a similar Tally version.
• The user wants to quit a screen or exit a company without saving current changes.
• Four common looking shortcut combinations are listed.
• The question is about the specific key combination recognised by Tally for the quit function.

Concept / Approach:
In Tally, many commands can be executed using keyboard shortcuts. The standard shortcut to quit the current screen or to exit from a report and return to the previous menu is CTRL + Q. This is different from generic Windows shortcuts such as ALT + F4. When a user presses CTRL + Q in Tally, the software prompts to quit without saving or moves back out of the current screen depending on context. The other combinations listed are used for different purposes in various applications but are not the dedicated quit command in Tally.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from Tally usage that the function key F1 is for selecting a company and ALT + F4 is a Windows level exit shortcut, not a Tally specific quit command.Step 2: Remember that Tally documentation and many training materials specify CTRL + Q as the shortcut used to quit from a screen or to abandon the current voucher without saving.Step 3: Look at the listed options and match this memory to option A CTRL + Q.Step 4: Note that CTRL + ESC is mainly a Windows key combination to open the start menu and is not defined as the Tally quit shortcut.Step 5: Recognise that CTRL + T and CTRL + P are used for other commands such as toggles or printing, not quitting, so they are not correct here.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you have used Tally, you can quickly verify by recalling what happens when you try to abandon a voucher entry. Pressing CTRL + Q gives a message asking whether you want to quit without saving. This confirms that CTRL + Q is the correct quit shortcut. Additionally, Tally help materials and keyboard shortcut lists explicitly include CTRL + Q as the exit or quit combination from active screens.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B CTRL + ESC is mainly a Windows operating system shortcut and is not used within Tally as the standard quit command. Option C CTRL + T can be associated with toggling functions in some applications but is not the defined quit shortcut in Tally. Option D CTRL + P is universally associated with printing and in many programs opens the print dialog; in Tally it is not used to quit. Therefore, only option A matches actual Tally usage.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to rely on generic Windows shortcuts such as ALT + F4 and assume that any application specific question will use those combinations. Another pitfall is to confuse CTRL + Q in Tally with other control keys used for printing or toggling reports. To answer such questions correctly, always base your choice on how Tally actually behaves and, if you are revising, learn the main Tally shortcuts separately from general computer shortcuts.

Final Answer:
In Tally, the shortcut key used to quit from the current screen or company without saving is CTRL + Q.