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Types of schemes, and picking one · 7 min · one of the trickiest

Debt funds, by safety and time

Two risks, and the time ladder

Debt funds feel dull next to equity, and that is the point. But the exam tests two risks here that people mix up, so we make the difference stick.

This lesson teaches a concept for the NISM Series V-A exam. It is education, not financial advice.

  1. 1

    Debt funds lend money: they hold bonds and money-market instruments, not shares.

  2. 2

    They carry two main risks: interest rate risk (prices move when rates change) and credit risk (a borrower may default).

  3. 3

    Liquid funds hold very short paper, up to 91 days, and are used to park cash safely.

  4. 4

    Longer-duration funds can earn a little more but swing more when rates move.

Rupee example

Idle ₹1 lakh for a month? A liquid fund is a common home. Locking in for a few years? A longer debt fund may suit.

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Practice

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Real exam format. Answer by voice, tap, or press 1 to 4. No negative marking, so always attempt.

Answer by voice
Tap the mic and say A, B, C or D. Typing is optional.

Debt funds mainly invest in:

Debt funds lend, holding bonds and short-term paper, so they are steadier than equity.
Shares are equity; gold and property are separate.

A liquid fund holds instruments maturing within:

Up to 91 days, which is why liquid funds are used to park cash for short spells.
Longer maturities belong to other debt categories.

The risk that a borrower fails to repay is called:

Credit risk is default risk. Interest rate risk is about prices moving when rates change.
The other terms describe different risks.

When interest rates rise, existing bond prices generally:

Bond prices move opposite to rates, so a rate rise pushes existing bond prices down.
This inverse link is the heart of interest rate risk.

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