The awareness about debt schemes in limited due to a variety of reasons. But having a  fixed income or debt component in your portfolio is essential to building a diversified portfolio. In part 1  of the Series, Winston Noronha, Head of content and learning and development at IDFC mutual fund explains the basics of bonds, the various types of instruments, and sets the stage before diving deep into the complexities of fixed income.  Just to set the context the bond market in India is still in its nascency. The corporate bond market today just accounts for 16% of the Indian GDP vs 73% in South Korea and 120% in the US. The bond market in India is  dominated by government bonds. Even in mutual funds, institutions are the dominant investors with 54% of the AUM. Comparatively, 87% of assets in equity-oriented schemes are held by retail investors.  Winston has a career spanning 25 years in financial services with a  background in financial advisory, sales, and research. He has held in strategic and leadership roles in these areas. In recent years Winston is living his passion. He is an ardent believer of appropriate financial advice and financial awareness. He works at the intersection of sales, finance, and behavior. He is a proponent of experiential learning by using high engagement and innovative instructional delivery. Please enjoy the conversation.