The National Pension System (NPS) is a pension cum investment scheme launched by the Government of India to provide old-age security to citizens of India. It allows systematic savings and investment for retirement.

The disclosure document was to be given to the prospective client along with the account opening form by a Portfolio Management Service (PMS). It provides important information about the PMS and helps the client make an informed decision.

The counterparty risk in a futures contract is primarily mitigated through the functions of the clearing corporation. Clearing houses act as intermediaries between the buyer and the seller, ensuring the financial integrity of the futures market by guaranteeing trades and requiring collateral (margin) from both parties. This helps minimize the risk of default by either party.

In a rights issue, the offer is required to be made to the existing shareholders on a pro-rata basis to their existing holdings. This means that each shareholder is offered the opportunity to buy additional shares in proportion to their current ownership in the company.

Clearing and Settlement are post-trading activities that constitute the core part of the equity trade life cycle. After the trading phase, where securities are bought and sold, clearing involves confirming the trades and arranging for the transfer of securities and funds between buyers and sellers. Settlement is the actual transfer of securities and funds.

Bond price volatility is directly related to the term to maturity. Longer maturity bonds experience larger price changes for a given change in yields. As interest rates change, the prices of bonds with longer maturities are more sensitive, leading to higher volatility in their prices.

An Alternative Investment Fund (AIF) is a privately pooled investment vehicle that collects funds from sophisticated investors and invests them in accordance with a defined investment policy for the benefit of its investors. AIFs are distinct from traditional investment vehicles like mutual funds and are designed for a more sophisticated class of investors.