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Bond portfolio diversification is a risk management technique. In it, you spread your investments across different types of bonds instead of investing in only one bond series or bond category.
But why? The primary objective is to “reduce risk”. When one bond or bond segment performs poorly, the other bonds in your portfolio can be used to offset that loss. For example,
- Let’s say a corporate bond faces repayment issues. Now, government bonds in your portfolio are not impacted by that company’s problems.
- Similarly, if long-term bonds fall in value due to interest rate changes, short-term bonds usually remain more stable.
Okay, but how to make such a diversified bond portfolio in 2026? Read this article to check out the various bond portfolio management options.
5 Ways to Diversify a Bond Portfolio in India
It is worth mentioning that bonds differ by:
- Issuer
- Maturity
- Interest payout structure
- Credit quality
Each of these reacts differently to changes in interest rates and inflation. Thus, when you “concentrate” a bond portfolio in only one category, you get exposed to several avoidable risks, such as:
- Interest rate risk
- Credit risk
- Reinvestment risk
The potential solution? It is diversification. To reduce risk + spread your bond investments in 2026, you may prefer these five bond portfolio management options (as per your risk appetite):
1. Diversification by Issuer
Issuer diversification is the technique of “not lending all your money” to a single borrower or a single type of borrower. In India, bond issuers usually fall into three broad categories:
- Government of India (G-Secs)
- Issued by the central or state government.
- These bonds carry low credit risk due to sovereign guarantees.
- Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)
- Issued by government-owned companies such as PFC, REC, or NTPC.
- These carry more risk than G-Secs but less than private companies.
- Private Corporate Bonds
- Issued by private firms.
- These bonds may offer higher interest because repayment depends on the company’s business performance.
Holding bonds from all three categories may reduce dependence on one borrower type.
2. Diversification by Credit Quality
Credit ratings indicate the likelihood that a bond issuer will repay its debt on time. In India, agencies such as CRISIL, ICRA, India Ratings, and CARE assign these ratings after reviewing:
- Financial strength
- Cash flows
- Debt levels
- Other similar parameters
Now, broadly, we can divide bond ratings into these groups:
| Credit Rating | General Interpretation |
|---|---|
| AAA | Highest safety + lowest credit risk |
| AA-, AA, AA+ | High safety + low credit risk |
| A-, A, A+ | Adequate degree of safety + low credit risk |
| BBB-, BBB, BBB+ | Moderate degree of safety + moderate credit risk |
| BB | Moderate risk of default (related to servicing financial obligations) |
| Credit Rating | General Interpretation | Risk Level | Return Expectation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA or AA | Strong repayment capacity | Lower risk | Lower interest |
| A and below | Weaker repayment capacity | Higher risk | Higher interest |
High-rated bonds carry minimal default risk but offer comparatively lower coupon rates. In contrast, lower-rated bonds offer higher interest/ coupon but carry relatively more default risk. Note that if a portfolio is concentrated in lower-rated bonds, even a single default can damage the entire portfolio.
Okay, so how to practice credit quality diversification? You may combine high-rated bonds with limited exposure to lower-rated bonds. Such an approach could:
- Maintain income potential
- Protect the portfolio from losses caused by credit events.
3. Diversification by Maturity
Bond maturity refers to the time remaining until the bond issuer repays the principal. This factor is heavily influenced by “interest rate changes” in the economy. But how? Bonds that mature soon (or short-term bonds) have a limited impact on their value.
In contrast, long-term bonds are more sensitive to interest rate changes. If interest rates rise during this period, new bonds offer higher interest. This makes older long-term bonds less attractive. As a result, their prices may fall in the secondary market.
So, what’s the bond portfolio management option here? You may prefer “maturity diversification”. It means holding bonds that mature at different time horizons instead of concentrating on a single maturity period. As an investor, you may spread your investments across:
- Short-term bonds (up to 3 years)
- Medium-term bonds (3–7 years)
- Long-term bonds (7+ years)
4. Diversification by Liquidity Profile
Liquidity refers to how quickly an investment can be converted into cash without loss. Realise that bonds differ widely in liquidity. For example:
- Some government or PSU bonds trade actively in the secondary market with a large pool of active buyers willing to buy them daily.
- In contrast, many corporate bonds (say, a BBB-rated bond) may have limited buyers.
In “access-to-cash diversification” or liquidity diversification, you may prefer holding a mix of:
- Highly liquid instruments such as liquid funds or treasury bills (T-bills)
- Moderately liquid bonds such as PSU or large corporate bonds (usually AAA-rated)
- Less liquid but higher-yield bonds (say AA or A) held for long-term income
The potential benefit? Your cash needs can be met without selling long-term or higher-risk bonds at unfavourable prices. Also, it reduces “forced selling risk” during market stress.
5. Diversification Through Bond Mutual Funds
For investors who prefer not to select individual bonds, bond mutual funds offer an alternative. These financial products:
- Pool capital from many investors
and
- Allocate it across multiple bonds
For a retail investor, this offers “in-built diversification” as each fund holds bonds from different issuers, with varying maturities and credit ratings. Also, it removes the need to:
- Select individual bonds
- Track issuers
- Manage maturity and credit risks directly
Okay, but what are the different types of bond mutual funds? Let’s check out some of its types:
| Bond Fund Category | Nature of the Fund |
|---|---|
| Liquid Funds |
|
| Overnight Funds |
|
| Low Duration Funds |
|
| Corporate Bond Funds |
|
| Credit Risk Funds |
|
| Gilt Funds |
|
Now, to further diversify, you may also prefer allocating money across “multiple bond fund” types instead of investing everything in a single scheme.
In Summary, A Bond Portfolio Can Be Diversified Across Issuers, Credit Ratings, Maturities, And Liquidity Profiles
So now you know how to create a diversified bond portfolio in 2026. As an investor, you may reduce “concentration risk” by investing across:
- Different bond issuers
- Varying credit ratings
- Multiple maturity periods
- Mixed liquidity profiles
Alternatively, if you don’t prefer individual bond selection, you can try out different bond mutual fund schemes, which offer in-built diversification.
Searching for retail bonds or want to apply to the latest NCD IPOs? You may visit the GoldenPi platform. Here, you can explore multiple bond collections, such as high-yield bonds, high-rated bonds, bonds available at a discounted price, and more. Investing is also easy and can be done online without making any in-person branch visits.
Bond Portfolio Management Option FAQs
1. What risks am I exposed to when investing in a single bond series?
Investing in a single bond exposes you to credit risk, interest rate risk, and liquidity risk. If the issuer defaults or market rates change, your entire investment may lose value.
2. How are long-term bonds impacted by interest rate changes?
Usually, long-term bonds are more sensitive to interest rate fluctuations. When interest rates increase, the market value of existing long-term bonds could fall. In contrast, when interest rates fall, their value may increase.
3. Should I invest in bond mutual funds in 2026?
Bond mutual funds offer diversification across issuers, maturities, and credit ratings. They reduce single-bond risk and provide professional management. You may prefer them if you lack the financial expertise to research and invest in individual bonds.
4. Is there any risk with G-Secs?
G-Secs have low credit risk because they carry a sovereign guarantee and are backed by the Government of India. However, they are exposed to interest rate risk. If rates increase, the market value of G-Secs may fall (particularly for long-term bond series).
Disclaimer:
This information is for general information purposes only. GoldenPi makes no guarantee on the accuracy of the data provided here; the information displayed is subject to change and is provided on an as-is basis. Nothing contained herein is intended to or shall be deemed to be investment advice, implied or otherwise. Investments in the securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the offer-related documents carefully before investing.
Bonds or non-convertible debentures (NCDs) are regulated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India and other government authorities. GoldenPi Securities Private Limited is a registered debt broker and acts as a distributor and not as a manufacturer of the product.
