The entire scope of financial decision making centres on the trade-off between risk and return. Decision making of any kind involves both positive and negative aspects. The objective of an investment decision is to get required rate of return with minimum risk. To achieve this objective, various instruments, practices and strategies have been devised and developed in the recent past. With the opening of boundaries for international trade and business, the world trade gained momentum in the last decade, the world has entered into a new phase of global integration and liberalisation. To overcome the risk arising out of these fluctuating variables and increased dependence of capital markets of one set of countries to the others, risk management practices have also been reshaped by inventing such instruments as can mitigate the risk element. These new popular instruments are known as financial derivatives which, not only reduce financial risk but also open us new opportunity for high risk takers. It is in this context, a Study Material on introduction to the subject ‘RISK MANAGEMENT AND DERIVATIVES’ is presented to the students of Professional Post-Graduate MBA degree. The book contains the syllabus from basics of the subjects going into the intricacies of the subjects. All the concepts have been explained with relevant examples and diagrams to make it interesting for the readers. An attempt is made here by the author to assist the students by way of providing Study Material as per the curriculum with non-commercial considerations. However, it is implicit that these are exam-oriented Study Material and students are advised to attend regular class room classes in the Institute and utilize reference books available in the library for In-depth knowledge. We owe to many websites and their free contents; we would like to specially acknowledge contents of website www.wikipedia.com and various authors whose writings formed the basis for this book. We acknowledge our thanks to them. At the end we would like to say that there is always a room for improvement in whatever we do. We would appreciate any suggestions regarding this study material from the readers so that the contents can be made more interesting and meaningful. Readers can email their queries and doubts to our authors on [email protected]. We shall be glad to help you immediately.