What is a rights issue by a company and how do I benefit?

On what basis are rights shares issued by any company?

Can you explain to me the gist of a bonus issue of shares by a company and how does it affect my shareholding?

What exactly is meant by a rights issue and how does it work in practice?

How does the company decide which shareholders should get the rights issue since the actual profile of shareholders keeps changing constantly?

When rights are issued by the company what happens to the share capital of the company?

How do rights issue differ from stock splits and bonus issues made by companies?

Are there some key things that I need to be aware when I am subscribing to the rights issue by a company where I am holding shares?

If the company issues rights shares, how are options contracts adjusted?

What exactly do you mean by a bonus issue and why is it that companies resort to bonus issues?

Do companies really benefit by going in for a stock split?