Author: Neel Achary

Vikram Roller Flour Mills expands portfolio with entry into Rice category

The company adds Basmati rice category alongside its existing range of Chakki Atta, Maida, Sooji and Dalia, with the range to be developed gradually.

New Delhi, Jan 24: Vikram Roller Flour Mills Limited (Vikram Mills), a long-established name in India’s wheat-based food segment, has entered the rice category. The company is expanding beyond wheat flour and allied staples to include everyday food products such as rice and rice-based items.

Through this expansion, Vikram Mills is looking to increase its presence in essential food categories linked to regular consumption. The basmati rice products will be introduced in stages. Distribution of rice range will cover retail outlets alongwith institutional customers such as hotels, restaurants, food service operators and FMCG companies. The focus will remain on supply continuity while maintaining the product quality.

The company supplies its products from its own manufacturing units, including facilities at Lawrence Road Industrial Area (Delhi) and Kiloi, Rohtak. These plants will support the expanded portfolio and ensure controlled, uninterrupted supply across categories.

Vikram Mills has spent the past few years studying customer preferences and demand in basmati rice category. The company has entered the segment after reviewing demand trends and procurement requirements and has ensured supply-chain preparedness before introducing rice. According to the management, customers are increasingly sourcing more than one staple product from manufacturers they already work with.

Basmati rice sourcing will follow a paddy-to-rice model, similar to the company’s wheat sourcing approach. Paddy will be procured directly, stored in warehouses for ageing and processed into rice, allowing better control over quality, grading and consistency—on lines comparable to wheat-to-flour operations at Vikram Mills.

The rice portfolio has been planned keeping in mind the regional consumption habits and bulk usage requirements. Initial offerings will focus on commonly consumed, high-quality variants, with scope for additions based on market response and feedback from trade partners and buyers.

Speaking on the development, Mr. Shubham Garg, Director, Vikram Roller Flour Mills Limited, said, “Staple foods continue to form the backbone of everyday consumption in India. While wheat-based products remain our core strength, rice is an equally important category across regions. Our entry into basmati rice builds on our manufacturing and sourcing capabilities and allows us to offer customers a wider range of essential products.”

The rice category will be supported through sourcing, grading and processing practices similar to those followed for the company’s wheat products. The same checks related to hygiene and traceability will apply to the rice range.

Over the years, Vikram Mills has built working relationships across procurement, processing and distribution, which are expected to support the steady rollout of the rice business. These existing systems will continue to support the category as it scales in a measured manner.

Its existing product range includes Chakki Atta, Maida, Sooji, Rawa and Dalia, supplied to both household consumers and institutional customers. Basmati rice has now been added to this range. The rice business will be developed in a phased manner, with emphasis on stable operations and market response.

Vikram Mills supplies its products across several markets, including tier-II and tier-III locations, through its distribution network. The company works with institutional buyers and trade partners in these markets.

With the addition of basmati rice, Vikram Mills is extending its presence within everyday staple foods while building on its existing manufacturing, sourcing and distribution capabilities. The category will be developed steadily, in line with operational readiness and demand across markets.

5 Ways Protein Protects Skin From Premature Ageing

Great skin starts from within. While skincare products play an important role, they can’t deliver all the benefits of a youthful, healthy appearance on their own. What you eat has a significant influence on your skin as what you apply to it. Protein, often thought of as only a muscle-building nutrient, is essential for maintaining skin strength, nourishment, and repair. As we age, the body’s natural ability to produce the key proteins that support healthy skin declines, making it especially important to consume enough protein every day to help maintain skin health over the long term.

Here are five key ways protein helps fight skin ageing:

1. Boosts Collagen and Elastin Production

Protein contains essential amino acids such as proline and glycine which help provide the building blocks needed for your body to produce collagen and elastin, which are responsible for keeping skin firm, smooth, and flexible. While protein alone will not increase collagen levels or remove wrinkles, consuming an adequate amount of protein is an important factor in supporting the body’s collagen synthesis process along with other factors that include vitamin C, the consumption of sufficient calories, the use of sunscreen, and other aspects of one’s lifestyle.

2. Improves skin repair and regeneration

The amino acids found in proteins consumed through diet supports regeneration of cells and the healing of skin. An adequate intake of protein can help the skin to better recover from the daily stresses of environmental exposure, minor inflammation, and normal wear and tear on a daily basis. While nutrition cannot prevent scarring or pigmentation alterations directly, consuming enough protein can support your body’s natural healing processes as well as help maintain a balanced, healthy skin color.

3. Strengthens the skin barrier

The skin barrier consists of proteins, lipids, and various other materials, which help keep moisture locked in and protect the body from external sources causing irritation. In addition, proteins consumed through the diet are used to produce structural proteins, which maintain the healthy condition of the skin. If a person does not consume enough protein, the ability of the skin barrier to perform its function could be negatively affected. This could lead to dry, sensitive skin and increased transepidermal water loss. Proteins, along with essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals such as zinc, iron, copper, and vitamin C, all play vital roles in supporting overall skin barrier health.

4. Provides Antioxidant Defense

Cysteine and methionine are amino acids that are used to create glutathione, a major antioxidant created by the body. Antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress caused by free radicals, which ultimately leads to skin ageing. While protein does not act as an antioxidant directly, sufficient amounts of protein consumed aid internal systems in protecting cells from oxidative damage.

5. Reduces inflammation and stress-related ageing

Protein intake, when part of balanced meals, can help stabilize blood sugar and produce hormones and enzymes that help manage stress. Prolonged stress and chronic inflammatory conditions negatively affect skin and can contribute toward skin redness, breakouts, and accelerated ageing.  Protein drinks from Not Rocket Science can offer a convenient way to help meet daily protein needs, particularly during busy or high-stress periods when regular meals may be inconsistent. It’s important to note that nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and adaptogenic herbs support inflammation and stress responses independently of protein and should be considered complementary components of a holistic nutrition approach.

DCB Bank Reports Highest Ever Quarterly PAT in Q3 FY 2026; Advances and Deposits Show Strong Growth

Mumbai, Jan 23: The Board of Directors of DCB Bank Ltd. (BSE: 532772; NSE: DCB) approved the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025 (Q3 FY 2026), along with a limited review report by statutory auditors Varma & Varma, Chartered Accountants and B S R & Co. LLP, Chartered Accountants.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Praveen Kutty, Managing Director & CEO, said:

“The growth momentum in both advances and deposits continues to be robust. Net Interest Margin (NIM) has maintained its upward trend, while fee income continues to show strong performance. Credit costs remain benign with slippages reducing, and GNPA & NNPA at their three-year lows. Despite a one-time impact of ₹26.87 crore due to the New Labour Codes, the Bank has registered its highest-ever quarterly PAT.”

The Q3 FY 2026 results highlight DCB Bank’s consistent focus on profitable growth, strong asset quality, and sustainable operational performance.

NICMAR, one of India’s leading institutions for Construction, Real Estate, Infrastructure and Project Management education

By:  Dr Tapash Kumar Ganguli, Director-General, NICMAR

With record allocations across the board in the last Union Budget, India’s infrastructure growth is no longer constrained by capital but by the availability of industry-ready talent. Specialised education in construction, real estate, infrastructure and project management is critical to bridging the academia–industry gap. Targeted funding for advanced labs, digital tools, sustainability research and applied R&D can significantly strengthen execution capacity. The upcoming Budget offers a timely opportunity to reinforce this ecosystem through technology-led skilling and public-private collaboration.”