India has made rapid strides in adopting technology, but when was the last time it came out with a truly disruptive innovation, something that shaped the world or made the scientific community sit up and take notice?

Invention of the zero? That was some time ago. Mission to Mars? Yes, India is doing pretty well in space technology, doing for a lot less what others do or have done for a lot more. That's innovation for sure.

But there are challenges on the ground: Indian scientists aren't often highly cited, funding in science and innovation is limited, its top educational institutions rarely rank among the world's best, and science education doesn't always encourage disruptive thinking.

So, does a career in the sciences hold promise? How can the tide be turned?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we speak to a young innovator, a pioneering scientist and an investor in innovative companies, and ask them where Indian science is headed.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

Contributors: Dr Manan Suri, Assistant Professor, IIT Delhi; Gauhar Raza, Scientist; Smita Rakesh, Portfolio Manager, Social Alpha

Image: A woman works in a laboratory (Credit: Getty Images)