WorklifeIndia

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)

We speak to three young professionals in offbeat jobs: a beatboxer, a gamer and an ethical hacker. In a world where most degrees and professional courses are centred on long-term stability and availability of jobs, how did they train themselves, find the right opportunities and create successful businesses?

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Zerah Gonsalves, gamer; Vineeth Vincent, beatboxer; Vidit Baxi, ethical hacker and co-founder at Lucideus

Image: A woman plays a game on a computer (Credit: Getty Images)

In November 2016, the Indian government abruptly cancelled 86% of the currency in circulation in an attempt to crack down on the shadow economy, and began a major push towards digital payments.

For decades, India has ring-fenced around half of all government jobs and university spots for the socially disadvantaged groups that were for centuries relegated to the bottom rung of the Hindu caste hierarchy.

Image: A father and son look at a laptop (Credit: Getty Images)

Is 2019 the time to start your own company?

Entrepreneurship is seductive, but the lack of structure is not for everyone – especially if you have to leave a comfortable job behind.

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk to current and former entrepreneurs about how to make the transition easier, and ask them what it takes to build a successful business from scratch.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Radhika Aggarwal, co-founder, ShopClues; Vaibhav Agrawal, partner at Lightspeed; Saikat Bagchi, manager, The Smart Cube

Image: A woman looks intently at her laptop (Credit: Getty Images)

The Me Too movement encouraged women to speak up about workplace harassment across the world, including here in India.

For many of us, deciding what to wear to work is a daily chore. But is there more to our sartorial choices than meets the eye? Can they impact the way we work and how we are treated at work?

Leaders of certain companies argue that formal dressing has a positive impact on employee performance. Others believe this is nothing but a source of additional pressure for employees.

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we talk about workplace culture and what makes for a good office dress code. We ask whether power dressing is important, and how it differs between men and women.

We also hear from leaders of two companies with very different dress code policies, and an entrepreneur who launched her own workwear brand for women.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Devita Saraf, Founder and CEO of Vu Technologies; Shikha Sayal - Director, Service Provider Business, Cisco (India & SAARC); Ayushi Gudwani, Founder and CEO of FableStreet

Image: A businesswoman on a street (Credit: Getty Images)

A good college degree has long been considered a reliable path to professional success.

But if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking to build a business from scratch, you need a special set of skills.

Can this business acumen be taught in college? Do you need a degree to become an entrepreneur?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, we hear from two entrepreneurs with very different educational backgrounds and a business school professor. We ask them whether a college education is all it’s cracked up to be. Is it time to learn from the school of life instead?

Presenter: Rahul Tandon

Contributors: Suchita Salwan, Founder & CEO at Little Black Book; Ankit Oberoi, co-founder at Adpushup; Dr. Pavitra Mishra, professor at Indian Institute of Management Rohtak.

Image: Students raise their hands (Credit: Getty Images)

Is the freedom offered to workers in the 'gig economy' worth it, or does it put people at risk of exploitation?

Workplaces are changing. Many are opting for short term or project-based gigs rather than structured payroll jobs: this probably includes the cab driver who drove you to work and the person delivering your lunch to your office.

But this comes without a legal framework or workers’ rights. Is this freedom of work or exploitation? And what about those who don’t have another option?

In this edition of WorklifeIndia, a gig worker, an employer and a professor give us their opinions

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors:

Natasha Arya, consultant bridal make-up artist

Image: Indian drivers for Uber show mobile phones given to them by the company, during a one-day hunger strike against the US-headquartered transportation service in Hyderabad on August 28, 2015 (Credit: Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images)

Social media influencers are part of an industry worth billions of dollars, but how do they make their money - and how long will their earning power last?

A successful influencer, a social media professional and an aspiring influencer share some tricks of the trade, and discuss the dark side of the glam life.

Presenter: Devina Gupta

Contributors: Dolly Singh, senior content creator at iDiva; Karnika Kohli, social media editor at The Wire; Surbhi Jain, founder at Shamoor.