George Freedman, American political scientist and author, says innovation is the process of implementing new ideas of turning creative concepts into realities.

Social innovation, however, is when these creative concepts help the society move forward. Social innovations are new ideas, products, services and models that simultaneously meet social needs and create new social relationships or collaborations. In other words they are innovations that are both good for society and enhance society's capacity to act.

Social innovation has been around since the inception of society. The only difference is that the term has been coined only recently.

In India since freedom the social innovation scenario has moved ahead by leaps and bounds.

Nandal Nilekani, chairman UIDAI says, "People tend to think that all innovation began in 1991. I don't buy that argument. If you go back and look at the milk revolution, what was done by Kurien and his colleagues, the way they galvanized India's milk producers and made sure that they really owned the entire supply chain. The one way to think of Amul and Kurien and Amrita Patel and all that is, that's the first form of organized retail in India."

For complete show, watch the accompanying video.