What happens when the world’s most entertaining science creator explores India’s heart through the eyes of its people? You get a whirlwind of flavors, innovation, culture, and curiosity. In an exclusive feature titled “A Day in India with Mark Rober: Curly Tales Tells All”, the popular YouTube creator teamed up with India’s beloved digital travel and lifestyle channel Curly Tales for a once-in-a-lifetime immersive experience.
Mark Rober, who boasts over 68 million YouTube subscribers, is not your everyday content creator. He’s a former NASA engineer, the mastermind behind viral glitter bombs and backyard squirrel obstacle courses, and founder of CrunchLabs, a company turning STEM learning into hands-on fun. But this time, his journey wasn’t about gadgets or glitter—it was about India.
Curly Tales host Kamiya Jani played the perfect guide as Mark navigated through the bustling streets of Mumbai, sampling local cuisine, watching street inventors in action, and interacting with the people behind India’s most creative jugaad ideas. The chemistry between Mark’s curiosity and Kamiya’s storytelling created a vibrant and engaging episode that has already garnered attention online.
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Throughout the day, Rober was introduced to:
- Chai vendors using improvised water boilers made from pressure cooker parts.
- Mechanics creating tools from bicycle chains and broken fans.
- Home chefs adapting pressure cookers into tandoors for daily bread-making.
Each encounter reaffirmed the idea that India is a hotbed of resourceful problem-solving.
“This is what engineering should look like — solving problems with what you’ve got,” said Rober in a moment of reflection. “It’s not just inspiring, it’s revolutionary.”
And it’s precisely this spirit that sparked the launch of the Mark Rober Jugaad Contest 2025, announced during his India tour. Running from April 30 to September 15, 2025, the contest is offering ₹5 lakh each to ten Indian inventors who can show off their most innovative creations using everyday household materials.
To participate, contestants must:
- Post a video on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), or YouTube.
- Use the hashtag #MarkRoberJugaad.
- Ensure the post is public.
- Visit www.markroberjugaad.com and submit the link to be officially entered.
The contest is open to Indian residents aged 8 and above, with parent/guardian submission required for minors. Videos alone do not count as entries unless properly submitted on the official website.
Curly Tales’ full-day tour with Mark also included a stop at a local school, where he engaged with students experimenting with science projects made from plastic bottles, rubber bands, and old mobile parts. One student’s homemade vacuum cleaner left Mark stunned. “This is CrunchLabs-level thinking right here,” he said.
Mark’s trip to India isn’t just about contests—it’s a deliberate move to build a long-term connection with Indian audiences. With collaborations already released alongside top creators like CarryMinati, Slaypoint, Techburner, and now Curly Tales, he’s making his presence in the country felt in every corner of YouTube. A special collaboration with cricketer Hardik Pandya is also in the works, promising a blend of sport and science to inspire a new generation.
“India is buzzing with talent, and I want to be a part of that journey,” Rober explained. “The jugaad mindset is something the world can learn from. It teaches resilience, creativity, and optimism.”
Curly Tales captured this spirit perfectly in the episode, providing viewers a raw, unscripted look at how innovation lives and breathes on Indian streets. From a train ride to a street food tasting and a hands-on STEM activity with local kids, Mark’s day was anything but ordinary.
The episode concludes with Rober urging all young minds and aspiring creators across India to take a chance and enter the Jugaad Contest. “You don’t need fancy gear. You just need a good idea and the courage to share it.”
Deadline to enter: September 15, 2025, 11:59 PM IST
Make sure your profile is public and your entry is submitted via the website.
For rules and complete details, visit Mark Rober Jugaad Official Website or check out the Official Rules Page.
