Dehradun-based technology educator Prashant Chaudhary has been named the recipient of the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for Outstanding Contribution to Rural Development. The award, which acknowledges significant social and economic contributions to rural welfare, was presented to him by former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant during a ceremony held on Saturday, October 31, 2026. The recognition highlights Mr. Chaudhary’s commitment to empowering underserved youth through accessible technology education.
The Rohini Nayyar Prize was established in honour of the late scholar-administrator and rural development activist Rohini Nayyar. Each year, a jury consisting of experts from academia, government, and civil society selects an individual who has made a measurable impact on the lives of rural populations. In addition to the prestige associated with the award, Mr. Chaudhary received a cash prize of ₹10 lakh, a commemorative trophy, and a formal citation.
Mr. Chaudhary’s journey into social impact began shortly after he graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in 2010. As the first student from his native village near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, to secure admission to an IIT, he felt a strong responsibility to give back to his community. He began by teaching technology skills to students from his village, an effort that eventually laid the groundwork for his formal venture into education advocacy.
In 2020, he founded the CodeYogi Foundation to scale these educational efforts. The initiative focuses on equipping youth in remote areas with practical Artificial Intelligence and technology skills. A key feature of the foundation’s model is its accessibility; the program is designed to function entirely on basic family smartphones, bypassing the need for expensive computers, dedicated laboratory facilities, or fluency in the English language. Furthermore, the curriculum is delivered in various Indian languages, effectively removing significant barriers for students who lack formal training or access to traditional classroom setups.
The foundation’s flagship offering has evolved into a 30-day applied AI fluency course. This curriculum encourages students to utilize real-world AI tools to assist with tasks relevant to their academic studies and daily family life. By focusing on practical application rather than theoretical learning, the program ensures that students can immediately use their new digital literacy skills to improve their circumstances.
The impact of this initiative has been significant over the past three years. According to the release issued by the Nayyar Foundation, the program has successfully reached more than 350,000 students. This widespread adoption spans across nine states and 120 districts in India, demonstrating the scalability of his approach to digital inclusion. By bootstrapping the project and focusing on low-cost, high-impact technology, Mr. Chaudhary has created a template for grassroots educational transformation.
The selection of Mr. Chaudhary by the jury reflects a broader national interest in leveraging technology to bridge the rural-urban divide. As India continues to digitize its economy, efforts like those led by the CodeYogi Foundation are seen as essential for ensuring that students in non-urban areas remain competitive in a rapidly evolving job market. This accolade serves as a significant milestone in his mission to democratize technology access for the nation's unreached youth, validating the effectiveness of his smartphone-based, vernacular learning methodology.
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