An IIT Delhi graduate is making coding and artificial intelligence accessible to rural students through the CodeYogi Foundation. Prashant Chaudhary's initiative has reached over 3.5 lakh students across nine states, earning him the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for rural development.No laptops, no labs: How IIT Delhi alumnus is bringing coding to rural students (AI generated image) For many students in rural India, learning to code or understand artificial intelligence (AI) remains out of reach due to a lack of computers, laboratories and access to teachers.
Prashant Chaudhary, an IIT Delhi graduate from a small village near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, is trying to bridge this gap through his CodeYogi Foundation.The initiative brings technology education to students using basic smartphones, an effort that has earned Chaudhary the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for his contribution to rural development. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, along with a citation and a trophy.Through the CodeYogi Foundation, Chaudhary aims to equip young people from underserved communities with practical technology and artificial intelligence (AI) skills, irrespective of their economic background or access to conventional learning infrastructure.FROM A VILLAGE NEAR MEERUT TO BUILDING A LEARNING MOVEMENTChaudhary's journey into technology education began in 2014, not in conventional classrooms but in borrowed spaces, rooftops and corridors where he could find an internet connection and students willing to learn.One early experience that stayed with him involved a school dropout from an under-resourced background.
Without access to a laptop, the student relied on a basic smartphone but demonstrated an ability to learn faster than many engineering graduates from Chaudhary had encountered. This experience shaped his understanding of the barriers young learners face and influenced his approach to technology education.
In 2010, Chaudhary broke new ground in his village by securing admission to an IIT. Before establishing CodeYogi, he founded CodeKamp, a coding bootcamp focused on practical software development, followed by DevsLane, a product engineering company that worked with startups.His focus gradually shifted towards making technology education accessible to students from underserved communities.
With this vision, he established the CodeYogi Foundation in December 2019, aiming to create a learning ecosystem that does not depend on expensive infrastructure or conventional classroom setups.HOW IS CODEYOGI MAKING AI LEARNING ACCESSIBLE? The foundation's approach is built around a simple idea: a smartphone and an internet connection should be enough to begin learning technology.
Its AI-powered learning platform works on basic family smartphones, using Indian languages and practical learning methods. Students do not need personal computers, specialised laboratories, English proficiency or trained teachers to access the programme.Initially focused on coding, the initiative has since expanded to AI literacy and other essential skills. "The model has evolved into a 30-day applied AI fluency programme where students use real AI tools for tasks that matter in their studies and family lives," Chaudhary was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.Highlighting the initiative's reach, he added, "In the last three years, it has reached over 3.5 lakh students across nine states and 120 districts, which constitute 30 per cent of India's geographical area."Beyond coding and AI, the foundation is also developing spoken English learning tools that use storytelling, animated videos and voice recognition.Its broader vision is to prepare students from underserved communities for technology-driven careers, regardless of their school, academic stream or geographical location.WHAT DOES THE ROHINI NAYYAR PRIZE RECOGNISE?Instituted in 2022 in memory of Dr Rohini Nayyar, an eminent economist and administrator who devoted much of her professional life to rural development in India, the award recognises individuals making significant contributions to the sector.The annual prize is presented by the Nayyar Foundation for Social and Economic Purpose, established by her family to support social and economic development in the country.Previous recipients include Sethrichem Sangtam from Nagaland (2022), Dinanath Rajput from Chhattisgarh (2023), Anil Pradhan from Odisha (2024) and Vidhya Parshuramkar from Pune (2025).The foundation's directors include Deepak Nayyar, Emeritus Professor of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University and former Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University; Dhiraj Nayyar, Director, Economics and Policy and Senior Vice-President at Vedanta Resources; and Gaurav Nayyar, Lead Economist at the World Bank.From becoming the first person in his village to enter an IIT to working towards making technology education accessible to thousands of students, Chaudhary's journey highlights how access to opportunity can shape young lives.CodeYogi's next target is to reach one million learners.
Its larger ambition is to ensure that a student's location, financial background or access to resources does not limit their opportunities in the world of technology.- Ends