Technology educator Prashant Chaudhary wins Rs 10 lakh Rohini Nayyar Prize
His CodeYogi project has provided coding and AI education to more than 3.5 lakh rural students using smartphones.
Technology educator Prashant Chaudhary received the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize in New Delhi on October 31, 2026, for his work in rural development, according to a Times of India report. The award, presented by former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, includes a trophy, a citation, and a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh.
Chaudhary, who is based in Dehradun, runs the CodeYogi Foundation. The initiative has reached more than 3.5 lakh students across 120 districts and nine states, covering approximately 30 per cent of India's geographical area.
The project uses smartphones to teach coding and artificial intelligence (AI) in Indian languages, removing the need for computers or laboratories. Chaudhary noted that 95 per cent of learners use only smartphones, and 48.6 per cent of the students are girls.
The programme has expanded from teaching programming to an applied AI fluency course delivered via WhatsApp. Chaudhary said the curriculum helps students apply AI tools to practical tasks in their education and daily lives.
The foundation's data shows that 59 per cent of advanced learners come from non-STEM backgrounds. The initiative was established to make technology education accessible to students in rural areas without requiring expensive hardware or English fluency.