Technology1 min read

Meerut village's first IITian wins Rs 10 lakh prize for reaching 3.5 lakh rural students

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The initiative provides technical education by replacing conventional computer laboratories and English-language prerequisites with a Hindi-first, mobile-based curriculum. Operating across 120 districts in nine states, the foundation ensures cost-effective training at less than Rs 100 per student each year. In April 2026, the organisation broadened its reach by launching a specialized WhatsApp-based artificial intelligence course that rapidly enrolled thousands of participants.

Key points

  • Chaudhary became the first individual from his village near Meerut to attend an Indian In…: Chaudhary became the first individual from his village near Meerut to attend an Indian Institute of Technology in 2010.
  • Programming education is delivered to rural participants at an estimated cost of under Rs…: Programming education is delivered to rural participants at an estimated cost of under Rs 100 per student annually.
  • The curriculum instructs users on applying artificial intelligence tools to everyday scen…: The curriculum instructs users on applying artificial intelligence tools to everyday scenarios and practical educational tasks without requiring desktop computers.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

In 2010, Prashant Chaudhary became the first person from his village near Meerut to enter an Indian Institute of Technology. Years later, he would return to the problem of access to education from a different direction: helping students in rural India learn coding and artificial intelligence (AI) without needing a computer, a laboratory or even a trained teacher.

His initiative, CodeYogi Foundation, has now reached more than 3.5 lakh students across nine states and 120 districts. On October 31, 2026, Chaudhary, a technology educator based in Dehradun, received the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for his contribution to rural development. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, a citation and a trophy. Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant presented the award at a ceremony in New Delhi, according to PTI.

The project uses smartphones that students already have at home to make technology education accessible in Indian languages. Its approach has evolved from teaching coding to helping young people use AI tools for practical tasks in their studies and everyday lives.

From a village near Meerut to IIT…

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