An initiative by IIT Delhi graduate Prashant Chaudhary is making coding and Artificial Intelligence accessible to students in rural India through the CodeYogi Foundation. Using basic smartphones and internet connectivity, the programme has reached more than 3.5 lakh students across nine states and 120 districts.

For thousands of students in rural India, learning coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI) remains a distant possibility. Limited access to computers, technology laboratories and trained teachers often prevents them from exploring opportunities in the digital world. However, IIT Delhi alumnus Prashant Chaudhary is working to change this situation through his initiative, the CodeYogi Foundation.

Coming from a small village near Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary understands the challenges faced by students growing up in communities with limited educational resources. His initiative is built around a simple yet powerful idea: students should not need expensive computers or specialised infrastructure to learn technology. Even a basic smartphone with an internet connection can become a gateway to digital education.

His efforts have recently received national recognition with the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize for his contribution to rural development. The award includes a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh, along with a citation and trophy.

From a Small Village to an Initiative Transforming Rural Education

Prashant Chaudhary's journey towards making technology education accessible began in 2014. Rather than starting in established classrooms or well-equipped laboratories, his early teaching efforts took place in borrowed spaces, on rooftops and in corridors where internet connectivity was available.

One experience, in particular, influenced his approach to education. He encountered a school dropout from an economically disadvantaged background who had no access to a laptop. Despite relying on a basic smartphone, the student demonstrated an impressive ability to learn, performing better than many engineering graduates Chaudhary had come across.

This experience helped him recognise that a student's potential is not determined by the resources available to them. Instead, the lack of opportunities often becomes the biggest obstacle to learning.

In 2010, Chaudhary became the first person from his village to secure admission to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT). Before turning his attention towards rural education, he founded CodeKamp, a coding bootcamp focused on practical software development. He later established DevsLane, a product engineering company that worked with startups.

Over time, his professional journey developed into a larger mission of making technology education accessible to young people from underserved communities. This vision led to the establishment of the CodeYogi Foundation in December 2019.

How CodeYogi Foundation Is Making Coding and AI Accessible

The CodeYogi Foundation follows an approach that removes many of the traditional barriers to technology education. Its learning platform is designed to function on basic family smartphones, allowing students to explore coding and Artificial Intelligence without requiring personal computers or advanced technical facilities.

The platform incorporates Indian languages and practical learning methods, making technology education more accessible to students who may not be comfortable learning in English.

Students can participate without depending on specialised laboratories, expensive devices or even trained teachers. This approach is particularly relevant for rural schools and communities where conventional technology infrastructure remains limited.

Initially, the programme concentrated on coding education. However, recognising the growing importance of Artificial Intelligence, the foundation has expanded its learning initiatives to include AI literacy and other essential digital skills.

Explaining this development, Chaudhary told news agency PTI that the initiative has evolved into a 30-day applied AI fluency programme. Through this programme, students learn to use real AI tools for practical activities connected to their studies and everyday family needs.

The foundation has also reported significant progress in expanding its reach.

According to Chaudhary, the initiative has reached more than 3.5 lakh students across nine states and 120 districts over the last three years. These districts together represent approximately 30 per cent of India's geographical area.

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Beyond Coding: Building Communication and Future-Ready Skills

The foundation's efforts extend beyond programming and Artificial Intelligence. It is also developing spoken English learning tools to help students improve their communication abilities.

These tools use storytelling, animated videos and voice recognition to make language learning more engaging and interactive.

Through these initiatives, CodeYogi aims to prepare students from underserved communities for an increasingly technology-driven world. Its broader objective is to ensure that opportunities in emerging technology careers are not restricted by a student's school, academic background, financial circumstances or geographical location.

By combining accessible digital platforms with practical learning experiences, the foundation is working towards creating a more inclusive technology education ecosystem.

Rohini Nayyar Prize Recognises Contribution to Rural Development

Prashant Chaudhary's work has been recognised through the fifth Rohini Nayyar Prize, an annual award instituted in 2022 in memory of Dr Rohini Nayyar.

Dr Nayyar was a respected economist and administrator who devoted a significant part of her professional life to rural development in India. The award recognises individuals whose work has made a meaningful contribution to improving rural communities.

The 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 of the award include:

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.

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CodeYogi's Next Goal: Reaching One Million Learners

From becoming the first person in his village to enter an IIT to creating opportunities for thousands of rural students, Prashant Chaudhary's journey demonstrates how education and access to technology can make a meaningful difference in society.

With its growing reach, the CodeYogi Foundation is now working towards its next milestone of reaching one million learners.

Its larger mission is to create an environment where every student can explore technology, develop relevant skills and prepare for future career opportunities, regardless of their financial background or access to educational infrastructure.

At a time when coding and Artificial Intelligence are increasingly shaping the future of work and education, initiatives such as CodeYogi highlight the importance of making digital learning accessible to everyone.

The idea is straightforward: a lack of laptops, laboratories or resources should never become a barrier to a student's ability to learn, innovate and build a better future.