Anil Pradhan, a 28-year-old social worker from Odisha, won the third Rohini Nayyar Prize for his outstanding contribution to rural development.

Mr. Pradhan, 28, is an innovative engineer and educationist. Born in the village of Baral, Odisha, he migrated to Bhopal for education. He was the chief designer of Asia’s first university rocket team, VSLV.

Pradhan’s work focuses on using technology and innovation to bring quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education to rural communities, an area where resources and infrastructure are often limited.

His initiative, which began with just three children, now reaches 250,000 students across multiple states, demonstrating the impact of grassroots-level change.

The Rohini Nayyar Prize

The Rohini Nayyar Prize, established in memory of the late economist and administrator Rohini Nayyar, is awarded annually to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to rural development in India. ?

The prize, instituted by Rohini Nayyar Foundation, constituted in memory of the eminent economist, comes with a cash award of Rs. 10 lakh, a citation and trophy.