Dr. Naveen Cherupelly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at VIT-AP University, Andhra Pradesh, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Hyderabad and specializes in Science, Technology, and Society (STS), rural sociology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and agricultural innovation. His research explores the social dimensions of emerging technologies, technological inclusion, digital governance, and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on rural communities and agrarian transformations. He is a recipient of the UGC Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Post-Doctoral Fellowship and serves as the Principal Investigator of ICSSR-funded research initiatives. His scholarly contributions engage with contemporary debates on technology, society, and inclusive development. Prof. C. Raghava Reddy, the author’s mentor, doctoral supervisor, and academic guide, has played a foundational role in shaping this work. His intellectual guidance, critical engagement, and sustained mentorship have significantly influenced the conceptualisation, development, and refinement of the ideas presented in this book. The theoretical orientation, sociological perspective, and analytical approach adopted throughout the work owe much to his scholarly guidance.