Galgotias University was ordered to vacate its exhibition stall at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The directive came after a significant controversy erupted over the authenticity of their displayed ‘AI innovations.’ The university’s claims about a self-developed robotic dog were exposed as false, leading to swift action by summit organizers and government authorities on February 18, 2026.
What was the Controversy About?
The core of the controversy revolved around a robotic dog showcased at the university’s pavilion. Professor Neha Singh, Head of Communications at Galgotias University, introduced the robot as ‘Orion’ in a televised interview on February 17. She claimed it was developed by their Centre of Excellence. However, tech experts and social media users quickly identified the robot as a commercially available Unitree Go2, manufactured by China’s Unitree Robotics, costing between $1,600 and $2,800.
Why was Galgotias University asked to leave?
Following the exposure and public outcry, government authorities and summit organizers ordered Galgotias University to immediately vacate their stall. Reports indicated that power to the pavilion was cut off, and barricades were placed to prevent further public interaction. The stall was reportedly empty by Wednesday afternoon, confirming its removal. IT Secretary S. Krishnan from MeitY stated that such misrepresentations would not be tolerated, emphasizing that misleading exhibits would not be allowed to continue.
What was Galgotias University’s response?
Initially, university representatives, including in interactions with independent founders like Lov Singh of GulfHindi.com, reportedly deflected questions about the robot’s technical specifications. They highlighted the university’s ₹350 crore investment in AI and a dedicated AI block, rather than addressing the product directly. After widespread backlash, the university issued a formal apology on February 18, blaming an ‘ill-informed’ representative, Neha Singh, for giving ‘factually incorrect information’ in her ‘enthusiasm of being on camera.’ The university now claims they intended to use the robot as a ‘classroom in motion’ for student learning, not as a self-manufactured product.
