The Controversy
New Delhi – The India AI Impact Summit 2026, held in New Delhi at the grand Bharat Mandapam, was meant to be a big show of India’s growing strength in technology. Leaders from government, businesses, and schools came together to talk about new ideas in machines that think like humans. But on the third day, things went wrong for Galgotias University. Staff from the university showed a robot dog and a drone as their own work from their special center for smart machines. Videos soon spread online showing these were just bought from China, not made in India. This led to a lot of anger, and the government told the university to pack up and leave the event right away.
People at the summit were excited at first. The university’s stall was busy with visitors looking at the robot dog called “Orion” and the drone. Professor Neha Singh, who works at Galgotias, told everyone how the university had spent over Rs 350 crore on building a strong program for these technologies. She said the robot and drone were examples of what students and teachers had created to help in areas like safety and farming. But sharp-eyed people noticed the robot looked just like the Unitree Go2, a popular model made by a Chinese company called Unitree. The drone also seemed like a common one available in stores.
As videos of the presentation went viral on social media, users started pointing out the truth. One post on X (what was once Twitter) said, “This is not new Indian tech; it’s straight from China!” The backlash grew fast. News channels picked up the story, and by the afternoon of February 18, 2026, government officials stepped in. They said such false claims hurt the trust in real Indian work and ordered the stall to be closed. Workers from Galgotias were seen packing boxes and leaving the area, while other stalls stayed open.
This event has raised questions about how schools in India show their work at big events. Many feel it shows a need for better checks to make sure claims are true. It also comes at a time when India is trying hard to make its own tech and reduce buying from other countries, especially China, due to past tensions.
What Led to the Misrepresentation
Galgotias University, based in Greater Noida near Delhi, has been trying to make a name in education for tech and business. Just days before the summit, they announced a big plan to spend Rs 350 crore on building centers for smart machines and robotics. This was to train students and work on new ideas. The university said this would help India become a leader in these fields.
At the summit, which started on February 16, 2026, Galgotias set up a stall to show off their efforts. On the first day, everything seemed fine. Visitors saw the robot dog walking around and the drone flying short demos. Professor Singh, who handles communication at the university, was the main person talking to people. She said, “This is what our center of excellence has built. It’s to inspire our students and show what India can do.”
But trouble started when a video from the stall was shared online. In it, Singh points to the robot and says it’s made in-house for tasks like checking dangerous areas. Viewers quickly searched and found the same robot on Unitree’s website, sold for about $2,000. The drone was also identified as a standard model from China, not custom-made. Social media users, including tech experts, called it a clear case of copying.
One government official, who did not want to be named, told Bloomberg that the claims were wrong and hurt the summit’s goal of showing real Indian progress. “We can’t let false stories take away from true innovations,” the official said. Reports from Moneycontrol and Times of India said the stall was vacated after a power cut, but sources confirmed it was due to the order to leave.
Past issues at Galgotias have come up again. In 2024, the university faced criticism when students protested against a political party without knowing much, leading to jokes about their education quality. Now, this new event has brought back those talks, with people saying the university focuses more on show than real learning.
The University’s Response and Apology
Galgotias University did not stay quiet for long. On February 18, 2026, they put out a statement saying it was all a mistake. Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur said, “Our representative shared wrong facts by mistake. The robot and drone were bought for teaching and research, not built by us. We never meant to say they were our inventions.” They blamed it on excitement and lack of clear info from the person at the stall.
Professor Neha Singh also spoke to reporters. She said, “It was a miscommunication to motivate students. We have sent the items back to our campus, and we are sorry for any confusion.” The university said they were at the summit to share ideas, not sell products, and that the display was for education only.
In a press release, the university added, “We take pride in our work, but this was an error by one person. We have removed them from such duties.” Students from Galgotias came forward too. In a YouTube video, some said they were sad but defended the school. “Our teachers work hard; this was just a slip,” one student said.
Despite the apology, many feel it’s not enough. Critics say schools must be honest, especially at national events. The university has promised to check facts better in the future and focus on real projects.
Political Reactions and Broader Impact
The incident did not stay just about the university. Opposition leaders used it to attack the government. Rahul Gandhi, from the Congress party, called the summit a “disorganized spectacle.” In a post on X, he said, “This shows how events like this are more about show than real work. India needs true support for tech, not fake displays.” Other leaders agreed, saying it points to bigger problems in how such summits are run.
Defenders of the event said not to let one mistake ruin the whole thing. A NITI Aayog official, who helps plan these, said, “We have many real successes here. Focus on those.” The summit had talks from global leaders and shows from companies like Tata and Reliance on true Indian tech.
This has sparked talks on ethics in education and tech. Experts say universities must teach honesty along with skills. “If schools fake things, how will students learn right?” asked one tech writer in News18. It also highlights India’s push for “Make in India,” where buying foreign items and claiming them as own goes against the goal.
The event might lead to new rules for expos. Government sources hint at better checks for claims at future summits. For Galgotias, it could mean less trust from students and partners. Parents might think twice before sending kids there.
Lessons for Indian Education and Tech Sector
This story teaches many things. First, honesty is key in showing work. Schools like Galgotias spend a lot on programs, but one wrong step can hurt their name. Second, social media is quick to find lies, so be careful what you say.
For India’s tech world, it’s a reminder to build real things. The country has smart people making drones and robots, like those from IITs or startups. Events like the AI Summit should highlight them, not copies.
Students at universities need better training. If staff make mistakes like this, what about teaching? Galgotias has said they will improve, but time will tell.
Overall, the summit went on, but this shadow remains. It shows India is serious about true progress, even if it means calling out wrongs.
FAQs
What exactly happened at the India AI Impact Summit involving Galgotias University?
At the summit in New Delhi from February 16 to 18, 2026, Galgotias University set up a stall to show their work in smart machines. They displayed a robot dog named “Orion” and a drone, saying these were made at their center for excellence. Professor Neha Singh told visitors it was to inspire students and show Indian skills. But videos showed the robot was the Unitree Go2 from China, and the drone was also a bought item. This led to online anger, and on Day 3, the government told them to leave the stall.
Why was Galgotias University evicted from the summit?
The eviction came because of false claims. Government officials said presenting bought Chinese items as own work hurt the trust in the event. It was meant to show real Indian ideas, not copies. Sources from Bloomberg and Times of India confirmed the order to vacate after the truth came out. The university packed up amid other stalls staying open.
What did Galgotias University say in response?
The university apologized quickly. They said it was a mistake by one person who was not fully informed. Registrar Nitin Kumar Gaur clarified the items were for teaching, not built by them. Professor Singh called it a miscommunication to motivate students. They promised better checks and removed the person from such roles. Students defended the school, saying it was a small error.
How did political leaders react to the incident?
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the summit a “disorganized spectacle” and said it shows poor planning. He urged focus on real help for tech growth. Other leaders criticized too, but supporters said not to ignore the good parts. The government focused on fixing the issue fast.
What does this mean for Indian universities and tech events?
It highlights the need for truth in displays. Universities must verify claims, especially at big events. It could lead to new rules for checking facts. For India, it’s a push to make real products under “Make in India.” Galgotias might face trust issues, but it teaches all schools to be honest.
Is this the first controversy for Galgotias University?
No, in 2024, the university faced backlash when students protested without full knowledge, leading to jokes about education quality. They issued ads to defend themselves then. This new event brings back those questions.
What are some real Indian AI innovations highlighted at the summit?
Despite the issue, the summit showed good work like AI tools for farming from IITs, health apps from startups, and big company projects. Focus shifted to these after the eviction.