Key Highlights of the Controversy
- Dual Plagiarism: The university presented a Chinese-made “robodog” and a South Korean soccer drone as in-house developments.
- Immediate Expulsion: Government authorities ordered the university to vacate its pavilion, cutting off power to the exhibit.
- International Mockery: Chinese media outlets trolled the institution after the robodog was identified as a commercially available product.
- False Claims: Faculty members claimed “end-to-end” engineering on products easily found on global retail websites for approximately ₹40,000.
- Government Stance: IT Secretary S. Krishnan emphasized zero tolerance for exhibitors misrepresenting third-party products as their own.
Galgotias University, a prominent private institution, has found itself at the center of a national embarrassment during the prestigious AI Summit held in Delhi. The controversy began when the university attempted to showcase high-tech robotics as products of its own research and development. However, eagle-eyed tech enthusiasts and social media users quickly debunked these claims, leading to a swift and humiliating exit for the university representatives.
From “Robodog” to International Trolling
The first blow to the university’s credibility came when a professor presented a sophisticated robot dog, claiming it was a breakthrough by Galgotias’ engineering department. It was soon revealed that the robot was actually a Chinese-made model, available for purchase on the open market. This revelation sparked a wave of criticism in Chinese media, where the university was mocked for attempting to “rebrand” existing technology as a novel Indian innovation.
The embarrassment was so acute that the government intervened almost immediately, ordering the university to shut down its display at the summit to preserve the integrity of the event.
The Soccer Drone Deception
Despite the initial fallout, a second controversy erupted involving a “soccer drone.” Professor Neha Singh, who was previously linked to the robodog presentation, appeared in a viral video explaining that the drone was designed from scratch at the university. She asserted that the project represented India’s first drone soccer arena, located on the Galgotias campus, and claimed that every aspect from engineering to application was handled internally.
Investigations by social media users soon proved otherwise. The product was identified as a soccer drone manufactured by the South Korean “Helsel Group.” The drone is a mass-produced item sold globally for roughly ₹40,000, contradicting the university’s claims of original, “end-to-end” development.
Official Sanctions and Government Reaction
The cumulative effect of these fabrications led to the university’s total expulsion from the summit. In a visible display of the government’s displeasure, the lights at the Galgotias pavilion were cut off, and staff were directed to remove all materials and vacate the premises.
Information Technology Secretary S. Krishnan addressed the incident with gravity, stating that the government would not allow any exhibitor to mislead the public or the industry. He highlighted that such actions undermine the spirit of the “Make in India” initiative and that the government remains committed to showcasing genuine domestic innovation rather than rebranded imports.
This incident has raised serious questions regarding academic integrity and the vetting processes for exhibitors at high-profile national technology summits, marking a significant setback for the university’s public image.
