New Delhi: Following backlash, Galgotias University has been instructed to clear its booth on Wednesday (February 18) at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, as per reports. The controversy started after the university showcased a robotic dog at the event claiming that it was created by its Centre of Excellence. Internet users soon pointed out that the machine matched the Unitree Go2, built by a Chinese firm.News agency PTI reported that power was cut off at the pavilion of the university after it was asked to vacate the expo.After vacating the premises, the institution issued a press release apologising “profusely” for the “confusion created”.“We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press,” N.K. Gaur, registrar of Galgotias University wrote in the press release.He added: “We request your kind understanding as there was no institutional intent to misrepresent this innovation. Galgotias University remains firmly committed to academic integrity, transparency, and responsible representation of our work. Understanding the organisers sentiment we have vacated the premises.”While speaking to Doordarshan, a representative of the university Neha Singh said that the quadruped robot under the name “Orion” is developed in their campus. She underlined that the robot is capable of doing surveillance and other activities. Singh even suggested that the university was investing over Rs 350 crore for developing AI models.Glagotias University and Doordarshan are made for each other. pic.twitter.com/5iPgIJLQJE— Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) February 17, 2026This claim caused major embarrassment as internet users and several media outlets that cover Chinese and Eurasian news slammed the AI exhibit from the Galgotias University calling it a sham. They underlined that the university was showcasing Unitree Go2, which is a ready-made robotic dog manufactured by Chinese firm Unitree Robotics. The model is available for purchase online in India at prices ranging from Rs 2-3 lakh. Basically, the university presented an imported technology as a homegrown product.JUST IN:An Indian university presents the Chinese robot Unitree Go2 as their own innovation at the AI Summit in Delhi.pic.twitter.com/facktSieyb— China pulse 🇨🇳 (@Eng_china5) February 17, 2026Galgotias Private University showcased a Robot at the AI Summit in Delhi.Media went into celebration mode as the University claimed ₹350 crore was spent on it.Reality? The same robot is made by a Chinese company and is available in the market for just $2800.Who funded this… pic.twitter.com/MYu6B7omJR— Prashant Kanojia (@KanojiaPJ) February 17, 2026Other universities improve your CV.Galgotia University improves your Ctrl-C Ctrl-V.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) February 18, 2026Later, the university issued a clarification on X stating that the robotic dog had been acquired from Unitree and was being used solely for academic purposes. The institution maintained that it had not claimed to have manufactured the robot, even though statements made by its staff at the event suggested otherwise.“At Galgotias university our mission has always been clear — to keep our students ahead of the curve in technology,not just for today’s world, but for the world that is unfolding tomorrow. From the United States to China, from Singapore to every global hub of innovation, we have consistently brought cutting-edge technologies to our campus. Why? Because exposure creates vision. And vision creates creators,” the statement read.It added: “The recently acquired Robodog from Unitree is one such step in that journey. It is not merely a machine on display — it is a classroom in motion. Our students are experimenting with it, testing its limits, and in the process, expanding their own knowledge. Let us be clear — Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat.”pic.twitter.com/cgBbhld876— Galgotias University (@GalgotiasGU) February 17, 2026In another statement, the university said a “propaganda campaign” is being run against it.pic.twitter.com/0h8GNo4lTD— Galgotias University (@GalgotiasGU) February 17, 2026Fact checker Mohammed Zubair pointed out that Doordarshan has taken down the video where the Galgotia university representative is seen presenting their exhibits at the AI summit.So @DDNewslive deleted this video of @GalgotiasGU. pic.twitter.com/d6dQ6nAHpZ— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 17, 2026Speaking to media persons, Singh provided a bizarre explanation after facing backlash saying that her words were misinterpreted and “development doesn’t mean designing and manufacturing” .“Mislead is a big word. Because of one wrong misinterpretation the internet has gone by storm. Maybe people do not have time to sensibly listen to and understand things. We can explain where we went wrong. Your six can be my nine. Maybe I was not able to explain properly due to paucity of time or due to noise… We are a responsible institution… We have never claimed that we have manufactured it. Development doesn’t mean designing and manufacturing,” Singh said.Clarification by Neha Singh of Galgotias University. pic.twitter.com/uGgkengah0 https://t.co/dGyOPA21O0— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) February 18, 2026This is not all.The university also claimed that they have built a soccer drone from scratch. “So they basically, from the end-to-end engineering to the application, we have a simulation lab to an application arena and that’s India’s first soccer arena on campus,” a Galgotias University employee can be heard saying on videos surfacing online.Like the robot, social media users point out that the drone is also a commercially available model known as the Striker V3 ARF. It is available in India for around Rs 40,000. The Helsel Striker V3 is a soccer drone developed by South Korea’s Helsel Group for drone sports, NDTV reported.Notably, this is not the first time that the university has been at the centre of a controversy.In August 2020, Galgotias university research scholar Dharmendra Kumar published a paper titled: “Corona virus killed by sound vibrations produced by Thali or Ghanti: A potential hypothesis.” This was retracted by the journal.Please do not enroll your children into Galgotias University in India even though it was awarded the best private University by our honorable Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi.The Journal of Molecular Pharmaceuticals and Regulatory Affairs is a retired journal.Last… pic.twitter.com/QmytMt0n8c— TheLiverDoc™ (@theliverdoc) May 2, 2024In May 2024, a viral video of Galgotias University students unable to explain the motive behind their protest against Congress party in front of the party headquarters in Delhi drew laughter and criticism on social media. In a video posted by Aaj Tak, the students were seen carrying placards with the words inheritance tax, and “urban naxals”, among others. However, upon being quizzed by journalist Ashutosh Mishra, the students were unable to explain why there were protesting.This article is updated with the statement issued by Galgotias University after vacating their pavilion at the India AI Summit and republished at 7.35 pm IST on February 18, 2026.