Galgotias University

Galgotias University
Other name
GU
TypePrivate
Established2011; 15 years ago (2011)
Parent institution
Galgotias Educational Institutions
AccreditationNAAC (A+)
ChairmanSuneel Galgotia
Vice-ChancellorK. Mallikharjuna Babu
Academic staff
691 (2021)[1]
Administrative staff
921
Students13, 626 (2019-20)[2]
Location
Dankaur, Greater Noida
,
Uttar Pradesh
,
India
CampusUrban, 52 acres
ColoursRed, yellow and blue
AffiliationsUGC
Websitegalgotiasuniversity.edu.in
Map

Galgotias University (GU) is a private university on Yamuna Expressway in Dankaur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was established in 2011 by Suneel Galgotia.[3][4]

History

Between 2008-9, lands were acquired from farmers by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) at lower than market rates through invocation of an urgency clause under the Land Acquisition Act 1894. Later, these acquired lands were allotted to educational institutes, including to the Galgotias. Following the 2011 Gajraj case in Allahabad High Court which ruled that urgency clause was wrongly applied in the Greater Noida region and farmers were entitled to 64.7% extra compensation from land allottees. This benefit was extended to farmers who sold their lands to YEIDA, making them entitled to compensation from educational institutes that were allotted the land.[5]

This made Galgotias liable to pay an additional 12 crores to farmers, this demand was challenged by Galgotias under the Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society in the court, where it remains pending to this day.[5]

Controversies

2014 Loan default, forgery and fraud case

In September 2014, an FIR was registered against the Galgotias over failure to pay the high interest loan installments for a loan they had borrowed from a private finance company to fund the University's parent group.[5] The case began when the parent organization, Shakuntala Educational and Welfare Society, failed to repay high-interest loans (20–26%) worth more than ₹100–120 crore that it had taken from a private finance company, SE Investments Ltd, between 2000 and 2012. These loans were supported by post-dated cheques and personal guarantees. There were also allegations that fake documents were used and that affiliations were misrepresented. In October 2014, Dhruv Galgotia (then CEO) and his mother, Padmini Galgotia, were arrested.[6] Both together spent 14 days in judicial custody and were later released on bail. Later, parts of the case were treated as a civil dispute and were quashed by the courts. An arbitrator directed that the money be repaid with interest, though the interest amount was later reduced.[5]

Dubious research

In 2020, the university faced criticism for publishing a research paper entitled Coronavirus killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis, claiming that sounds vibrations from Narendra Modi's thali (metal plate) banging campaign could kill the COVID-19 virus.[7][8] The research paper was later retracted.[9][10][11]

AI Summit false credit controversy

In February 2026, the university was participating in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. During media interaction with DD News, a member of the university demonstrated Unitree Go2 robot and claimed that the robot was "developed at the centre of excellence at the Galgotias University". Netizens scrutinised the claim and debunked it.[12][13] The same member of the university had also demonstrated a soccer drone, saying it was built and developed at the university. This was also debunked later by netizens.[14][15]

Subsequently, the 'false claim' by the university was trending on social media across the globe. On the following day, the Government of India expelled the university from the AI Summit. The university was first asked to leave, and then forced after the lights to their pavilion were cut off.[16][17]

This led to the Galgotias University receiving global attention and condemnation.[18][19] Later, the university issued a press release apologising for the fiasco.[20]

Galgotias syndrome

The Wire (India), coined the term "Galgotias Syndrome" to describe recent 2026 AI India summit fallout as emblematic of a broader pattern in some Indian institutions and showcases: exaggerated or fraudulent claims of innovation, prioritisation of optics and political alignment over substantive research, and rebranding imported technology as homegrown under pressure to demonstrate "indigenous excellence."[21]

In the past, university is known for its closeness and engagement with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and its politicians. Over the years many BJP politicians including Sambit Patra and Yogi Adityanath have attended the events organised by the university. Yogi Adityanath called the university "model for other institutions in the state’s education sector".[22][5]

Suneel Galgotia, the founder of the university has publicly acknowledged university's commitment to vision of BJP leadership, saying "We remain committed to realising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of making India a developed nation and a global leader and Vishwa Guru, and to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's dream of establishing UP as a global knowledge superpower."[5]

In 2024, the university attracted coverage when its students were protesting against the Indian National Congress's manifesto, however, the interviews with the students showed that they had no knowledge about what they were protesting against. Some students could not even read Hindi or English from the placards they were holding.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ "SELF-STUDY REPORT FOR 1st CYCLE OF ACCREDITATION Submitted to National Assessment and Accreditation Council" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "SELF-STUDY REPORT FOR 1st CYCLE OF ACCREDITATION Submitted to National Assessment and Accreditation Council" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Galgotia College". galgotiacollege.edu. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ^ "Create job providers rather than job seekers". The Times of India. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Goyal, Prateek (19 February 2026). "The making of Galgotias: An expansion powered by land deals and media blitz". Newslaundry. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  6. ^ "Galgotia's Wife & Son Of Galgotias University Arrested For Forgery | News Buzz". NewsBuzz. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  7. ^ Mishra, Anurag (19 February 2026). "'थाली पीटने से कोरोना वायरस मर जाएगा' किरकिरी के बीच गलगोटिया यूनिवर्सिटी का शोध कहां से आया?" [Where did Galgotias University’s research come from amid the controversy over the claim that ‘coronavirus will die by beating plates’?]. Zee-Hindi (in Hindi). Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  8. ^ Mishra, Piyush (18 February 2026). "Galgotias University vacates AI Summit stall after Chinese robodog fiasco: Sources". India Today. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  9. ^ Soltani, Parisa; Patini, Romeo (2020). "Retracted COVID-19 articles: a side-effect of the hot race to publication". Scientometrics. 125 (1): 819–822. doi:10.1007/s11192-020-03661-9. ISSN 0138-9130. PMC 7405382. PMID 32836531.
  10. ^ Kamat, Soumil (20 February 2026). "Galgotias University Retracts Research Paper Claiming Sound Vibrations Kill Coronavirus". NDTV Profit. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  11. ^ Ali, Prantik (19 February 2026). "Galgotias fiasco: Misinformation can't be encouraged, says govt after big-ticket AI summit goes to the dogs". Alt News. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
  12. ^ "China-made tech, clarification, and then AI Summit exit: The Galgotias university robodog fiasco explained". Hindustan Times. 18 February 2026.
  13. ^ "'झूठी जानकारी को बढ़ावा नहीं...', गलगोटिया यूनिवर्सिटी के तीन ब्लंडर्स, सरकार ने बताई Expo से बाहर करने की वजह". AajTak (in Hindi). 18 February 2026.
  14. ^ "Troubles for Galgotias not over. Soccer drone at AI Summit stirs row". India Today. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  15. ^ "Troubles for Galgotias not over. Soccer drone at AI Summit stirs row". India Today. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  16. ^ "Robodog row: Galgotias out of AI Summit". Hindustan Times. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  17. ^ Banerjee, Aveek (18 February 2026). "Lights Off, Pack Up: Galgotias University Leaves AI Summit Amid Chinese Robodog Row". News18 India.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ "Robot dog: Galgotias University faces backlash for claiming Chinese product as own at India AI summit". www.bbc.com. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  19. ^ Roy, Rajesh (18 February 2026). "A robotic dog made in China gets an Indian university kicked out of an AI summit". AP News. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  20. ^ "Galgotias RoboDog Row: University Issues Official Apology". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  21. ^ K. Jha, Sanjay. "Politic | The Galgotias Syndrome That Plagues India". The Wire. Retrieved 22 February 2026.
  22. ^ Tulsian, Vrinda (19 February 2026). "'Urban Maxwell', ministers' blessings & a Chinese robot meme fest. The Galgotias University story". ThePrint. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  23. ^ Jain, Vrinda (2 May 2024). "Why is Galgotias University trending? All you need to know about students' protest against Congress". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  24. ^ "Galgotias University students' protest goes viral for all the wrong reasons". www.business-standard.com. 2 May 2024. Archived from the original on 6 May 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2026.

allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galgotias_University