Galgotias University's booth was bigger than space given to four IITs combined at AI Expo

• Galgotias University evicted from AI Impact Expo for display.
• University showcased a Chinese robot dog as its own innovation
• Expo space was allotted on a first-come, first-served basis

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The recent eviction of Galgotias University from the India AI Impact Expo has drawn attention to how exhibition space was allotted and monitored at the high-profile event meant to showcase India's technological achievements.

The expo, held at Bharat Mandapam, was organised under the supervision of the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).

Galgotias University, a private institution, was allotted a 155-square-metre booth in Hall 6. This was more than 15% larger than the combined space given to four Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and a research foundation located in the same hall.

Space allotted on first-come basis

According to organisers, exhibition space was given on a first-come-first-served basis. There was no formal vetting process to check in advance what institutions planned to display at their booths. An official associated with the event said the allocation was done purely based on demand, The Indian Express reported.

Floor plans from the organisers show that IIT Bombay and IIT Chennai were each allotted 35 square metres, IIT Kharagpur received 24 square metres, IIT Gandhinagar 18 square metres, and the Airawat Research Foundation at IIT Kanpur was given 18 square metres. Together, these institutions had 130 square metres, less than what Galgotias received alone.

The participation fee was fixed at Rs 9,000 per square metre for academic institutions. Based on this rate, Galgotias paid around Rs 14 lakh, excluding taxes and electricity charges.

Controversy over Chinese robot dog

The controversy began when a professor, Neha Singh, at the Galgotias booth presented a Unitree Go2 robot dog as a product developed by the university. The robot is manufactured by Unitree Robotics, a Chinese company. The claim led to criticism, with many questioning the authenticity of the display at a government-backed event focused on Indian innovation.

Following the backlash, authorities asked the university to vacate its stall. Galgotias later issued an apology.

No prior checks on exhibits

An official involved in selecting exhibitors said the organisers expected institutions to act responsibly. “We were of the view that exhibitors would self-police and not display things they had no right to claim ownership over. The expo was planned according to international standards, and we did not want to direct what exhibitors can and cannot display,” the official said.

STPI was responsible for organising the expo and renting out exhibition space.

Government stresses ‘genuine work’

S Krishnan, Secretary at MeitY, said the government wanted only original work to be showcased at the summit. “We want genuine and actual work to be exhibited. We don’t want a controversial agency which has misled the public,” he said.

“This is an exhibition meant for demonstration,” Krishnan added, noting that while such events do not involve formal certification, they are not meant to promote misleading claims.

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 website lists the following in its FAQ section:

Q. How can exhibitors book a stall or space?

A. Exhibitors must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the official website. Upon approval, payment links and allocation details will be shared.

This is followed by a separate Q&A outlining the standard charges for Indian exhibitors, with rates specified under each category.