A lady professor recently stood before cameras and introduced Orion, a robotic dog, as her university’s breakthrough. The device moved on four legs, performed surveillance tasks, and represented everything ambitious about India’s AI revolution. 

Then someone checked the serial number, and the dog spoke Chinese. 

It was a Unitree Go2, mass-produced in China, available online for $1,600. 

Galgotias University had tried to present the machine as part of its “₹350-crore AI innovation” campus. But the demonstration quickly unraveled. 

Officials from the Government of India reportedly asked the university delegation to leave the summit after questions emerged about the claims surrounding the robotic dog.

This incident stings because it feels deeply ingrained. 

Private universities across India have built empires on similar illusions. They spot market trends, create courses overnight, promise cutting-edge training, and deliver polished marketing instead. 

The robot dog simply made the strategy visible. It walked on stage and performed the absurdity in real time.

India embraced private education as a practical solution. Public universities provided only limited seats, while demand exploded after economic liberalisation. The expanding service sector needed skilled workers, and private colleges promised to bridge the gap.

Many institutions........

© Kashmir Observer