Galgotias University (GU) is a private university on Yamuna Expressway in Dankaur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It was established in 2011 by Suneel Galgotia. == 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. 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. The University is known for its closeness, engagement with the ruling BJP party and BJP 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". Suneel Galgotia, the founder of the university has publically 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.” 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. == 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. 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. 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. === Dubious research === In 2020, the university faced criticism for publishing a research paper entitled Corona Virus 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. The research paper was later retracted. === 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. 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. 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. This led to the Galgotias University receiving global attention and condemnation. Later, the university issued a press release apologising for the fiasco. == References == == External links == Official website Media related to Galgotias University at Wikimedia Commons