While the third day of the AI Impact Summit remained dominated by criticism of Galgotias University over the Chinese robodog controversy, Indian startup General Autonomy appeared to throw shade at the institution as it showcased its own home-built quadruped robot, Param, on social media, declaring “enough of this nonsense.”
“Enough of this nonsense! Presenting PARAM: India’s most powerful indigenous robot dog. Not assembled, not bought, BUILT IN INDIA, built by INDIANS. For our nation, for our century, for our world,” the company wrote in a post on X, sharing a video of the robot dog in action.
Developed as a fully domestic project by General Autonomy, Param represents a shift in India’s robotics ambitions, from assembling imported components to designing and building advanced machines within the country.
The robodog is powered by Nvidia Jetson GPU and actuators, which are the only non-Indian components.
WHAT ARE ROBODOGS?
Quadruped robots, often called robot dogs, are designed to move across rough terrain, climb obstacles, and carry equipment where wheeled machines struggle.
Around the world, such robots are increasingly used in industrial inspection, disaster response, defence operations, and research missions.
While debate continues over earlier robotic showcases in India, companies like xTerra Robotics have been steadily working on practical, deployable systems. The firm recently introduced Svan-2, described as India’s first commercial quadruped robot, marking an important milestone in domestic robotics manufacturing.
Unlike many robots that rely heavily on imported hardware, Indian developers are focusing on indigenous engineering, control systems, and mechanical design. This approach aims to reduce dependence on foreign technology while building expertise in areas such as artificial intelligence, mobility control, and autonomous navigation.
WHAT IS GALGOTIAS UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY?
Noida-based Galgotias University vacated its stall at the India AI Impact Summit on Wednesday after a controversy erupted over a robotic dog displayed at its booth, which critics alleged was a commercially available Chinese product presented as an in-house innovation.
The backlash grew rapidly on social media after technology enthusiasts identified the quadruped robot as an imported model. The incident drew widespread criticism and raised questions about transparency in showcasing technological innovations.
The university maintained that it never claimed to have built the robot, and initially said it had not received any directive from the government regarding the matter. However, amid intense media attention, university officials and faculty members eventually left the pavilion at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, leaving behind an empty stall, and a controversy that continued to dominate discussions around the summit.
Galgotias University later apologised for the confusion surrounding a Chinese-made robotic dog displayed at its pavilion, saying a representative gave “factually incorrect information,
ROBOTICS RISING IN INDIA
The emergence of robots like Param and Svan-2 reflects a broader trend in India’s technology sector, where startups and research groups are moving beyond prototypes toward real-world robotic platforms.
These machines could eventually be used to inspect power plants, patrol sensitive facilities, assist in search-and-rescue missions, or operate in hazardous environments.
Industry observers say the timing is significant. As countries invest heavily in robotics and automation, India is beginning to develop its own hardware ecosystem, not just software capabilities.
Building complex machines such as quadruped robots requires expertise in mechanical engineering, electronics, embedded systems, and AI, making such projects important for long-term technological independence.
Although still in early stages compared to global robotics leaders, indigenous robot-dog development signals that India’s robotics industry is maturing.
