I doubt anyone in the silicon valley believes that. Most large tech companies have engineering centers in India doing real work and there are quite a few India

I doubt anyone in the silicon valley believes that. Most large tech companies have engineering centers in India doing real work and there are quite a few Indian expats here doing serious engineering work. I think the reputation you describe comes specifically from the low-cost IT outsourcing firms. My personal experience reflects this. I've managed and worked with large teams in India that did great work. My experiences with outsourcing firms haven't been as good.