New Delhi– London-based academician and researcher Francesca Orsini was denied entry into India upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport on Monday. Government sources said she was blacklisted in March 2025 for allegedly violating the conditions of her tourist visa by undertaking research during previous visits.
Academic background of Francesca Orsini
Orsini is Professor Emerita of Hindi and South Asian Literature at the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics in London. She is a literary historian specialising in Hindi and Urdu texts, with research focusing on multilingualism within South Asian literary cultures.
She had arrived in Delhi from Hong Kong before being deported, and her visit was cut short due to visa violations, officials confirmed.
Visa violation and blacklisting
A senior government official told TOI,
“She was denied entry in line with the visa rules. It had come to the agencies’ notice that she was doing research projects while in India on a tourist visa. This is a clear violation of her visa conditions. As per standard global practice, if a person is found violating visa conditions, he or she can be blacklisted.”
Officials stressed that research work in India requires an ‘R’ visa, which mandates prior approval specifying the research topic, affiliated institutions, locations to be visited, and financial arrangements for the stay.
Public reactions and government stance
Orsini’s deportation prompted criticism on X (formerly Twitter), with some Opposition MPs describing it as an action by a “government that is insecure, paranoid and even stupid”.
Government sources emphasised that every nation has the sovereign right to admit or deny entry to a foreign national.
“In this case, the subject was blacklisted and offering an explanation is not mandatory while deporting a blacklisted person,” the official added.
Precedents in academic deportations
This is not the first instance of deportation of UK academics in India. In February 2024, Nitasha Kaul, another UK scholar, was deported from Bengaluru airport based on a preventive lookout circular. Indian agencies had flagged her for making “pro-separatist” comments and anti-India remarks on Kashmir. Her overseas citizen of India (OCI) status was subsequently cancelled.
Visa requirements for research in India
Foreign nationals wishing to conduct research in India must apply for an ‘R’ visa, providing:
- Details of the research topic and objectives
- Affiliation certificate from a recognised Indian university or institution
- Planned locations for the project
- Evidence of sufficient financial resources
- Record of previous visits to India
Officials reiterated that non-compliance with visa conditions can lead to blacklisting and denial of entry, which is in line with international norms.