[3] During the Middle Ages, the first Italians to arrive in India were Jesuits and Christian missionaries.
Since the 16th century, many of these Italian Jesuits came to South India, mainly Goa, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Some of the most well known Jesuits in India include Antonio Moscheni, Constanzo Beschi, Roberto de Nobili and Rodolfo Acquaviva In the 1940s, during World War II, the British brought Italian prisoners of war, who were captured in either Europe or North Africa, to Bangalore and Madras.
Italy also maintains an active diplomatic presence in India; apart from an embassy in Delhi, it has consulates in Goa, Mumbai and Kolkata.
In September 2010, on being re-elected for the fourth time, she became the longest serving president in the 125-year history of the Congress.