conference visa and tourism

Hello,

I'm looking travel to India for an academic conference (I'm presenting a paper, and all presentations are unpaid), and would like to combine my stay with a bit of travel around the country.

Having applied for a conference visa with all the relevant documents from the conference organizers, I've been told I can only be granted a one month conference visa (30 days from date of issue), which is too short for the itinerary I've put together (the flights have been paid for already due to my employer's requirement that all expenses must be claimed by end of June).

The Consulate General of India has advised me that I should travel to India, and then apply for an extension/tourist visa at the local FRRO (Foreigner Regional Registration Office) in Delhi to cover the remainder of my stay. Does anyone have any experience of such applications? Are they very laborious, and are they likely to be granted? (I see from the "paleshadow"'s June 2010 post that he did get one after accidentally overstaying his conference visa)

Any thoughts/adivce/experiences would be really appreciated

From http://mha.nic.in/pdfs/ForeigD-FAQs-...erenceVisa.pdf

Please read the answer to Q4.