Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to interact with the envoys Tuesday.

Manmohan Singh is likely to explain to diplomats his reasons for embarking on a 'trust but verify' policy vis-a-vis Pakistan and address their concerns over the Sharm-el-Sheikh joint statement.

The July 16 joint statement, which delinks actions on terror by Pakistan from the composite dialogue process and includes the first-ever reference to Balochistan in a bilateral document, has not gone down well with sections of India's foreign office.

The conference this year has a wider canvas and includes special sessions on soft power projection, climate change, economic diplomacy and WTO negotiations. Interactions with leading think tanks like the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) have also been arranged.

A host of cabinet ministers, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma, Minister of Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi and Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor will address the envoys over the next two days.

The reorganisation and expansion of the Indian foreign office and issues relating to housekeeping will also figure prominently in the discussions.