The Fourth International Conference on Federalism will start in New Delhi next week.

Issues expected to figure during the conference include the concept of federal crimes. “This issue can be taken up during a session on policing,” said Amitabha Pande, secretary, Inter-State Council, which is hosting the conference. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the conference on Monday.

Security agencies have been pushing for more information on the concept of federal crimes, particularly in cases of terror strikes and other offences that endanger national security. Several states have, however, opposed such plans and the Centre has spoken about the need to evolve a consensus on the matter.

The main theme of the conference is “Unity in Diversity: Learning from each other”. The theme will be structured over four broad concepts — emerging issues in fiscal federalism, building on and accommodating diversities, interaction in federal systems and local government and federal systems.

Officials associated with the preparations of the conference said Indian delegates would look at areas like distribution of natural resources, wealth and taxes.

Four heads of state and Government will attend the conference. They include President of Comoros Ahmed Abdallah Mohammed Sambi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zanawi, Vice-President of Nigeria Jonathan Goodluck and Bundesprasidentin of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey.