The negotiations will be held in Mumbai on Tueday at the International Civil Aviation Negotiations Conference which will be inaugurated by President Pratibha Patil.
Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi and two former ministers -- Praful Patel and Rajiv Pratap Rudy -- will be present along with top officials from airlines and airports.
The conclave comes close on the heels of the Comptroller and Auditor General criticising the government for 'liberally granting' traffic rights to foreign carriers from the Gulf.
The CAG report also flayed the authorities for failing to protect the interests of Air India.
Simultaneously, private Indian carriers want approval to expand international operations -- and airports like Delhi too are pushing the government to allow more foreign flights.
A bilateral agreement grants airlines reciprocal flying rights from respective countries.
However, as the CAG noted, foreign airlines were utilising almost two-third per cent of entitlements, while the Indian carriers were utilising only one-fourth.
Foreign carriers were granted permission to several airports in India, penetrating the domestic market.
CAG had recommended that government freeze or, if possible, roll back some of the entitlements.
"We will uphold India's interests,"' civil aviation secretary Dr Nasim Zaidi stated.
The talks are being held after three rounds of inter-ministerial
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