President Pratibha Patil will inaugurate the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) at Hyderabad Aug 19, an official said Monday.

About 3,000 delegates from across the globe are expected to gather at Hyderabad during the nine-day meet, the biggest and the most prestigious International meeting of mathematicians that takes places every four years. The Congress is being held in India for the first time.

The president will give away the the prestigious Fields Medal awarded to promising young mathematicians under the age of 40.