A group of nations that regulates global civilian nuclear trade is due to meet to decide on allowing India to trade in sensitive nuclear materials.
A waiver from the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in the Austrian capital Vienna would help India finalise a nuclear deal with Brazil's president tries to salvage Doha talks ...
Late wickets give Sri Lanka edge ...
Key party backs US-India nuclear deal ... the US.
The UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency has already backed the controversial deal.
India's government says the deal is vital to meet its energy demands.
Critics of the deal say it creates a dangerous precedent - allowing India access to fuel and technology without requiring it to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as other countries must do.
Banned
Indian officials say they will make a presentation and explain India's policy to the NSG members during Thursday's meeting.
The Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed diplomat as saying that there could be up to three meetings of the group before an agreement was reached.
The deal must also be ratified by the US Congress.
The deal would allow India to enter the world market in nuclear fuel and technology - as long as it is for civilian purposes.
It had previously been banned from doing so under the terms of a 30-year embargo imposed because of its testing of atomic bombs and refusal to join the global NPT.
Under the terms of the accord, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel.
In return, Delhi would open its civilian nuclear facilities to inspection - but its nuclear weapons sites would remain off-limits.
Correspondents say that 14 of India's 22 existing or planned reactors would come under regular IAEA surveillance if the deal goes ahead.
The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it first tested a nuclear weapon in 1974.
Critics fear assistance to India's civil programme could free-up additional radioactive material for bomb-making purposes.
(BBC)
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