India N-abled

India has gained international approval for an expansion of its civilian nuclear industry in a deal that will earn billions of dollars for international energy companies but that critics say sets a dangerous precedent for the control of nuclear technology.

A US proposal to allow India to buy nuclear technology and equipment from other countries does not require India to sign the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and has been approved by the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group. The agreement followed three days of debate in Vienna.

Critics of the one-off deal say it creates a dangerous precedent by allowing India to expand its civil nuclear power industry without adhering to any treaties that would interfere with its strategic weapons programme.

Opponents of the deal argue that it undermines arguments for isolating Iran over its nuclear programme and could be a blow for international nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

Under the terms of the deal, India is to separate its civilian and military reactors, placing 14 of its 22 nuclear facilities under international safeguards.

India's prime minister, Manmohan Singh, said the Vienna decision "marked the end of India's decades-long isolation from the nuclear mainstream and of the technology denial regime".