On October 1, 2008, the US Senate voted 86-13 to approve the US-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act. The agreement ended a nearly 30-year US ban on nuclear trade with India. India is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has developed a nuclear energy infrastructure and weapons systems outside of NPT restraints. The agreement will allow US businesses to sell nuclear technology, supplies and services to India, and also subjects Indian civilian nuclear reactors to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Arms Control Association criticized the deal as "unprecedented and imprudent," characterizing it as "a nonproliferation disaster."

US President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Singh signing the agreement

Learn more about the US-India nuclear agreement from the Council on Foreign Relations.