WASHINGTON, 18 October 2005 — India and the United States yesterday signed an umbrella science and technology agreement to boost cooperation in areas ranging from health to space technology.

The pact, signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and India’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, notably nailed down intellectual property rights issues that had snagged negotiations since 1993.

It is aimed at expanding collaboration in basic sciences, space, energy, nanotechnology, health and information technology, according to a fact sheet distributed by the State Department.

The agreement, officials said, would also complement the activities of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum, established in 2000.

Rice called the pact “another dramatic illustration of the fast-growing bilateral relationship we are building between the United States and India.”

Sibal said, “This is indeed a very historic occasion. It is indeed a milestone 15 long years after negotiations.”

Relations between the two countries have blossomed in recent years, climaxing with an accord signed by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in July, in which Washington agreed to lift a ban on civilian nuclear technology sales to nuclear armed India. The United States had placed sanctions on India after its second round of nuclear tests in May 1998, but agreed after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks to waive those and other sanctions in return for support in the war on terrorism.

The Bush administration is expected to begin laying out in more detail its plans to change US and international rules so India can acquire restricted nuclear materials under the controversial deal some say undermines non-proliferation standards.

India improved its chances of having new rules approved when it voted with the United States and key European states last month to threaten Iran with referral to the UN Security Council for its nuclear activities.

But some members of the US Congress remain deeply concerned that the US-India deal, agreed in Washington on July 18, is too permissive and will advance, not stem, the spread of nuclear weapons.

There also are doubts about whether India, which has a burgeoning strategic relationship with Tehran, ultimately will vote to send Iran’s case to the Security Council, where sanctions could be imposed.

Several experts and congressional sources said New Delhi has not made a commitment on that issue, which could come before the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors next month.

US officials are expected to present ideas for international rule changes when the 44-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group, which seeks to control nuclear exports, meets in Vienna, US officials and experts said.

Today, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, lead negotiator on the India nuclear deal, will speak on US-India relations to the Asia Society in New York. He later travels to New Delhi for further negotiations with Indian officials.