The landmark agreement was approved by the US Congress nearly a week ago. The US Senate approved the deal in a 86-13 vote last week. The House of Representatives earlier passed the agreement by 298-117 votes.

The deal will give India access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for inspections of its civilian, but not military, nuclear facilities.

The US restricted nuclear co-operation with India after it tested a nuclear weapon in 1974.

The US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and Indian Foreign Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, are expected to formally sign the overall bilateral nuclear co-operation accord on Friday. It was first agreed three years ago and is regarded as a key foreign policy priority for both the Indian and US governments.

India and France have also signed a major co-operation pact which paves the way for the sale of French nuclear reactors to Delhi.

France is the world's second largest producer of nuclear energy after the United States. Russia has also been lobbying the Indian government hard on behalf of its firms.