After three days of deliberation in Vienna, the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), which regulates global nuclear trade, has bent its rules to allow India to trade with member countries in order to expand Indian civilian nuclear operations.

India has been barred from trading since it first tested nuclear weapons in 1974. The NSG's decision was the result of intense lobbying by the United States — which has a landmark agreement with India pending congressional approval — and support from France and Russia.

The NSG waiver follows a similar endorsement from the International Atomic Energy Agency in July. These actions stand to grant India access to nuclear fuel and technology for energy without its having to sign a non-proliferation agreement. The Communist Party of India called for the Indo-US nuclear deal to be quashed, saying it infringes India's sovereignty.