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VIENNA – The U.N. nuclear watchdog chief said on Friday a basic inspection plan for India met safeguards standards and talks had begun on a system of extended checks, boosting prospects for a U.S.-India nuclear trade accord.

Mohamed ElBaradei spoke at the start of a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s governing board expected to ratify the inspections plan on his recommendation, a precondition for the India-U.S. deal to take force.

The accord would open up to India the world market in atomic materials and technology for civilian use but is controversial since New Delhi has conducted nuclear test explosions and never joined the global Non-Proliferation Treaty .

With a go-ahead from International Atomic Energy Agency governors, India would then seek a waiver from 45 nuclear supplier nations allowing trade with a non-NPT country, then ratification from the U.S. Congress, to finalize the deal. Source Reuters