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Final approval came as the Senate voted to ratify the deal, 86-13, sending the legislation to Bush to sign into law. The Senate's move came just ahead of an expected trip to India this weekend by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
Bush said he looks forward to signing the bill into law.
"This legislation will strengthen our global nuclear nonproliferation efforts, protect the environment, create jobs, and assist India in meeting its growing energy needs in a responsible manner," Bush said in a statement.
The Bush administration says the pact will secure a strategic partnership with the world's largest democracy, help India meet its rising energy demand and open up a market worth billions.
But critics say the deal does grave damage to global efforts to contain the spread of nuclear weapons, by letting India import nuclear fuel and technology even though it has tested nuclear weapons and never signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"The US-Indian Agreement for Nuclear Cooperation is, nonetheless, a nonproliferation disaster," said Daryl Kimball, head of the Arms Control Association.
"Contrary to the counterfactual claims of proponents and apologists, it does not bring India into the "nonproliferation mainstream."
The ACA is a non-partisan Washington-based arms control policy organization.
India has a yawning energy deficit, and the accord opens up this market worth billions to American companies such as General Electric and Westinghouse Electric, a unit of Japan's Toshiba Corp.
Rice spent much of the past month in an all-out effort to persuade Congress to approve the pact, which the Bush administration says will transform the US-India relationship. Bush wanted the deal approved before leaving office in January; Congress is expected to adjourn soon for elections.
The accord enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, where many lawmakers favored it as a way to create jobs in the US civil nuclear industry while cultivating the small but affluent Indian-American community.
Critics said the deal was deeply unwise, overturning decades of US policy of refusing to sell nuclear technology to nations lacking full safeguards against that technology's diversion into nuclear weapons programs.
IRAN CONCERNS
"Why are we rushing to pass this gravely flawed agreement?" demanded Sen. Tom Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, before the vote. There was nothing in it, he said, to prevent India from resuming nuclear testing. India, which first detonated a nuclear device in 1974, last tested in 1998.
The deal would also weaken US efforts to deny Iran a nuclear weapon, Harkin said. He said Indian entities already had sold sensitive missile technologies to Iran, which the Bush administration suspects is pursuing a nuclear bomb.
But supporters said they expected India to move quickly to negotiate a new safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"The benefits of this pact are designed to be a lasting incentive for India to abstain from further nuclear weapons tests and to cooperate closely with the United States in stopping proliferation," Indiana Republican Sen. Richard Lugar said.
Before approving the pact, the Senate rejected an amendment by Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico and Sen. Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, both Democrats, making clear that another Indian nuclear test would lead to termination of the deal.
Lugar argued the amendment was unnecessary, saying India had been warned repeatedly that the consequences of another test would be "dire": US nuclear trade would be cut off.
The deal could open up around $27 billion in investments in 18-20 nuclear plants in India over the next 15 years, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry.
But there is global competition. France announced on Tuesday that it had signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with India, and Russia is already building two 1,000 megawatt reactors in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
Local media say India's monopoly Nuclear Power Corp has tentatively picked four suppliers, including Westinghouse Electric and France's Areva, for planned new projects.
India is also reported to be negotiating with General Electric, Japan's Hitachi Ltd and Russia's atomic energy agency Rosatom.
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This is perhaps the biggest achievement Congress has achieved in its past half century rule.Hail Mr. Prime minister. Still a lot needs to be done. No time for rest. We need to work on population control and infrastructure.
It is very ironic that Communists and the B.J.P. should find the same platform.What Pandit Nehru said during his days that India's twin problems are Communism and communalism. So true even today.
It is not a great deal. It is expected. The Communists are correct.
God bless Shri Manmohan Singh. Actions speak much louder than the words. Unlike Advani's prediction this silent PM proved to be a very honest and fearless man. Lets not talk about communists as they are traitors in my view. BJP played dirty politics and lost a wonderful to opportunity to establish itself as a matured oppsition party and win over hearts. History will show Manmohan Singh as one of the greatest prime minister.
The nuclear deal with USA will prove Manmohan Singh's one of the many failures in the Indian History.France or other nuclear nations have never entered into such deals with so called super powers USA and Russia.Manmohan Singh should have drawn some Wisdom from the stand taken by Iran and North Korea.
Mr Prakash Karat who lives in air conditioned air should know that people in villages do not have electricity to cook their dinner and yet he wants to deny this to people simply because of their leftist hatred of US.But they are mum when Chinese invades India or insults India.Shame on CPI and CPM.
US-India nuclear agreement is a landmark development as was Pandit Nehru's IIT establishment, PM Narshimha Rao's privatization of PSU and PM Vajpayee's National Highway building progemme. Now, it is upto planners in India to use Nuclear power generation along with hydro, wind, solar and oceanic tide strategically for most efficient and economical generation and distribution of electric power in the country. This is a herculeaus task with olympic challenge. Our gratitude to all those including our PM Manmohan Singh for making this possible.
People of India owe gratitude to all involved, particularly, PM Manmohan Singh for successfully concluding US-India Nuclear agreement that should provide a big boost to electric power generation capacity. This should go down in history as important turning point as Pandit Nehru's IITs, PM Narsimha Rao's privatization of PSUs and taking part in globalization of our economy, PM Vajpayee's Highway building plan in development of our great country. However, renewal energy sources such as hydroelectric, solar, wind and ocean tide must be strategically developed together with Nuclear power for most efficient and economical distribution of electric power throughout country. Now the real job lies ahead of implementing such scheme. The success of electrification of our country will depend how well all resources are utilized. This will be India's Olympic challenge. We must all work very hard as Chinese did for their Olympic.
landmark deal. Good for energy starving india, good for bi-lateral trade between U.S.
This is a great day for Bharat on Gandhiji's birthday. Joy Bharat.Indias enemies like communists,islamists are opposing this as they do not want India to be strong.It is regrettable that BJP is opposing. They are making a big mistake which they will realise at a later date.
A landmark
It is good for India
D.N.Barola welcomes the approval of the Nuclear deal by the Senate of United States. It is a great day for India. With the President Bush's signatures the nuclear deal is going to become a reality. Now we are the sixth Nuclear Power in the world. The prestige of India have tremendously gone high. This also paves a way for a permanent seat in the security council of the United Nations. This no doubt is a victory for Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and Madam Sonia Gandhi
India has come full circle in its pursuit of nuclear energy.Last India {Bharat} heard was in the battlefield, when Lord Krishna chastised Arjun for its cowardice for not standing up and fighting its enemies, if you do not I will and break my vow , not to be neutral between you both and use my nuclear weapon to destroy the world, "STAND UP AND PROTECT YOUR COUNTRYAND LET THE WORLD KNOWS THAT TRUTH ALWAYS TRUMPH OVER LIES,"and Vir Manmohan Singh stood up and fought its critics, C.P.I and won.A new day has dawn in India history, make no mistake, India is on its way to solve its energy and security problems.Long after we all are gone, country will remember Manmohan Singh and its colleagues in leading India to its new glorious future.It is fittting present today to Mahatama Gandhi birthday,{He may not approve it} to keep future generation keep his sacrifices, "ALIVE', the guy who fought all his life for TRUTH, and died protecting IT.HINDI, America, bhai bhai. Long live democracies.
The communists opposed economic liberalization, computerization, industrialization now the same chaps are begging Ratan Tata to start his Nano plant in Singur. They opposed Mahatma Gandhi during Freedom struggle, They opposed Netaji Subash Chandra Bose, They supported China in 1962, They opposed EPF from investing in Mutual Funds but silently they invested their Party funds in Mutual funds and made profits. They opposed this Nuclear deal at the behest of their masters China. Bloody turncoats
PM has done a great job for India - I wish he has taken such a stand couple of years before and enabled India's progress anf growth - as the saying goes better late than neverJai Hind
It is the second economic liberalization of Dr. Manmohan Singh. What ever L.K. Advani may say out of frustration about Dr. Singh, We believe that Dr. Singh is honest and has India's interest at heart.
IF THIS DEAL IS REALLY A TRANSPARENT ONE WITHOUT ANY SECRETIVE SUB DEAL ACCOMODATING AMERICA TO BULLY US IN FUTURE IN MATTERS SUCH AS TESTS , CTBT NPT ETC THUS PUTTING INDIA IN JEOPARDY .. AND THE DETAILS OF THE DEAL ARE MADE PUBLIC FOR EVERY INDIAN TO KNOW HIS // /HER COUNTRY'S FUTURE THEN I WOULD SAY " GREAT ACHIEVEMENT BY OUR P.M -- MR.MANMOHAN SINGH "
Congrats to all Indian. India has arrived in the international arena and no longer any power on earth can suppress India. This is the reason for US to change their rule and also for NSG to approve. I am proud that we have a prime minister with vision, conviction and courage to do what ever is best for our country, even at the cost of his chair. The communists and BJP are surely siding with china and Pakistan to defeat India, but it will not happen. Jai Hind
Congrats to all Indian. India has arrived in the international arena and no longer any power on earth can suppress India. This is the reason for US to change their rule and also for NSG to approve. I am proud that we have a prime minister with vision, conviction and courage to do what ever is best for our country, even at the cost of his chair. The communists and BJP are surely siding with china and Pakistan to defeat India, but it will not happen. Jai Hind
The grit and determination shown by the Pm paid off and India can hope to get over power shortages era and usher in greater economic growth.Karat si now rueing waht he did and he is shown in poor light(pun intended).
Perhaps we will get to read the agreement now???Singh is a true civil servant - hats off to him for getting the agreement through.
All I can say is YESSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
This is awesome! Finally!! Congratulations to the PM and kick to all those opposing the deal.
My country has been sold by CONG(I). This Govt. is going to sign CTBT. Cong(I) is a cheat. They said, they will be comming to parliament before "operationalization" of this deal? Manmohan.........you are a cheat, lier.
Do you know what CTBT /NPT means and what a unilateral moratorium means ?Go update your knowledge before singing the BJP/Left song
Soon after winning next election BJP/NDA should renegotiate this unfavorable deal.
He said "permit me to go to IAEA and NSG then I will come to parliament for Indo-US deal", but selfish Karat and Advani did not allow, so he came to parliament before the IAEA and NSG, so why to come again and talk with selfish people. If I have power then I will ban them from election for five years.