The sources, who asked not to be named, said the agreement was due to be signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Washington.

The pact will provide India with access to US nuclear fuel, reactors and technology, overturning a ban on such trade instituted in 1974 when India first conducted a nuclear test.

President George W. Bush will sign into law US legislation that underpins the agreement on Wednesday, a week after the bill was ratified by Congress.

The India-US deal could open up around US$27 billion (S$40 billion) in investment in 18 to 20 nuclear plants in India over the next 15 years, according to the Confederation of Indian Industry. -- REUTERS