Vienna  - India took another step towards implementing its nuclear pact with the United States Wednesday, when it circulated its nuclear inspection agreement with the International Atomic Energy Ageny (IAEA) among member states, the IAEA said in a statement.

Before US legislators can approve the US-India nuclear agreement which gives India access to civilian nuclear technology, the IAEA Board of Governors has to approve a so-called Safeguards Agreement that will allow international nuclear inspections in India.

"The Chairman of the Board is consulting with Board members to agree on a date for a Board meeting when the Agreement would be considered," the IAEA statement said.

Board members are considering meeting at the end of July to approve the inspection agreement, a European diplomat told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

But other Western diplomats have said their governments would require four weeks to assess the safeguards agreement.

Through the safeguards agreement, the IAEA would be able to inspect additional power reactors in India, as New Delhi pledged to separate its military and civilian nuclear programmes under its pact with the US. (dpa)