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India and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) met a 2nd time to discuss nuclear safeguards as a step to fulfilling the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal and reports suggest that the talks went well and focused on broad India-specific safeguard issues.

However, agreement is not imminent and India and the IAEA will hold many more rounds of talks before New Delhi signs a safeguards agreement. In March 2006, the two sides evolved a plan to separate civilian and military nuclear facilities and this round takes that discussion forward. As per the March 2006 separation plan, India agreed to include 14 of its 22 thermal nuclear reactors under international oversight regime in a phased manner. India is also discussing a nuclear cooperation agreement with the US in parallel.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told Parliament on March 7, 2006 that India-specific safeguard agreements with the IAEA would protect India against withdrawal of safeguarded nuclear material from civilian use at any time. It will also allow the nation to take corrective measures to ensure uninterrupted operation of its civilian nuclear reactors in the event of disruption of foreign fuel supplies. However he said that Indian initiatives will be calibrated with reciprocal US steps. He also confirmed that the US Government has “accepted this separation plan.” He also asserted earlier that "Should we not be satisfied that our interests are fully secured, we shall not feel pressed to move ahead in a pre-determined manner.” Singh also promised the nation that “Before voluntarily placing our civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards, we will ensure that all restrictions on India have been lifted. Our autonomy of decision-making will not be circumscribed in any manner whatsoever.”