US has put India on a list by which it can now sell sesitive and hi-tech defence equipment to New Delhi

Highlights US eased export controls for high-technology product sales

US recognised India as a "Major Defence Partner" in 2016

Special status provides India with greater supply chain conditions

In a major boost to India, the US today eased export controls for high-technology product sales to New Delhi by designating it as a Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) country, the only South Asian nation to be on the list.

The designation acknowledges the India-US security and economic relationship, said US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. The US had in 2016 recognised India as a "Major Defence Partner"; this allows India to buy more advanced and sensitive technologies from America at par with US' closest allies and partners.

STA-1 status is "a very important change" in India's status in the export control regime, said Mr Ross, responding to a question at the first Indo-Pacific Business Forum organised by the US Chambers of Commerce.

According to the US, the designation authorises the export, re-export and transfer of specified items on the Commerce Control List (CCL) to countries posing a low risk of unauthorised or impermissible use.

India will have greater supply chain conditions for defence and other high-tech products. For India, it also means more integration with US systems and reduces the time and resources needed to get licenses approved, the Commerce Secretary said.

India is the only South Asian nation on the STA-1 list that has 36 countries. Other Asian countries designated as STA-1 are Japan and South Korea. Till recently, India was classified as an STA-2 country along with seven others.

Mr Ross said India has partnered with the United States to improve its own export control regimes and has met most of the export control rules which the US thinks is useful.

According to the US Department of Commerce, items eligible for export to STA-1 nations include those subject to control for national security, chemical or biological weapons, nuclear non-proliferation, regional stability and crime control.