The government today said the End User Monitoring (EUM) agreement with the United States enhances India's access to best technology to meet its security requirements and does not dilute the country's defence policy.
"EUM in no way dilutes India's defence policy but rather enhances India's access to the best technology required to meet her security requirements," Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said in a written reply to a Rajya Sabha query.
She said that India and US have agreed on a new standard EUM clause that will be included in Letters of Offer and Acceptance for acquisition of defence articles and equipment to be acquired by government of India from US government. "No blanket agreement has been signed," she said.
The minister said that as per the agreed formulation, the US will have to consult India before relevant equipment is made available for verification at an agreed date, time and place.
During US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to India from July 17-21, India had agreed on a new standard EUM with the US.