Thanjavur (PTI): Veteran scientist Prof. C N R Rao has said that the Indo-US civil nuclear deal would propel the country among the superpowers of the world and that New Delhi should seize the opportunity to help operationalise it.

Delivering the 22nd convocation address at Sastra University here this weekend, the 74-year-old Rao, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Council to the Prime Minister, said that the deal would provide India with various competitive advantages to catch up with powerful countries of the world.

Rao, currently the President and Linus Pauling Research Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru Centre in Bangalore, said, "India should seize the opportunity not only because of the current energy crisis but also for the country's improved image in the global order."

At present, India cannot procure much of equipment and fuel to produce nuclear energy, which is why most Indian nuclear reactors worked only to 50 per cent of their actual capacity, he said.

Rao, the recipient of Padmashri, Padma Vibhushan and the French Government's highest civilian award "Knight of the Legion of Honour," said that "one truth" about the deal was that it was conceived during the previous tenure of A B Vajpayee.

It would provide India the freedom to work with countries like Russia and China and other members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). So the deal should be considered as an opportunity to achieve holistic development of the nation.