Australia will not reverse its ban on the sale of uranium to India but would be open to sharing nuclear technology for civilian uses, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Tuesday.

India ended decades of nuclear isolation when the 45-member Nuclear Suppliers Group countries lifted a global ban on nuclear trade with the Asian giant in Vienna at the weekend, despite New Delhi not signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The group's one-off waiver paves the way for a controversial U.S.-Indian atomic energy deal, which needs to be ratified by the U.S. Congress before the deal is sealed finally.

Australia, a member of the NSG and which has 40 percent of the world's known uranium reserves, has consistently rejected India's pleas to buy nuclear fuel.

They say strict laws prohibit them from selling uranium to countries like India which have not signed the NPT.

"Just as India has a long-standing, complete policy position of not joining the NPT, Australia also has a long-standing policy of not exporting uranium to any country which is not a member of or party to NPT," Smith told a news conference.

"That is something both our nations know well. It is not something that is aimed at India," Smith said in the southern city of Chennai on the second day of a five-day visit to India.

The Indo-U.S. nuclear deal could come up for a vote in Congress this month, while India looks to open informal negotiations for nuclear reactors and uranium supplies.

Australia says it has not closed the door on sharing nuclear technology for medical purposes with India.

"In other areas like, for example, medical technology on a case-by-case basis, export of equipment for use in non-nuclear industry areas can be approved," Smith said.

"That is Australia's long-standing position as well. It has not been disturbed by the NSG arrangement."

Analysts say India could launch a diplomatic offensive to woo sceptical uranium suppliers such as Australia before the U.S. deal goes to the U.S. Congress.

Smith is scheduled to meet top Indian leaders, including the foreign minister, for talks in which the sharing of nuclear technology for civilian use could come up, officials said.

Like China, Australia has denied it objected to India's efforts to seek the NSG waiver.

"I welcome very much the consensus that emerged at the NSG, I think it reflects the fact the world knows India is rising as a great power. It acknowledges that," Smith said.