Obama visit: No great expectations?

New Delhi: The big presidential visit is finally here. Barack Obama's three nights in India will be the longest overseas stay of his presidency.

Coming after his battering in the mid-term polls, this is a President who wants to go back with some economic success in India.

On the table are agreements in development related sectors, but no big bang. As Indian officials have underscored, this is a visit about strengthening what both sides have called one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.

"We look forward to this visit as an important milestone in elevating our global strategic partnership to a new level," said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao.

The two countries are expected to sign agreements in:

• Agriculture

• Space - This would allow ISRO to launch American satellites from Sriharikota, and make it easier for India to launch satellites made by other countries that have US made components.

• Agreements in health

• Clean energy is also on the cards

• The big one is lifting of restrictions on dual use technologies to India - that is still being called a work in progress, though US officials have hinted at some announcement. India wants all restrictions to go and wants to see how far the US will relent on this issue.

Obama's comments on the eve of his trip on the "very difficult and complicated issues" of dual use technologies and a permanent UN Security Council seat for India may have been a bit jarring, but New Delhi has played them down.

"These are issues which are complex, and India and the US are talking about them," said Nirupama Rao.

The Obama visit is quite unlike the Bush one. With no big bang or one big ticket announcement like the nuclear deal, both sides say this is a visit about strengthening the strategic partnership.