India, May 31 -- Key disputes over dairy, agriculture and patents cloud trade negotiations.

The proposed trade arrangement between India and the United States faces long odds of advancing in its present form, with senior RSS-linked figures arguing that unless Washington drops its demands on dairy access, agriculture and data exclusivity provisions, the negotiations cannot meaningfully progress.

The assessment comes even as a US trade delegation is expected in India from June 1 to 4 for negotiations aimed at advancing an interim arrangement under the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement framework, the latest in months of sustained engagement between the two sides.

Indian negotiators travelled to Washington in April for talks that officials...