A day after United States Senators set May as the deadline for conclusion of steps on the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, government on Thursday said efforts are being made to build domestic consensus and national interest will be uppermost while taking a decision on the issue.

"We live in a democracy and in an era of coalitions... there have been efforts to build a consensus and the efforts continue," Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma told media persons when asked to comment on the deadline set by Senators for the deal to the US Congress.

Quoting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], Sharma said, "National interest will be uppermost in the mind while taking a decision on the issue. The nuclear deal with the US will serve India's supreme national interest and enable the country's integration in the global mainstream to use civilian nuclear energy."

Three influential US Senators had said the negotiations with IAEA and Nuclear Suppliers Group should be wound up by May failing which New Delhi will not get a 'similar' deal.