Cementing their friendly ties, India and Israel on Tuesday signed six agreements for cooperation in combating illicit trafficking of drugs, environment, health, education and culture.

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The agreements signed in the presence of visiting Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee included an accord on waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, service and official passports.

Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Yoses Lapid and Finance Minister Jaswant Singh signed the agreement on cooperation in combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

"Cooperation in anti-trafficking measures, information on trafficking and exchange of experts is envisaged," an external affairs ministry spokesman said.

The accord on visa requirements would allow official and diplomatic passport holders to travel to each other's countries for 90 days. Lapid and External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha signed it.

The agreement on cooperation in the field of health and medicines signed by Lapid and Sinha seeks exchange of specialists and information on equipment, pharmaceutical products and related areas of health.

A plan of cooperation is expected to be worked out under it, the spokesman said.

Lapid and Union Environment Minister T R Baalu inked another accord for protection of environment, which envisages cooperation in areas like afforestation in arid regions, desertification, pollution, water conservation, recycling of waste water, low cost technologies for pollution control and environmental monitoring methods.

The spokesman said an India-Israeli Joint Working Group is to be constituted for implementing environment protection agreement.

Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat and Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi reached an understanding on exchange programme in education field.

A separate work programme would be worked out for implementing the exchange programme, the spokesman said, adding that exchange of research material programmes and academic and administrative staff was envisaged under it.

Livenat and Sinha also signed another agreement for exchanges in the field of art, antiquities, exhibition and national libraries.