diff --git a/org.eclipse.jdt.core.tests.model/src/org/eclipse/jdt/core/tests/model/JavaIndexTests.java b/org.eclipse.jdt.core.tests.model/src/org/eclipse/jdt/core/tests/model/JavaIndexTests.java
index 1893d3f..e0958e6 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jdt.core.tests.model/src/org/eclipse/jdt/core/tests/model/JavaIndexTests.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jdt.core.tests.model/src/org/eclipse/jdt/core/tests/model/JavaIndexTests.java
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 import org.eclipse.core.resources.IProject;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.CoreException;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IPath;
+import org.eclipse.core.runtime.IStatus;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.Path;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.preferences.IEclipsePreferences;
 import org.eclipse.core.runtime.preferences.InstanceScope;
@@ -26,7 +27,10 @@
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.IClasspathAttribute;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.IClasspathEntry;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.IJavaElement;
+import org.eclipse.jdt.core.IJavaModelStatus;
+import org.eclipse.jdt.core.IJavaModelStatusConstants;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.IJavaProject;
+import org.eclipse.jdt.core.JavaConventions;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.JavaCore;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.index.*;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.core.search.SearchEngine;
@@ -863,4 +867,155 @@
 			deleteProject("ForIndex");
 		}
 	}
+	
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile reports OK for a valid file
+	public void testValidateIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		try {
+			createJar(new String[] {
+					"pkg/Test.java",
+					"package pkg;\n" +
+					"public class Test {\n" +
+					"  protected Test(int i) {}\n" +
+					"}"}, jarFilePath);
+			
+			JavaIndexer.generateIndexForJar(jarFilePath, indexFilePath);
+			IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new File(indexFilePath).toURL());
+			assertEquals(status.getCode(), IStatus.OK);
+		} finally {
+			new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+			new File(jarFilePath).delete();
+		}
+	}
+	
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile reports error for a non-existent file
+	public void testValidateNonExistentIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+		IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new File(indexFilePath).toURL());
+		assertEquals("Should have been an error", status.getCode(), IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_PRESENT);
+	}
+	
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile reports error for an improper file
+	public void testValidateImproperIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		try {
+			createJar(new String[] {
+					"pkg/Test.java",
+					"package pkg;\n" +
+					"public class Test {\n" +
+					"  protected Test(int i) {}\n" +
+					"}"}, jarFilePath);
+		IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new File(jarFilePath).toURL());
+		assertEquals("Should have been an error", status.getCode(), IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_ABLE_TO_READ);
+		System.out.println(status.getMessage());
+		} finally {
+			new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+			new File(jarFilePath).delete();
+		}
+		
+	}
+	
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile works for a index in jar
+	public void testValidateJarIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		String indexZipPath =  getExternalResourcePath("TestIndex.zip");
+		try {
+			createJar(new String[] {
+					"pkg/Test.java",
+					"package pkg;\n" +
+					"public class Test {\n" +
+					"  protected Test(int i) {}\n" +
+					"}"}, jarFilePath);
+		
+			JavaIndexer.generateIndexForJar(jarFilePath, indexFilePath);
+			Util.zipFiles(new File[]{new File(indexFilePath)}, indexZipPath);
+			String url = "jar:file:"+indexZipPath+"!/Test.index";
+			IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new URL(url));
+			assertEquals(status.getCode(), IStatus.OK);
+		} finally {
+			new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+			new File(jarFilePath).delete();
+			new File(indexZipPath).delete();
+		}
+	}
+	
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile works for a jarurl as an index
+	public void testValidateJarWOFileIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		String indexZipPath =  getExternalResourcePath("TestIndex.zip");
+		try {
+			createJar(new String[] {
+					"pkg/Test.java",
+					"package pkg;\n" +
+					"public class Test {\n" +
+					"  protected Test(int i) {}\n" +
+					"}"}, jarFilePath);
+		
+			JavaIndexer.generateIndexForJar(jarFilePath, indexFilePath);
+			Util.zipFiles(new File[]{new File(indexFilePath)}, indexZipPath);
+			String url = "jar:file:"+indexZipPath+"!/";
+			IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new URL(url));
+			assertEquals(status.getCode(), IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_ABLE_TO_READ);
+		} finally {
+			new File(indexZipPath).delete();
+			new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+			new File(jarFilePath).delete();		
+		}
+	}
+
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile works for non-existing index file in jar
+	public void testValidateNonExistentJarIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		String indexZipPath =  getExternalResourcePath("TestIndexne.zip");
+		try {
+			createJar(new String[] {
+					"pkg/Test.java",
+					"package pkg;\n" +
+					"public class Test {\n" +
+					"  protected Test(int i) {}\n" +
+					"}"}, jarFilePath);
+		
+			JavaIndexer.generateIndexForJar(jarFilePath, indexFilePath);
+			Util.zipFiles(new File[]{new File(indexFilePath)}, indexZipPath);
+			String url = "jar:file:"+indexZipPath+"!/Test1.index";
+			IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new URL(url));
+			assertEquals(status.getCode(), IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_PRESENT);
+		} finally {
+			new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+			new File(jarFilePath).delete();
+			new File(indexZipPath).delete();
+		}
+	}
+
+	// test that the JavaConventions.validateIndexFile works for non-existing index file in jar
+	public void testValidateImproperJarIndex() throws IOException {
+		String indexFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.index");
+		String jarFilePath = getExternalResourcePath("Test.jar");
+		String indexZipPath =  getExternalResourcePath("TestIndex.zip");
+		try {
+			createJar(new String[] {
+					"pkg/Test.java",
+					"package pkg;\n" +
+					"public class Test {\n" +
+					"  protected Test(int i) {}\n" +
+					"}"}, jarFilePath);
+		
+			JavaIndexer.generateIndexForJar(jarFilePath, indexFilePath);
+			Util.zipFiles(new File[]{new File(jarFilePath)}, indexZipPath);
+			String url = "jar:file:"+indexZipPath+"!/Test.jar";
+			IJavaModelStatus status = JavaConventions.validateIndexFile(new Path(jarFilePath), new URL(url));
+			assertEquals(status.getCode(), IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_ABLE_TO_READ);
+		} finally {
+			new File(indexFilePath).delete();
+			new File(jarFilePath).delete();
+			new File(indexZipPath).delete();
+		}
+	}
 }
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/IJavaModelStatusConstants.java b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/IJavaModelStatusConstants.java
index a88db5e..aab0c65 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/IJavaModelStatusConstants.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/IJavaModelStatusConstants.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (c) 2000, 2011 IBM Corporation and others.
+ * Copyright (c) 2000, 2012 IBM Corporation and others.
  * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
  * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
  * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
@@ -352,4 +352,16 @@
 	 * @since 3.6.4
 	 */
 	public static final int OUTPUT_LOCATION_OVERLAPPING_ANOTHER_SOURCE = 1013;
+	
+	/**
+	 * <p>Status constant indicating that the specified index file is not present. </p>
+	 * @since 3.8
+	 */
+	public static final int INDEX_FILE_NOT_PRESENT = 1014;
+	
+	/**
+	 * <p>Status constant indicating that there is an error reading the index file. </p>
+	 * @since 3.8
+	 */
+	public static final int INDEX_FILE_NOT_ABLE_TO_READ = 1015;
 }
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/JavaConventions.java b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/JavaConventions.java
index 8ae6fdc..267f5c3 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/JavaConventions.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/core/JavaConventions.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (c) 2000, 2011 IBM Corporation and others.
+ * Copyright (c) 2000, 2012 IBM Corporation and others.
  * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
  * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
  * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
  *******************************************************************************/
 package org.eclipse.jdt.core;
 
+import java.net.URL;
 import java.util.StringTokenizer;
 
 import org.eclipse.core.resources.IResource;
@@ -628,6 +629,19 @@
 	}
 
 	/**
+	 * Validates the given index file for existence and validity. Returns a Java model status describing the problem related to 
+	 * the index file if any, a status object with code <code>IStatus.OK</code> if the index file is good.
+	 * 
+	 * @param jarLocation the location of the jar
+	 * @param indexURL the URL of the index file, this should not be null
+	 * @return a java model status describing the problem related to this classpath entry if any, a status object with code <code>IStatus.OK</code> if the entry is fine
+	 * @since 3.8
+	 */
+	public static IJavaModelStatus validateIndexFile(IPath jarLocation, URL indexURL) {
+		return ClasspathEntry.validateIndexFile(jarLocation, indexURL);
+	}
+
+	/**
 	 * Validate the given type variable name.
 	 * <p>
 	 * Syntax of a type variable name corresponds to a Java identifier (JLS3 4.3).
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/ClasspathEntry.java b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/ClasspathEntry.java
index 810a6b2..0291bfc 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/ClasspathEntry.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/ClasspathEntry.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (c) 2000, 2011 IBM Corporation and others.
+ * Copyright (c) 2000, 2012 IBM Corporation and others.
  * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
  * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
  * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.compiler.env.AccessRuleSet;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.compiler.impl.CompilerOptions;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.compiler.util.ManifestAnalyzer;
+import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.core.index.Index;
+import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.core.index.IndexLocation;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.core.util.Messages;
 import org.eclipse.jdt.internal.core.util.Util;
 import org.w3c.dom.DOMException;
@@ -2084,6 +2086,30 @@
 		return JavaModelStatus.VERIFIED_OK;
 	}
 
+	/**
+	 * Validates the given index file for existence and validity. Returns a Java model status describing the problem related to 
+	 * the index file if any, a status object with code <code>IStatus.OK</code> if the index file is good.
+	 * 
+	 * @param jarLocation the location of the jar
+	 * @param indexURL the URL of the index file
+	 * @return a java model status describing the problem related to this classpath entry if any, a status object with code <code>IStatus.OK</code> if the entry is fine
+	 * @since 3.8
+	 */
+	public static IJavaModelStatus validateIndexFile(IPath jarLocation, URL indexURL) {
+		IndexLocation indexLocation = IndexLocation.createIndexLocation(indexURL);
+		if (indexLocation == null || !indexLocation.exists()) {
+			return new JavaModelStatus(IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_PRESENT, Messages.bind(Messages.classpath_indexfile_notpresent, indexURL, jarLocation));
+		}
+		try {		
+			new Index(indexLocation, jarLocation.toString(), true);
+			return JavaModelStatus.VERIFIED_OK;
+		} catch (IOException e) {
+			return new JavaModelStatus(IJavaModelStatusConstants.INDEX_FILE_NOT_ABLE_TO_READ, Messages.bind(Messages.classpath_indexfile_errorreading, indexURL, jarLocation));
+		} finally {
+			indexLocation.close();
+		}
+	}
+
 	// https://bugs.eclipse.org/bugs/show_bug.cgi?id=232816, Now we have the facility to include a container
 	// name in diagnostics. If the parameter ``container'' is not null, it is used to point to the library
 	// more fully.
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/Messages.java b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/Messages.java
index ff1cf83..0e5b509 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/Messages.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/Messages.java
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*******************************************************************************
- * Copyright (c) 2000, 2011 IBM Corporation and others.
+ * Copyright (c) 2000, 2012 IBM Corporation and others.
  * All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
  * are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
  * which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@
 	public static String classpath_incompatibleLibraryJDKLevelInContainer;
 	public static String classpath_duplicateEntryExtraAttribute;
 	public static String classpath_deprecated_variable;
+	public static String classpath_indexfile_notpresent;
+	public static String classpath_indexfile_errorreading;
 	public static String file_notFound;
 	public static String file_badFormat;
 	public static String path_nullPath;
diff --git a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/messages.properties b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/messages.properties
index 5af88db..7e0a614 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/messages.properties
+++ b/org.eclipse.jdt.core/model/org/eclipse/jdt/internal/core/util/messages.properties
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ###############################################################################
-# Copyright (c) 2000, 2011 IBM Corporation and others.
+# Copyright (c) 2000, 2012 IBM Corporation and others.
 # All rights reserved. This program and the accompanying materials
 # are made available under the terms of the Eclipse Public License v1.0
 # which accompanies this distribution, and is available at
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@
 classpath_incompatibleLibraryJDKLevelInContainer = Incompatible .class files version in required binaries. Project ''{0}'' is targeting a {1} runtime, but is compiled against ''{2}'' (from the {3}) which requires a {4} runtime
 classpath_duplicateEntryExtraAttribute = Duplicate extra attribute: ''{0}'' in classpath entry ''{1}'' for project ''{2}''
 classpath_deprecated_variable = Classpath variable ''{0}'' in project ''{1}'' is deprecated: {2}
+classpath_indexfile_notpresent = Index file ''{0}'' specified for ''{1}'' is not present
+classpath_indexfile_errorreading = Error reading the index file ''{0}'' specified for ''{1}''
 
 ### miscellaneous
 buffer_closed=Buffer is closed