Australia and India are close partners, with strong and growing strategic, economic and community ties. Diplomatic relations between Australia and India were established in the pre-Independence period when the Consulate-General of India was first opened as a Trade Office in Sydney in 1941. In March 1944, Lieutenant General Iven Mackay took up his first position as Australia’s first High Commissioner to India.
Australia now has five diplomatic missions in India, with the Australian High Commission based in New Delhi and Consulate Generals located in Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai.
Bilateral Relationship
The Australia-India relationship was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic partnership in June 2020. Our relationship is based on mutual understanding, friendship and a shared vision of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. We are committed to collaborating on science and technology, maritime cooperation, trade and investment, defence ties, agriculture, education and tourism.
The close partnership between Australia and India is reflected in the high tempo of engagement between our leaders and Ministers. Australia is one of only three countries with which India holds annual leader-level summits. Both leaders also interact frequently at multilateral fora such as the Quad, G20, and East Asia Summit.
On 19 November 2024, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Modi met at the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and in its margins for the 2nd Australia-India Annual Summit.
The Australian and Indian Foreign Ministers come together annually for the Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue. The dialogue is an important forum for advancing our ambitious bilateral agenda. Australian and Indian Foreign and Defence Ministers meet every second year to discuss strategic issues in a ‘2+2’ format. The 2+2 Joint Statement articulates our bilateral priorities.
Since 1989, the Australia-India Joint Ministerial Commission meetings have provided a forum for Australian and Indian Trade Ministers to identify opportunities to advance the Australia-India economic relationship.
The engagement between Australia and India is further strengthened by cooperation in the Quad and trilateral dialogues with Indonesia and France.
People-to-People Links
With almost one million Australians tracing their heritage to India, Australia’s India-heritage communities are a valued part of Australia’s vibrant multicultural society. The Indian-Australian community, Australia’s second-largest and fastest-growing overseas-born group, forms a vital living bridge between our nations. According to the 2021 Census, 976,000 Australians reported Indian heritage, including 673,000 Indian-born Australians, representing 2.6% of Australia’s population. Punjabi is the fastest-growing language, while Hindi remains among the top ten languages spoken in Australian homes.
India, the world’s most populous country since 2023, is Australia’s largest source of skilled migrants and second-largest source of international students. In May 2023, Prime Ministers Albanese and Modi signed the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement to enhance two-way mobility in education and business sectors, while strengthening cooperation on irregular migration and people smuggling.
The Centre for Australia-India Relations, launched in May 2023, supports and facilitates greater engagement and collaboration with India. The Centre and its programs are growing our cultural exchanges, helping Australian businesses to engage Indian markets, promoting policy dialogue, and leveraging the expertise of Australia’s vibrant Indian diaspora communities.
Initiatives such as the Australia India Leadership Dialogue and Australia India Youth Dialogue connect leaders and emerging voices from both nations, driving collaboration on shared challenges and strengthening bilateral ties.
Economic Relationship
The Australia-India trade, investment and economic relationship is growing faster than ever. India is the world’s fastest growing major economy and is an essential partner for Australia providing new opportunities for trade diversification and stronger supply chains. Australia and India’s economies are highly complementary. Australia has the raw commodities and resources, as well as the skills and technologies that India needs, while India’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) graduates offer a source of talent and innovation for Australian companies.
The entry into force of the Australia-India Economic and Trade Agreement (ECTA) in 2022 was a landmark in the relationship and has strengthened both our economies. In 2023, India was Australia’s fourth-largest export market and fifth-largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching $49 billion. Australia’s exports to India totalled $32.4 billion, while imports from India stood at $12.6 billion (2022-23). Australian investment in India reached $17.6 billion, while Indian investment in Australia totalled $34.5 billion.
Australia and India continue to advance negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to further strengthen trade and investment, including in critical minerals, health, technology, and agriculture.
Renewable Energy and Resources
Australia and India are collaborating to advance renewable energy technologies, create new economic opportunities, and reduce global emissions.
In November 2024, Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the launch of the elevated Australia-India Renewable Energy Partnership, representing a significant milestone in the bilateral relationship. Under the partnership, Australia and India have committed to work together in eight key areas including solar PV; green hydrogen; solar supply chains; energy storage; circulate economy for renewable energy; two-way investment in renewable energy projects and allied areas; capacity building; and other areas of mutual interest.
The Renewable Energy Partnership builds on the establishment of the Australia-India Green Hydrogen Taskforce, which is focused on green hydrogen production and deployment, as well as the India-Australia Solar Taskforce which is accelerating solar PV deployment and strengthen supply chains.
The Australia-India Green Steel Partnership supports India’s growing steel demand while promoting innovative technologies for improved efficiency and sustainability.
India’s focus on reducing carbon emissions and expanding electric vehicle production presents significant opportunities for Australia’s critical minerals sector. Under the Australia-India Critical Minerals Investment Partnership, new supply chains are being developed to help India lower emissions and become a global manufacturing hub.
The India-Australia Minerals Scholar Network is fostering technical talent in green steel and critical minerals, supporting India’s renewable technology manufacturing and Australia’s renewable energy goals.
Education Ties
Education remains a key pillar of Australia’s partnership with India. Education is Australia’s largest service export to India, valued at $4.4 billion in 2022. As of February 2024, Indian students made up 17% of Australia’s international enrolments, with 120,020 Indian students studying in Australia.
The Australia-India education partnership plays a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations, building skilled workforces, and driving economic growth. Australia is committed to enhancing institutional cooperation, exploring innovative delivery models, and fostering research collaboration.
The Australia-India Education and Skills Council (AIESC) is the primary dialogue on strategic education, skills, and research policy. In November 2023, AIESC co-chairs from both countries launched Australia’s Education Strategy for India, which focuses on strengthening institutional ties, mobility, and employability.
In March 2023, Australia and India signed the Mutual Recognition of Qualifications mechanism, enabling easier access to higher education in both countries. Prime Minister Albanese announced Deakin University’s approval to open the first international teaching campus in India, followed by the University of Wollongong’s approval for a campus in Gujarat’s GIFT City.
Defence Engagement
Australia’s defence ties with India gained momentum after both countries became Comprehensive Strategic Partners in 2020 and signed a Mutual Logistics Support Agreement in 2021. These agreements have enabled closer defence cooperation through regular defence exercises, strategic dialogues, and training exchanges, enhancing our interoperability to address threats to our collective security.
The year 2023 marked a number of key milestones in the defence relationship, including Australia’s hosting Exercise Malabar, an Indian submarine visiting Perth, a trilateral sail with Indonesia, and India’s Navy visiting Australia’s Cocos Islands.
At the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in November 2023, both nations committed to further expanding defence cooperation in 2024, focusing on maritime domain awareness, joint exercises, science and technology collaboration, information sharing, and strengthening institutional links.