SYLLABUS

GS-2: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests.

Context: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Australia at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to attend the Third India–Australia Annual Summit in Melbourne, where both countries agreed to significantly deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).

Key Outcomes

• Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation (JDDSC): Replaces the 2009 Joint Declaration on Security.
  • Establishes an Annual Defence Ministers' Dialogue.
  • Expands cooperation in defence interoperability, maritime security, defence industrial collaboration, cyber security and emerging technologies, counter-terrorism, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), capacity building, and cooperation through UNCLOS, ASEAN, Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and other regional mechanisms.
• Maritime Security Collaboration Roadmap (MSCR): Strengthens maritime cooperation through information sharing, maritime domain awareness, capability development, capacity building and operational coordination.
• India–Australia Joint Statement on Energy Security: Reaffirms cooperation for secure, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy supplies.
• Administrative Arrangement under the Civil Nuclear Agreement: Operationalises the 2014 India–Australia Civil Nuclear Agreement to enable Australian uranium exports to India for peaceful purposes under IAEA safeguards.
• Australia–India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS): Builds upon the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation.
  • Promotes collaboration in critical technologies, cyber security, digital resilience, supply chain diversification, defence research, and regional and national security.
• India–Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap: Promotes cooperation in high-performance sports, para sports, sports science, coach development, major sporting events, sports industry, women in sports annual Big Bash League (BBL) matches in India.
  • Collaborates for the 2030 Commonwealth Games (Ahmedabad) and Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
• Indian Military Instructor at Australian Defence College: Australia invited an Indian military instructor to serve at the Australian Defence College during 2028–29.
• Centre of Excellence in Mining and Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS): MoU between MSDE and TAFE, Government of Western Australia establishes a National Centre of Excellence at NSTI, Bhubaneswar.
• Letter of Intent to Flinders University: Enables Flinders University to establish its campus in Bengaluru.
• Repatriation of Indian Cultural Artefacts: Includes Granite Nandi sculpture (11th–12th century), Bronze Bhadrakali Trident (11th century), and Basalt Six-headed Skanda (Karttikeya)sculpture (12th century), all from Tamil Nadu.
• Operationalisation of Rooftop Solar Training Academy: Established at Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gandhinagar through collaboration among Australia's DCEEW, SSCGJ and ReNew.
• Australia–Canada–India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership: Trilateral MoU promoting cooperation in emerging technologies, innovation and trusted technology partnerships.
• MoU between Geoscience Australia (GA) and Geological Survey of India (GSI): Builds upon the 2015 Scientific and Technical Cooperation MoU.
• Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) Access Agreement: Grants IP Australia access to India's TKDL database to strengthen patent examination and prevent misappropriation of traditional knowledge.
• MoU between Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) and Griffith Film School: Establishes collaboration in film education, academic exchanges, joint projects, workshops, summer schools, and cinema and allied fields.
• Letter of Approval to Victoria University: Permits Victoria University to establish and operate its campus in Gurugram.