India-Australia Meeting | 02 Jun 2021

Recently, India and Australia reviewed cooperation in the sectors of agriculture and defence.

Key Points

  • In the field of Agriculture:
    • The India-Australia Grains Partnership aims to use Australia’s expertise in post harvest management to strengthen rural grain storage and supply chains so as to reduce losses and wastage.
      • National Institute of Agricultural Marketing will be the nodal organisation from India.
    • The flagship program of National Innovation for Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) was mentioned and collaboration could be set up with the research organisations of Australia.
      • NICRA is a network project of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) launched in February 2011.
      • The project aims to enhance the resilience of Indian agriculture to climate change and climate vulnerability through strategic research and technology demonstration.
      • The research on adaptation and mitigation covers crops, livestock, fisheries, and natural resource management.
  • On Defence Cooperation:
    • Participation of Australia in Exercise Malabar.
      • After the Ladakh confrontation, India extended the invitation to Australia and an Australian contingent participated in the 2020 Malabar exercises.
    • Various bilateral defence cooperation initiatives like AUSINDEX, Mutual Logistic Support Arrangement (MLSA) and Defence Science & Technology Implementing Arrangement (DSTIA) were reviewed.
    • Expressed an intent to convene the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue at the earliest.
      • 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue is a format of dialogue where the defense and foreign ministers meet with their counterparts from another country. It is the highest-level institutional mechanism between the two countries.
  • India-Australia Ties:
    • On the Covid-19 front, Australia has sent oxygen, ventilators and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits to India as part of an immediate support package.
    • The trade Ministers of India, Japan and Australia have formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).
    • Recently, India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon (I-ACE) was organised.
    • Both countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and signed multiple defence agreements in 2020.
    • India and Australia co-operate in various multilateral fora.
    • A Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement between the two countries was signed in September 2014.
    • The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and the Extradition Treaty between India and Australia, which were signed in June 2008, have been ratified by both the Governments.
    • Both sides are also likely to explore other options such as a closer intelligence relationship, and in other areas such as high technology and outer space.

Source: PIB