India and Australia have launched the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), which succeeds and replaces the 2020 Framework Arrangement on Cyber and Cyber Enabled Critical Technology Cooperation. The partnership rests on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and on two decades of collaborative research, operational coordination and policy engagement.
The two countries say supply chains, critical technology and cyber security drive economic growth, are central to national security and can be used to shape values and global norms. Under each of five pillars, the two sides will identify projects that bring together the private sector, universities, research institutions and government agencies. The aim is to extend government-to-government cooperation, increase two-way investment in new technologies and help turn intellectual property into products that deliver economic growth.
The supply chain resilience and diversification pillar includes a bilateral mechanism on trusted vendor frameworks. It also covers secure undersea cable connectivity across the Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, and research collaboration on protecting semiconductor supply chains. On critical minerals, the two sides will work through coordinated investment, regulatory alignment, and recycling and recovery.
The critical technology pillar focuses on artificial intelligence, space technologies, telecommunications, biotechnology and advanced materials. It includes work on international standards for trustworthy, safe and secure AI, and joint commercial and government-led space initiatives.
The cybersecurity pillar covers countering cybercrime, deterring malicious cyber activity and protecting critical national infrastructure. It includes cooperation in UN-mandated cyber processes and a cyber tech skill incubator hub. The two sides will also work towards a consolidated bilateral mechanism in cyber and ICT fields to avoid duplication.
The digital resilience pillar supports exchanges with Indo-Pacific countries on India's Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) principles. It also covers scaling affordable DPI solutions in areas such as health, education, energy and social protection, and Indo-Pacific pilot projects.
The defence research pillar builds institutional links between Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It also covers defence innovation and start-up ties, and maritime science and technology, including maritime surveillance and advanced materials.
The partnership will be chaired by Australia's Deputy Secretary, International and Security Group, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and India's Deputy National Security Advisor. The Chairs will set priority areas. An annual Senior Officials Meeting will review priorities, take stock of progress, assess emerging risks and work towards specific projects.
In India, the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) leads on supply chain resilience and critical technology, with the Office of the Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology. The Ministry of External Affairs' Cyber Diplomacy Division leads on cybersecurity and its Oceania Division on digital resilience, both with the Ambassador's office. The Ministry of Defence leads on defence research, with Australia's Department of Defence.
Relations were upgraded from a strategic partnership in 2009 to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2020. The Australia-India Critical Minerals Investment Partnership was signed in 2022, and a Critical Minerals Research Hub was set up in late 2023 with approved funding of $5 million for research and scholarships. The Defence Science and Technology Implementing Arrangement and the Mutual Logistic Support Arrangement date from 2020.
Bilateral trade reached $24.1 billion in FY25, with Indian exports of $8.58 billion and imports of $15.52 billion. The India-Australia ECTA (2022) has reduced tariffs, and negotiations are under way for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA).
The framework gives India a broader platform with Australia on technologies and supply chains that bear on economic and national security, and a structured mechanism for joint research, investment and standards. Australia supplies lithium, cobalt and rare earths, and cooperation through the Quad, the Indian Ocean Rim Association and the East Asia Summit helps India diversify its partnerships.
The areas of concern include the trade imbalance, slow CECA progress, and difficulties in mutual recognition of skills, work visas and post-study opportunities. Australia's stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards limit agricultural exports, and defence manufacturing, technology transfer and joint R&D remain underdeveloped. Pending items include fast-tracking CECA and building long-term supply chains for lithium and rare earths.
With reference to the Australia-India Partnership on Cyber, Critical Technologies and Supply Chains (PACTS), consider the following statements:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Under PACTS, which one of the following pillars builds institutional links between Australia's Defence Science and Technology Group and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO)?
Consider the following pairs:
Agreement/Initiative : Year in the India-Australia relationship
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
