Australian Defence College to host Indian students from 2026

India and Australia have agreed to expand defence cooperation, including welcoming additional Indian students at the Australian Defence College in 2026 and introducing a position for Indian cadets at the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2027 for the first time.

The announcement came as Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded talks with his Australian counterpart Richard Marles in Canberra on Thursday.

Singh, on a two-day visit to Australia, described the meeting as “productive” and said, “We reviewed the full spectrum of India-Australia defence cooperation, including defence industry, cyber defence, maritime security and regional challenges.” He added that both sides reaffirmed the importance of the India-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

The agreement on defence education follows years of expanding India-Australia military engagements, including joint exercises, ship visits, and capacity-building initiatives.

The new openings for Indian cadets at Australia’s premier defence institutions are seen as a step to further strengthen the strategic and training ties between the two nations.