Rajnath Singh co-chairs maiden India–Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table in Sydney, visits HMAS Kuttabul
On 10 October 2025 in Sydney, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the naval facility HMAS Kuttabul and co-chaired the maiden India–Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table with Australia's Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil.
Summary
On 10 October 2025, on the second day of his Australia tour, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the naval facility HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney with Australia's Assistant Minister for Defence Peter Khalil and toured the ship Admiral Hudson. He then co-chaired, with Khalil, the maiden India–Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table in Sydney, organised by India's Ministry of Defence, the Australian Department of Defence, Newland Global Group and the Australia-India Business Council. Recalling the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of 2020, he invited Australian firms to co-develop and co-produce propulsion technologies, autonomous underwater vehicles, flight simulators and advanced materials, noted that India allows defence FDI up to 74% under the automatic route, and welcomed Australia's proposed MoU on reciprocal provision of defence articles and services and its identification of India as a 'Top Tier Partner'.
Key facts
- Date/place
- 10 Oct 2025, Sydney
- Event
- Maiden India–Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table
- Co-chair
- Peter Khalil, Australia's Assistant Minister for Defence
- Naval visit
- HMAS Kuttabul; tour of Admiral Hudson
- Partnership
- Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2020)
- Policy points
- Defence FDI 74% automatic route; India a 'Top Tier Partner' for Australia
Practice MCQs 3 questions
Which Australian naval facility in Sydney did Rajnath Singh visit on 10 October 2025?
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Correct answer: D — HMAS Kuttabul
PIB: Rajnath Singh visited the historic and strategic naval facility HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney on 10 October 2025.
In which year was the India–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established, as recalled by Rajnath Singh in Sydney?
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Correct answer: C — 2020
PIB: Rajnath Singh spoke of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership 2020 as the banner for re-positioning defence relations.
Consider the following statements from Rajnath Singh's address at the India–Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table (October 2025): 1. Australia has identified India as a 'Top Tier Partner', removing certain regulatory barriers to technology sharing. 2. India allows FDI in defence up to 49% under the automatic route. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. PIB: Rajnath Singh said Australia has identified India as a Top Tier Partner; he said the FDI policy has been liberalised up to 74% (not 49%) under the automatic route.