Commuters walk on an overpass at a railway station in Mumbai.

The U.N. recently projected that India will replace China as the world’s most-populous country this year, fueling discussion about whether India’s swelling population could create a “demographic dividend” that would allow it to surpass China economically as well. But India has a lot of ground to cover to meet those expectations.

The Quad, a security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan, and the United States, has strengthened relations between its members, particularly on issues of foreign policy and military cooperation. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been a strong supporter of the Quad, and he has worked to deepen ties with Australia and Japan.

Relations between Australia and India are at a critical juncture amid a deepening of bilateral ties. With engagement at an all-time high, sustained by a mutual interest in balancing China and ensuring a stable order in the Indo-Pacific, Canberra and New Delhi appear poised to consolidate the growing expansion of their partnership.