Prime Minister Anthony Albanese raised human rights concerns with the Indian prime minister during his recent visit to Australia.
Officials from the foreign affairs department confirmed Mr Albanese expressed concerns after the prime minister remained coy about what he discussed in the meeting.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Australia was shadowed by consistent pressure for Australia to raise concerns about freedom of the press and human rights abuses.
Department deputy secretary Elly Lawson added that human rights concerns in India have also been raised on a number of other occasions in the past year, including during high-level meetings and visits.
"Of course, those concerns will include concerns around freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and other concerns," she told a Senate hearing on Thursday.
"The Australian government has also raised human rights concerns in multilateral settings."
Mr Albanese also visited India in March.
Department secretary Jan Adams said the content of leader level discussions "is rarely fully aired in public".
Mr Albanese has echoed the sentiment, saying he did not detail private discussions.
Australian Associated Press
