Seven Indian students have been selected by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) for prestigious Australian Leadership Award (ALA) scholarship, it was announced Tuesday.

"I congratulate the seven outstanding people who have been identified for their potential to provide important policy leadership on their return home," said Australia's High Commissioner Peter Varghese.

"These are individuals with the capability to shape future social and economic policy in India," he added.

Awardees of the scholarships will join prestigious Australian universities for their post-graduate studies in fields like community planning, agricultural development and intellectual property law.

"The Australia Leadership Awards demonstrate Australia’s commitment to developing future leadership and building enduring partnerships with India. This is a relationship that will be of increasing importance to both countries in the years ahead," Varghese told IANS.

"The students will undergo an additional program that will enable them to strengthen their leadership skills, establish networks with emerging leaders in other regional countries and enhance their understanding of our region’s development challenges," he added.

The seven scholarships awarded to the Indian students are part of 205 ALA Scholarships offered globally in 2011.