In a session that included a 30-minute rain delay and then ended half-hour early due to another heavy shower, Australia shone early before having to fight harder late.
Usman Khawaja (19no) looked particularly good, pulling Mohammed Siraj for two boundaries and clipping Jasprit Bumrah off his toes for another.
Nathan McSweeney is not out at the other end on four, with the heavy rain threatening to run into the second session.
India's captain Rohit Sharma had no hesitation in bowling first after winning the toss, with heavy cloud cover overhead an even covering of grass on the wicket.
But his bowlers failed to get it right early, with Siraj in particular guilty of being too short and Bumrah verging on being a little too straight at times.
After the initial rain delay India appeared to regather, and began to regularly beat the edge as clouds gathered before the second rain intervention.
With the five-Test series locked at 1-1, Australia have brought Josh Hazlewood straight back into the team after he missed the 10-wicket win at the Gabba with a side strain.
His selection leaves Scott Boland as the unlucky man of Australian cricket, having now played in just 11 of 34 Tests since his magical 2021 debut.
India have made two changes with seamer Akash Deep and spinner Ravindra Jadeja coming into the team for Harshit Rana and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Akash has taken 10 wickets in five Tests for India, but was left out of their side for the start of the tour after being largely ineffective at home against New Zealand.
Jadeja's call up means India have used three spinners across the first three Tests, with Washington Sundar playing in Perth and Ashwin in India.
KL Rahul is again listed to open with the out-of-form Rohit expected to stay at No.6 for the tourists.
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