Bishop defends O'Farrell India board pick

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has defended her decision to personally appoint former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell to the board of the Australia-India Council, overriding the recommendations of bureaucrats.

Mr O'Farrell had a deep interest in Australian-Indian relations as premier and was appropriate for the position, Ms Bishop told reporters in New York.

Ms Bishop said she took suggestions for appointments she's responsible for from many quarters and was not bound to accept departmental choices.