After opting against an early declaration, Australia added 40 to their score on Monday morning before being dismissed midway through the session.
Alex Carey continued on his big start to the summer with 70 from 88 balls, while soaking up some time to control the strike against the quicks.
Rain delayed the start of play by five minutes, and there was another 14-minute interruption during the first hour.
More rain began to fall shortly after Australia lost their last wicket, making for a delay to the start of India's innings.
Further bad weather is forecast for the final two days of the Test, meaning Australia's best chance of winning may come through only batting once.
In order to do that, they will need to bowl India out for 245 or less in their first dig.
Carey brought up his 50 in the second over of the day when he swept Ravindra Jadeja for four, and later jumped down the deck to hit Akash Deep for six over long off.
That is absolutely massive from Alex Carey!— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/G0h3CPKlu0December 16, 2024
Mitchell Starc also landed some lofty blows off Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, before becoming the latter's sixth victim of the innings when he was caught behind.
From there Australia's momentum stalled somewhat, before Carey eventually holed out in the deep off Akash.
Bumrah's figures of 6-76 marked the best by an Indian at the Gabba, while the rest of India's bowlers collected 4-352 between them.
After the majority of day one was also washed out by rain, bad weather looms as Australia's biggest threat in this match.
A draw would be a significant blow to the hosts' hopes of regaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
While Smith and Travis Head's centuries on Sunday may have added some miles into India's bowler's legs, a 1-1 scoreline after three Tests would benefit the tourists.
India would therefore need to win only one of the last two Tests to retain the trophy, given a drawn series would ensure they hold onto the prize as the current holders.
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