The 36-year-old leg-spinner has failed to recover from a shoulder injury sustained in September so off-spinner Jason Krejza is set to play instead.
McGain and Krejza, 25, are uncapped in Tests and one-day internationals.
The first first of four Tests takes place in Bangalore's spectacular Chinnaswamy Stadium from 9 October.
The Australian camp, and McGain himself, had voiced confidence that his shoulder strain was not serious.
But he has struggled to bowl in the nets and was unable to take his place in the Australians' final tour match against a Board President's XI starting in Hyderabad on Thursday.
He is already rated doubtful for the second Test, team spokesman Matthew Slade confirming: "He won't be available for at least two weeks."
It is a bitter pill to swallow for McGain who, until March this year, still worked in the IT department of a bank in Melbourne.
But following a meteoric rise in his first full Pura Cup season - Australia's equivalent of the County Championship - he has unexpectedly forced himself into the Test picture.
McGain told BBC Sport last week he was even prepared to look ahead at a possible dream Ashes tour in 2009.
"It would be fantastic," he said. "It's such a wonderful series and I've enjoyed watching it for many, many years."
Australia could draft in Beau Casson, a 25-year-old slow left-armer who made a Test debut in Barbados in June.
Beyond Krejza, their only other option is Michael Clarke's part-time spin. Andrew Symonds is not in the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council has kept umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson off the roster for the series.
The duo officiated in the ill-tempered Sydney Test between the two nations in January which almost saw India pulling out of the series after a string of controversial decisions.
India are likely to name a squad of 14 for the Bangalore Test, with much debate centring on who will bat at six.Veteran Sourav Ganguly, captain of the squad which famously beat Australia in 2001, is in the frame along with Mohammad Kaif and Subramaniam Badrinath.
McGain and Krejza, 25, are uncapped in Tests and one-day internationals.
The first first of four Tests takes place in Bangalore's spectacular Chinnaswamy Stadium from 9 October.
The Australian camp, and McGain himself, had voiced confidence that his shoulder strain was not serious.
But he has struggled to bowl in the nets and was unable to take his place in the Australians' final tour match against a Board President's XI starting in Hyderabad on Thursday.
He is already rated doubtful for the second Test, team spokesman Matthew Slade confirming: "He won't be available for at least two weeks."
It is a bitter pill to swallow for McGain who, until March this year, still worked in the IT department of a bank in Melbourne.
But following a meteoric rise in his first full Pura Cup season - Australia's equivalent of the County Championship - he has unexpectedly forced himself into the Test picture.
McGain told BBC Sport last week he was even prepared to look ahead at a possible dream Ashes tour in 2009.
"It would be fantastic," he said. "It's such a wonderful series and I've enjoyed watching it for many, many years."
Australia could draft in Beau Casson, a 25-year-old slow left-armer who made a Test debut in Barbados in June.
Beyond Krejza, their only other option is Michael Clarke's part-time spin. Andrew Symonds is not in the squad for disciplinary reasons.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council has kept umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson off the roster for the series.
The duo officiated in the ill-tempered Sydney Test between the two nations in January which almost saw India pulling out of the series after a string of controversial decisions.
India are likely to name a squad of 14 for the Bangalore Test, with much debate centring on who will bat at six.Veteran Sourav Ganguly, captain of the squad which famously beat Australia in 2001, is in the frame along with Mohammad Kaif and Subramaniam Badrinath.
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