** Australian miners .AXMM rise 1.1% to 5,336.4 basis points; sub-index set for strongest session since March 17

** Iron ore futures climbed, supported by increasing demand for the steelmaking ingredient in top consumer China IRONORE/

** Sector heavyweight BHP Group BHP.AX rises 1.8% to A$38.880; set for biggest intraday pct gain since March 17

** Rio Tinto RIO.AX and Fortescue FMG.AX add 0.9% and 2.6% respectively; FMG set for biggest one-day pct rise since March 24

** AXMM gains 1.6% YTD

(Reporting by Manasi Dasa in Bengaluru)

((Manasi.DasaSundeep@thomsonreuters.com;))