The United Service Institution of India was founded in 1870 by a soldier scholar, Colonel (later Major General) Sir Charles MacGregor. The story of its growth is the story of the growth of the Indian Armed Forces. It was founded for ‘furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the Defence Services.’

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United Service Institution of India

UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION OF INDIA

Military Heritage || Geopolitics || Comprehensive National Security || Military Affairs || Niche and Disruptive Technologies || UN Peace Keeping || Professional Military Education

Aim and Objectives

UNITED SERVICE INSTITUTION OF INDIA

CENTRE FOR COURSES

Epitome of Career Progression Programmes for Indian
Military Since Last 150 Years

About the Centre

The Institution aims to improve professional competency of serving officers of all services, besides assisting them in preparing for Promotion and Competitive Exams, systematically and comprehensively.

Evolution

  • Started holding military war games in mid 1880s.
  • Started assisting officers to prepare for exams in tactical fitness for command & promotion in 1903.
  • Started programmes to assist officers in preparing for Staff College in 1910.
  • By 1914, there were 23 programmes offered to interested officers on payment.
  • Since 1958 conducting courses for promotion exams & DSSC/DSTSC Competitive exams, and Professional Military Education (PME) Course of Indian Navy. Only institution in the country conducting course for DSSC/Navy.
  • From 2024 started conducting DSSC Preparatory Courses for Indian Air Force also.
  • Prep of study material for Army, Air Force and Navy (Incl online tests for Navy).
  • Online and Hybrid Model of courses being conducted at USI, in addition to physical courses. Infrastructure for both is available.

Success Rate

The success rate in competitive exams has been approx. 80-90%.

  • In 5 years of Pre-Pandemic Courses, out of 1911 vacancies available for DSSC/DSTSC/ALMC courses 1503 were secured by the officers who undertook courses/contact programmes of the USI. In res category 83 out of 117 were student officers of USI. 17-18 out of 20 Competitive vacancies. Results placed on website every year.
  • During Pandemic (2020,2021) all courses were conducted on line successfully.
  • In Part B Exam held on online model, 100% students passed in1st year, later pass percentage of USI students has been 30% higher than the average of overall result in Part B and D.

CURRENT COURSES

Conduct of Online Command Pre-staff Course

  • It has been an honour for USI of India to be entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the Online Phase of Command Pre Staff Course (CPSC) from 2023.
  • The Online Phase of CPSC (OPSC) includes Current Affairs (CA), Science and Mil Tech (SMT) and Mil History (MH).
  • The total duration of CPSC will continue to be 42 days (28 days Contact Phase conducted by Commands and 14 days Online Phase conducted by USI of India).
  • Multiple Online Courses will be conducted to provide suitable options/flexibility to aspirant officers to attend the course as per organisation/personal commitments, commencing from Mar to May 2025.
  • Modalities : In conduct of the Online Phase of CPSC, all the facilities offered to officers in erstwhile offline till CPSC of 2022 will again be replicated, albeit on online mode. Modalities of attendance by the officers will be over civil internet platforms through computers/mobile phones with 4G/5G connectivity. The Online Course will be conducted on WEBEX video conferencing tool. Min three days of instructional activities, one day of mock tests and additional doubt clearings sessions for each of the subjects (SMT, MH, CA) will be ensured. The Online package will comprise of Online classes, Doubt clearing sessions, Mock tests, Lectures by specialists including some serving officers, issue of printed Precis, handouts, updates & other study material, Audio and visual presentations and Post Course guidance by tele conversation/video conferencing at officer’s request with specialized DS.

Modality of Correspondence Courses

  • Correspondence Courses are conducted at USI of India for all subjects of DSSC/DSTSC competitive Course, Part B Promotion Exam and all subjects of Part D Promotion Exam less special to Corps.
  • For Indian Navy Correspondence Course is being conducted for Professional Military Education (PME)/DSSC. From 2024 both Correspondence and Online Courses are being conducted for DSSC Entrance Competitive Examination.
  • Courses are oriented towards preparing officers for promotion & competitive exams in planned & sequential manner.
  • Correspondence Courses are conducted through dispatch of Course material, publications and Question papers are provided at regular intervals for all/chosen subject(s). The schedule is notified in the beginning.
  • Syllabus laid down by the Service HQ.
  • Test papers set by experienced officers, on the pattern of the actual exams, & cover all important aspects of subject(s) in a graduated manner.
  • The final test paper in each subject covers the entire syllabus for the subject(s), as a dress rehearsal, just before the actual exam.
  • Students answer test papers in their own time under examination conditions and send the answer sheets by post.
  • Answer sheet are corrected by an experienced Directing Staff, & returned to the officer, duly marked with detailed comments and personal guidance notes.
  • Suggested answers are sent for guidance of the students along with answer sheet.
  • Study material including maps for Military History, to make comprehension of prescribed military campaign and biographicy easier are provided along with application of op art, wherever applicable, to students.
  • For Current Affairs comprehensive quarterly pamphlets covering International and Domestic scenes are sent.
  • The Course Material is revised & updated every year.
  • Results of all exams are analysed at the end of Courses and the weaknesses are addressed in the next Course.
  • Feedbacks are incorporated. Study material and modalities are thus aligned to actual exams, policies changes in services and as per need to enhance professional capabilities of serving officers.
  • Continued Guidance, corrections and interactive learning remains the focus of Correspondence Courses.
  • Online guidance and doubt clearing sessions are being conducted at regular intervals.

Interactive Course

  • The Courses has been remodelled as ‘Interactive Course’.
  • Enrolment to the Course entitles students, to seek clarification and amplification on subject(s) by correspondence/emails. 
  • Additional Handouts given based on pattern of questions asked by students in interactive mails.

Contact Programmes (CPs) for DSSC/DSTSC

  • Three CPs of six days each are conducted in June –July (Just before exams) for officers, who have prescribed for it.
  • CPs are conducted at USI, in Delhi on Hybrid mode. Officers who cannot attend CPs physically can attend through online mode. Separate test papers set for each subject for all programmes.
  • Modelled as dry run for actual exams.
  • Consists of Mock Test, Correction and Discussion.
  • Guide students on exam and answering techniques.
  • Clarify doubts on entire syllabus for all subjects.
  • Discussion on question papers issued by USI or from other sources.
  • Explain imp subjects/issues
  • CPs will be conducted on Hybrid mode to enable officers from distant locations to attend it.
  • USI is plg to undertake CP for Part D, especially for officers on the verge of losing seniority/compulsory chance for DSSC, subject to No of registrations.

Faculty

  • Faculty consists of Retired and Serving officers. Specialists, Min HC/NDC/Instructor Class A and DSSC qualified having passion of paying back to org.  Over 100 officers on panel from Lt Gen to Col. Student to DS Ratio 10:1.
  • Permanency of staff. Institutional knowledge.
  • Panel of instructors includes those delivering talks in Higher Command Course, DSSC, Core Programmes, Joint Services Capsules and NDC Exercises.
  • Instructors are provided to various CPSC on demand, for the offline phase being conducted by the Commands.

Facilities

  • Infrastructure available for Physical as well as Online mode. Tech enabled classroom with smart boards, upgraded audio-visual facilities.
  • Adequate ground Staff.
  • Institutional Knowledge and experience.
  • Digital payment facilities are available.
  • Updated Website.
  • Simple Online Registration process involves just two emails for registeration.
  • All details given in the Courses Vertical on website of USI of Indiahttps://usiofindia.org/
  • Excellent Library, dining and limited lodging facility available.

Contact

Maj Gen SB Asthana, SM, VSM, PhD (Retd) | Director Courses- 2086 2325

Col PK Mukherjee | DS Coord- 2086 2320

Extn 207 (Dir Courses), 208 (DS Coord), 210 (Supdt Courses Sec)

Email- dircourses@usiofindia.org