| United Service Institution of India | |
| Abbreviation: | USI |
| Founder: | Sir Charles MacGregor |
| Location: | New Delhi, India |
| Leader Title: | Director |
| Leader Name: | Major General B. K. Sharma |
United Service Institution of India (USI) is a national security and defence services think tank based in New Delhi, India. It describes its aim as the "furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the defence services".
USI operates centres for research in various areas of national security. The USI Journal, published quarterly since 1872, is the oldest defence journal in Asia. It also publishes a number of monographs based on research and study by its members.
The United Service Institution was established in 1870 by Major General Sir Charles MacGregor in Shimla. It was founded as a society in the furtherance of interest and knowledge in the art, science and literature of the Defence Services. The institute was initially housed in the Old Town Hall, and later received temporary accommodation in the Indian Army Headquarters, which was also then based in Shimla.
In 1908, the institute acquired its own premises near Combermere Post Office in Shimla Hills. Among the distinguished officers who have served as its secretary, was Field Marshal William Joseph Slim in the 1930s.
After independence and the subsequent partition of India, the institute attempted to continue as a joint institution for both countries as the United Service Institution of India and Pakistan. The four 1948 issues of the institute's journal were published jointly. However, following the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, cross-border relations were interrupted and the institute has since been known as the United Service Institution of India.
Following independence, the institute went through financially testing times. It had to sell its Shimla headquarters. In 1953, the institute relocated to New Delhi. The institute survived primarily due to the efforts of Colonel (Retd.) Pyara Lal, its secretary from 1957 to 1987. The institute operated in New Delhi from Kashmir House until 1996. The foundation stone for its current headquarters in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi, was laid on 26 April 1993, and the institute was relocated in 1996.[1]
USI operates two centres of research and one centre for coaching predominantly Indian Army and limited Indian Naval officers for Professional Military Education exams.
The Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3) is focused on conducting research and analyses on national and international security issues. It leverages gaming and simulation of strategic scenarios, to explore options for wider discussion and consideration.[2]
The Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research (CAFHR) studies the history of Indian Armed Forces. It focuses on diverse aspects of the services policies and practices—strategic, tactical, logistical, organisational, socio-economic. CAFHR is organized into four research groups focusing on different periods of Indian history—that before 1750, from 1750 to 1900, 1900 to 1947 and post-1947.[3] The centre also does consulting, script writing and guidance for movies and documentaries related to Military History.
Courses Section (Coaching for Professional Military Education)
Colonel Pyara Lal Memorial Library (Information Resource Centre) of USI is a knowledge hub in the area of Defence Studies/Services, Strategic Perspective, War/Warfare, Conflict/Peace Studies/United Nation, Foreign/International Relations/Diplomacy, Continent /Countries studies, National/ International Security, Insurgency/Naxalism/Terrorism, Nuclear Issues, General/ Academic/ Historical Studies and Autobiography/Biography/Memoires/ Travelite. It is a highly specialised library for enhancing and enriching knowledge while concurrently facilitating education, research, training, self-development, well-being, and lifelong learning. A full spectrum of ever-expanding body of worldwide knowledge and information superiority is maintained by acquiring, and furthering ease of access to books, manuscripts, and other print and non-print materials and preserving these for the benefit of the members.
Keeping in view the convenience of its patrons, the library is located on the ground floor of United Service Institution of India, New Delhi and is air-conditioned.
The library has computerised its activities, processes, products and services for the benefit of users to facilitate fast access to the information held in the library and to promote the evolution of library use, and increasing availability of library resources to its members.[4]
Some of the famous books and monographs published by the institution are:[5] [6]