Correspondence Courses Online Prospectus 2024

Preparatory Courses for Competitive and Promotion Exam – 2024

GENERAL

1. The USI of India runs online/offline correspondence courses for the following competitive/promotion examinations:-

(a) Online CPSC (OPSC-Army). DSSC/DSTSC. (Ref HQ ARTRAC Letter No A/17053/1/GS/Exam Sec dated 25 Sep 23)
(b) Competitive Examinations. Correspondence course for DSSC (Army Air Force and Navy) and DSTSC
(c) Promotion Examinations (Army). Part ‘B’ and Part ‘D’.
(d) Professional Military Education Exam (Navy).
(e) Online and Correspondence DSSC exam preparation course for Indian Air Force.
(f) Contact Pgme (CP) for DSSC (Army).

2. Membership of USI of India is a mandatory pre-requisite to join any USI of India Course. Details of membership fees are given later.

ONLINE CPSC (OPSC-Army)

3. Aim-To provide basic knowledge of allotted subjects to enable candidates to carry out detailed professional studies, which will help in competitive exams for DSSC/DSTSC.

Backdrop

4. The conduct of Command Pre-Staff Course (CPSC) holds unparallel importance for the aspirants of DSSC, as also for professional military education and career progression of the Indian Army offrs. The conduct of CPSC in two phases; the Offline phase will be conducted by Army Commands for Tac A, Tac B and Adm. The Online Phase will be conducted by USI of India for Science & Military Technology (SMT), Current Affairs (CA) and Mil History (MH) accruing many advantages like increased availability of offrs in the Units/fmns & flexibility, Units having more offrs appearing can have staggered attendance etc. Online trg is a positive transformation in trg for future, making best available tech and minimizing cost, without compromising on quality of trg, which is being extensively used in almost all universities, schools as well as the commercial sector. The model gives equal opportunity to offrs appearing for second or third time, as well as offrs posted abroad, who are unable attend Command pre-staff. This model of trg will remain uninterrupted, even if there is a pandemic or any other disruption.

5. USI of India has successfully conducted Online Phase of CPSC in 2023. It has long standing and proven credentials, with excellent results in conduct of preparatory courses for DSSC/DSTSC and other promotion exams for Army and Navy. USI of India has requisite expertise, faculty, institutional knowledge, infrastructure, resources and facilities for undertaking the Online model of CPSC (Brochure att). USI has successfully conducted Online as well as Hybrid contact pgmes using virtual facilities in the last four years. Having conducted the online CPSC in 2023, all the feedbacks are being utilized to make the capsule more effective in 2024.

Modalities of Conduct of Online Phase

6. Subjects. The OPSC will include Current Affairs (CA), Science and Mil Tech (SMT) and Mil History (MH).

7. Duration. The total duration of CPSC will continue to be for 42 days (28 days Contact Phase to be conducted by Commands and 14 days Online Phase to be conducted by USI of India).

8. Schedule. Multiple Online Courses will be conducted to provide suitable options/flexibility to aspirant offrs to attend the course as per org/pers commitments. Repeated Two-week online CPSC courses will commence from 19 Feb 2024 and will continue till the end of 11 May 2024, depending upon the No of students registered for each course with a gap of two days between two capsules. Suitable adjustments will be made to ensure that the Course strength in any course doesn’t exceed 150 offrs. The tentative schedule given out by HQ ARTRAC is as under :

(a). Contact Ph. (22 Jan 2024 - 16 Mar 2024)

Ser No	COMD	Contact Ph (28 Days)
(i)	SW	22 Jan to 17 Feb 2024
(ii)	EC	29 Jan to 24 Feb 2024
(iii)	NC	05 Feb to 02 Mar 2024
(iv)	SC	12 Feb to 09 Mar 2024
(v)	WC	19 Feb to 16 Mar 2024

(b). Online Ph.

Ser No	Online Ph (14 Days)
(i)	19 Feb – 02 Mar
(ii)	04 Mar – 16 Mar
(iii)	18 Mar – 30 Mar
(iv)	01 Apr – 13 Apr
(v)	15 Apr – 27 Apr
(vi)	29 Apr – 11 May

9. Conduct Methodology & Pedagogy. In conduct of the OPSC 2024, all facilities offered to offrs in erstwhile CPSC will be replicated, albeit on online mode, as was done in OPSC 2023. Modalities of attendance by the offrs will be over civil internet platforms through cmptrs/mobile phones. The Online Course will be conducted on WEBEX video conferencing tool. Min three days of instructional activities, one day of mock tests for each of the subjects (SMT, MH, CA) will be ensured. The curriculum for all batches of OPSC will be the same, with minor improvements based on the feedbacks, as the course progresses. The detailed instructions for online attendance, mock tests, discussions on corrected answer sheets are attached. The Online package will comprise of: –

(a) Online classes by distinguished faculty.
(b) Doubt-clearing sessions.
(c) One Mock test per subject. The corrected answer sheet will be discussed between DS and offr who attempted it on google meet.
(d) Lectures by specialists, including some serving offrs.
(e) Issue of printed Precis, handouts, updates and other study mtrl.
(f) Audio and visual presentations, video clips.
(g) Sharing of all Mock Test Papers & Presentation Slides.

(h) Post Course guidance by tele conversation/video conferencing at offrs request, with specialized DS. In each of the three subjects one DS will be nominated who can be consulted upto the exam. Contact details will be shared when the offr undertakes the Course.

10. Study Mtrl. Printed Precis for each subject (MH, SMT and CA) will be issued. USI will undertake the prep and printing of the Precis and study material for the allotted subjects, which will be issued duly approved by ARTRAC. The distribution to the offrs registered for CPSC will commence by USI of India after registration by the offrs with USI. Only printed Precis will be watermarked with Index No specific to offr registered instead of soft copies earlier being disseminated by ARTRAC through WAN. Precis of Tac A, Tac B and Adm will continue to be issued by HQ ARTRAC through AWAN as earlier.

11. Registration.The regn will be on First come First Serve basis. First 200 offrs regd will be given freedom to choose any capsule. As the No of regns are uncertain, hence the No of Capsules (five or six) will be decided based on registration/subscription. The offrs subscribing late will have to be adjusted in other capsules as per capacities. The regns will not be Comd specific but open for the entire DSSC aspirants of the Army, irrespective of loc. Dir Courses USI will also brief and explain modalities during Contact Phase of OPSC when aspirants are briefed by ARTRAC. USI of India has opened registration from 07 Oct 2023 for OPSC. Subscription for OPSC are as under : –

(a) All three subjects – Rs 12000 (10500 OPSC fees + *1500 USI Course membership fees).
(b) Two Subjects – Rs 9500 (8000 OPSC fees + *1500 USI Course membership fees).

( * If not a Life/Ordinary member of USI already)
(Incentive – Offrs subscribing for OPSC and One Contact Pgme (CP) will be allowed to attend one more CP online free of cost)

CONDUCT OF CORRES COURSES

12. Aim. The aim of the USI correspondence courses is to assist service officers to prepare for the selected examination, in a systematic and comprehensive manner, throughout the year by interactive guidance and corrections.

13. The correspondence courses are essentially in the nature of revision courses and therefore, pre-suppose a certain degree of pre-course study on the part of officers including Comd Pre-Staff Courses (CPSC).

14. The conduct of the correspondence courses is through the despatch at regular intervals of test papers for subjects as applicable to the selected examination. These test papers are set by experienced instructors on the pattern of the actual examination and cover all important aspects of subjects in a graduated manner. The final test paper in each subject covers the entire syllabus for the subject and is virtually a full dress rehearsal just before the actual examination.

15. Students are required to answer the test papers in their own time under examination conditions and send the answer sheets to the USI indicating Subject, Test Paper No and Course Index No. Each answer sheet is corrected by an experienced Directing Staff in detail and returned to the officer along with detailed comments and personal guidance notes. Answer sheets will only be corrected which are received before 30 days of the actual exam. Suggested answers to the test papers are also sent for guidance of students.

16. Study material including specifically prepared maps for Military History (prepared for the USI by experienced Directing Staff) designed to make the understanding of the prescribed military campaign and biographical character easier, with required application of op art and relevance in current context as prescribed in the syllabus are provided to the students taking the course.

17. Similarly, for Current Affairs quarterly supplements (collated for the USI by experienced Directing Staff) comprehensively covering the International and Domestic scenes are made available to the students taking the course.

18. The Course has been remodelled as an ‘Interactive Course’. Enrolment to correspondence course entitles to its students, free of cost detailed clarification and amplification on subject(s) raised by the students. The offrs have been regularly asking questions and have been very active from the time it started.

19. A few online guidance sessions would also be planned for those taking Correspondence Course.Aim. The USI correspondence courses aim to assist service officers in preparing for the selected examination systematically and comprehensively throughout the year through interactive guidance and corrections.

ENROLMENT

20. Enrolment to the USI OPSC/ Correspondence Course/Contact Pgme DSSC is open to all eligible service officers at any time during the currency of the respective course.

21. As mentoned earlier, Membership of USI of India is a mandatory pre-requisite to joining any USI Course.

22. Existing USI members desirous of joining a course, may apply to the Director Courses, USI of India, enclosing the necessary tuition fees (shown against each examination incl in the attached Appendix ‘C’) along with the following details :-

(a) USI membership number.

(b) Service number.

(d) Name.

(e) Unit and parent arm/service.

(f) Address on which the course material is required to be sent.

(g) No. of Subject(s) indicating the course and year of examination.

(h) Email address and mob phone number.

23. Service officers can become Ordinary/Life/Course members of the USI by applying on the requisite application form which is available on our website www.usiofindia.org furnishing proof of identity and paying the necessary subscription as follows:-

(a) Life Membership Fee (Valid for 20 yrs from date of Membership).	Rs 12,000.00
(b) Ordinary Membership (Block of three yrs commencing 01 Apr)
(i) Entrance Fee	Rs 1000.00	Rs 4000.00
(ii) Subscription	Rs 3000.00
(iii) Renewal Fee	Rs 3000.00
(c) Course Membership Fee (for one course and one yr)	Rs 1500.00

(Note – Facilities for Life and Ordinary members are the same. Grace period of two months upto 31 May is allowed for renewal at the prevailing rate. Thereafter, entrance fee is to be paid again. No notice is sent for renewal. For conversion from Ordinary to Life Membership, only the entrance fee portion will be adjusted. Course Membership is not renewable and is valid for one course only.)

24. In addition to membership subscription, the officers are required to remit the applicable tuition fee for the course and postal charges (as per Para 39 below). The complete amount is to be remitted in advance along with the completed membership form.

25. Applicants should clearly indicate in their Application Form whether they want to join the complete course or specific applicable subject(s) only. Payment can also be made by net banking by payment link on USI website scroll notices / QR code in Course sec office in USI Premises. The application forms and identity proof can also be sent through email as a scanned copy/snapshot of the requisite documents. Payments can also be made by ‘A/c Payee’ bank draft or local/Multi city (at par) cheque, in favour of ‘the Director, United Service Institution of India’ (payable at New Delhi). No outstation cheques and IPOS are accepted. Regn through Cheque/Draft will only be done on realisation of Bank draft / Multicity Cheque.

26. In case it is desired to pay the fees and/or collect the mtrl through a rep, the bearer should be given an auth letter by the offr concerned indicating the indl’s particulars and the particular course/ subjects asked for.

27. The dispatch of study material will commence as per schedule or immediately on receipt of the a/m docu and requisite amount (as applicable).

COURSE MEMBERSHIP

28. Course Membership of one year was intr oduced with effect from 01 Oct 2014. The conditions of this membership will be as :-

(a)  Membership will commence on the date amount is deposited and will end 365 days later. Course membership is not renewable and is applicable for one course only.
(b)  Only those Armed Forces Officers will be eligible who are joining a course (Part - B, D, DSSC, DSTSC, PME Navy or DSSC Air Force) in part or for all subjects.
(c) Membership fee will be Rs 1500/-, in addition to the course fee.
(d)  The Journal will not be supplied (as its applicable for Life and Ordinary Members) and such members will not have voting rights (as its applicable to Life Members only).
(e) Other privileges like the use of Library, attending talks and concessions in Restaurant/Residency will be entitled.
(f) In case the officer wants to renew the membership he will again pay the full membership fee provided he is again joining a course again.
(g) The rates are liable to be revised at the discretion of the Institution.
(h)  Membership No will comprise four figures preceded by letters CM and suffixed with period in brackets, eg, CM/0001 (upto 30 Sep23).

29. Membership form for this membership is available on our website www.usiofindia.org. The complete process for membership and registration can be done on the internet and the offr need not get involved in paper correspondence..

WITHDRAWALS

30. Withdrawal from a course is not normally permitted. However, if during the first two months of commencement of the course a student is unable to continue the course, either due to exigencies of service or circumstances beyond his control, his withdrawal may be considered, as a special case. In such cases, the student will be required to: -

(a) Make an application giving detailed reasons for withdrawal from the course.
(b) Return all the coaching material issued to him/her.

(c) Pay actual expenses incurred by USI. This amount will be decided by the USI in each case. The decision of USI will be final.

31. In the event of a student’s withdrawal from a course, entrance and membership fee will not be refunded. After deducting appropriate amount as per sub para (c) above and after receipt of the coaching material, the balance can be refunded to him, at the discretion of USI of India.

32. In case the course is cancelled due to any reason, only tuition fee will be refunded to the extent decided by USI.

COURSE STUDY MATERIAL

33. The course material issued to officers is the copyright of USI of India, New Delhi. Its reproduction by any means and/or further distribution to others under any conditions is prohibited. It is issued to individual officers only for their personal use, who are resp for its security. The Precis will be watermarked with Index Nos to fix accountability in case of any proliferation.

34. Some of the material issued could be classified in nature and the officers to whom it is issued, are personally responsible for its safe custody as laid down in security orders applicable in the Defence Services.

35. The course material will not be supplied to any officer on the membership of another officer.

36. The course mtrl will cover the entire syllabus of the course in easy to understand form. Care will be taken not to increase the info overload of offrs by duplicating mtrl already issued to the offrs by Exam Sec ARTRAC. The suggested answers will be in the form of model answers adhering to the required word limit and following the principle of being ‘Clear, Concise and Logical’. The current affairs will cover topics till a month prior to the exam. The course material is not for issue to units/formations/institutions/libraries, as it is to guide the indl offr in improving his peculiar weaknesses, specific to the offr.

37. The USI will also be issuing certain selected study material (only open source mtrl) to the student officers as soft copies for speedy delivery and comprehension (This would not include question and answer papers). Most of the study mtrl will also be issued as hard copies, and some in soft copies, depending on the security value of the course mtrl and prevailing unusual sit, if any.

ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS

38. Detailed general instructions and programme of the work will be issued to the students at the commencement of each course. Officers who join a course and become life members of USI are sent a letter of welcome that contains details of all the facilities offered by USI to its members.

39. It has been experienced in the past that course material sent to students, specially those attending courses of instructions in training establishments is some times misplaced. Therefore, on course students are advised to contact the local postal authorities and avoid the loss. In case it is desired that the material be sent by registered post an additional sum of Rs 300/- will be required to be remitted to cover the cost of postage. Material may also be obtained by speed post on paymet of Rs 600/- for the entire Course.

40. All correspondence with USI should be done directly by the officers and not through respective units.

41. While in Delhi, officers may visit USI and interact with the Dir Courses for any assistance/guidance related to correspondence courses.

42. Visiting hours to USI are from 1130-1230 hours and 1400-1545 hours, Monday to Friday (except Wednesday and gazetted holidays).

43. Location Address Postal Address

USI Complex Director Courses
Opposite Signals Enclave and EDP Centre USI of India
(Adjacent to AWWA Hostel) Post Bag No 8,
Rao tula Ram Marg, Delhi Cantt – 110 010 Vasant Vihar PO,
New Delhi – 110057

Tel Director Courses :20862325, email: dircourses@usiofindia.org

Exchange : 20862320 Extn 207 (Dir Courses), 208 (DS Coord), 210 (Supdt Course Sec).

CONTACT PROGRAMME

44. Three Contact Programmes for DSSC/DSTSC Sep 2024 will be conducted during the year. Normally these are over subscribed, so register at the earliest as it is on first cum first serve basis, and to get on your preferred dates.

45. In 2024, the contact pgmes will also be conducted on hybrid model. Offrs who want to attend physically will be able to attend in the seminar hall in physical mode and the offrs who have difficulty in travelling due to any reason can join virtually. It will therefore give an opportunity to all offrs to attend contact pgme irrespective of their location or any administrative problem. Offrs are advised to make best use of this facility and register immediately alongwith the course. For Hybrid mode of Contact Pgme, offrs are expected to join online via WEBEX and Link provided. Question paper will be sent via email and students are expected to send answer sheets through speed post for correction and return incl suggested answers.

46. Date of Contact Programmes :

CP- I 17 to 22 Jun 2024.

CP-II 01 to 06 Jul 2024.

CP-III 15 to 20 Jul 2024.

47. Fee Structure. Cost of per CP is as under :

Mock Test & Discussion 6000/-

Only mtrl for CP 3000/-

48. Offrs taking Corres Course and one CP, will be given one CP mtrl free. Offrs may attend more than one CP to get addl practice.

49. Procedure For IAF Offrs Understanding USI Courses For DSSC Entrance Exam - 2024.

The offrs of the IAF appearing for the DSSC Competitive Exam being held by IAF are welcome to join the USI Courses offline /online for Current Affairs and Mil History. Methodology same as for Corres Course for Army offrs. Fees structure is as under:-

(a) Corres Coursse.

(i) Current Affairs - Rs 3000/-

(ii) Mil History - Rs 3000/-

(b) Online Course.

Current Affairs only - Rs 4000/-

(ii) Rs 300/- (Regd Post) or Rs 600/-

(Speed Post) extra.

*(d) Course Membership fee - Rs 1500/-

* Rs 1500/- is Course Membership fee if not a Life/Ordinary Member already.

50. Corres Course for Army Part B & D and DSSC (Navy). The details of subject and exam fees are given in appx ‘C’.Pl register at the earliest.

51. All details regarding various courses required by an offr are displayed on our website, www.usiofindia.org under the Courses vertical. The details and notices are updated on a regular basis. Imp info is displayed on quick link ‘Msg from Dir Courses’. Offrs are advised to visit the website.

Click here for Appendix A (Refers to para 9 of Prospectus - 2024)

Click here for Appendix B (Refers to para 11 of Prospectus - 2024)

Click here for Appendix C (Refers to para 22 of Prospectus - 2024)

Click Here for Military History Campaigns and Biographical Studies For Promotion Examination Part B - 2023-24