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.’
The United Service Institution of India (USI) hosted a delegation of 20 students from the College of William & Mary, USA, under the mentorship of Professor Eric Brown, on 09 January 2026 for an academic interaction on the theme “American and Indian Statecraft in a Changing Global Order.” The session featured perspectives from both the United States and India, with Professor Eric Brown presenting the American viewpoint and outlining the evolution of U.S. statecraft amid great power competition, alliance-based strategies, and growing challenges to the existing international order, particularly in the Indo-Pacific. Presenting the Indian perspective, Maj Gen R S Yadav, VSM (Retd), Director CS3, USI, emphasized India’s approach to statecraft rooted in strategic autonomy, issue-based partnerships, and pragmatic engagement with major powers, shaped by historical experience, regional security concerns, and global aspirations. Brig Arun Sahgal (Retd) highlighted areas of convergence and divergence between Indian and American strategic thinking, underscoring the importance of realism and adaptability in a complex global environment; this was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session. Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh, UYSM, PVSM, AVSM, NM, PhD, IN (Retd), Director General, USI, shared his expert views, stressing the value of sustained academic exchanges in strengthening mutual understanding and strategic cooperation.
