USI VISION - 2030
In the last 150 years since its inception, the USI of India
has emerged as India’s pre-eminent think tank on matters of national security.
The initial aim of establishing the USI was, ‘Furtherance of interest and
knowledge in the art, science and literature of the Defence Services’. During
the pre-independence period, the USI had played a leading role in shaping the
strategic thought of British Empire — not only on how to rule India but also in
generating informed policy debates on its expeditionary forays in the strategic
neighbourhood of Afghanistan, Tibet, China, Burma and elsewhere. Much of those
perspectives and reflections are
encapsulated in the old journals of the USI and the plethora of archives
preserved in the USI library. Post-independence, the USI has transformed into a
typical track 1.5 institution that has rendered ‘yeoman’ service in developing
strategic culture amongst the policy-makers and strategic community of modern
India. The USI has acquired a unique multi-disciplinary character vis-à-vis
other think tanks in terms of its activities, which range from historical
research to publications of diverse literature, career progression of military
officers, and a niche in net assessment, scenario building and strategic
gaming.
The Vision Paper 2020 was approved by the USI Council on 14
Jan 2014 and has served the USI well. A
new Vision 2030, prepared by the USI Team, was endorsed by the USI Council on
01 Dec 2020. The Council had ruled that
the new Vision 2030 be circulated to the Service HQs for perusal and value
addition. The Vision 2030 is
encapsulated in the succeeding paragraph.
Vision 2030: Transform USI as a tri-service military
institution with a niche for a multi-disciplinary progressive policy research
and narrative building in comprehensive national security with military focus
in a wider global geopolitical context, while preserving its rich heritage and
unique character as India’s oldest think tank.
Transformation Focus 2030
It emphasises the following :
a) Resource Generation - Elicit financial support from various
sources such as NSCS, MoD, MEA, other Ministries, DRDO, DMA, HQ IDS, Service
HQs, training establishments, university projects, sponsors, membership drive
and better marketing of USI facilities.
b) Induction of Talent - With improvement in financial state,
fill the suppressed key appointments and induct quality and multi-disciplinary
research faculty.
c) Collaboration - Align focus of research and activities with
the needs of other stakeholders in knowledge domain, with focus on military
heritage strategic security and military affairs.
d) Focus of Research and Publications - Focus on policy research and publications on
new generation warfare, military doctrines and strategy, operational art,
disruptive force development, jointmanship, Indian Military Heritage and
post-independence wars and Conflicts.
e) Node of Excellence for Strategic Studies and
Simulation - Conduct Net Assessment
projects, Strategic Scenario Games, Core programs, Jointmanship capsules and
customised courses in military education for Service officers and other
aspirants pursuing internship and studies in defence and security.
f) Node of Excellence for Career Progression - With advent of digital technology, there is a
need to shift conduct of career
progression courses from manual and postal-based system to e-learning; creation
of paid customised digital content, virtual classroom learning, online
correction work and YouTube tutorials etc.
g) Node of Excellence for Military Heritage, Military History
and Conflict Studies - CMHCS is a repository of India’s Military Heritage with a
niche in conceptualization, curation and creation of war memorials, war
museums, planning and conduct of Staff Rides to epic battle fields besides
seminal research and publication on Military History and Conflict Studies. This
unique core competency should be leveraged at the national and international
level.
h) Node for Defence Diplomacy - USI has been a preferred port of
call for foreign delegations, lectures by visiting dignitaries and UN
diplomacy. The USI’s expertise and infrastructure capacity should be utilised
for conduct of tailor-made courses, workshops and table-top scenario games for
foreign military officers. As part of defence diplomacy, the USI should be used
to organise periodic interaction with foreign defence advisors, diplomats and
other opinion makers. Likewise, own military advisors should be given
orientation training under the aegis of USI before their taking up assignments
abroad. The resource faculty of USI could be utilised for advocacy and
narrative building.
Visibility and Outreach through Digitisation
1) Use of Social Media platforms
2) Fortnightly updates to members, NSCS, Ministries, DMA, HQ
IDS, Services HQ, think tanks,
partner universities and diplomatic missions in
India and abroad
3) To Military Training Establishments and Commands
4) To IAS Academy, National Police Academy, FSI, PMF and CAPFs
5) Digital Knowledge Content
Production and propagation of YouTube
series and podcasts
6) Upgrade Website
To make it more user and mobile friendly
7) Track 1.5 Dialogues
Increase outreach with the help of Ministries
to engage with international think tanks
8) Foreign Collaboration
Joint projects and events with foreign
think tanks on issues that promote literature and multi-lateral cooperation
9) UNPK
Revive UN
related work at the policy and doctrinal level
10) USI History
Document
institutional knowledge of the institution for posterity
