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 seventh iteration of the Annual Military Museum Curators’ Course is being held at the USI from 17 to 21 November 2025. This year, the course is being conducted in person, with a total strength of 32 participants. It includes representatives from the Indian Army, Navy, MoD (Ministry of Defence), and the National War Memorial, New Delhi. The training programme, conducted by experts from the National Army Museum (UK), the Imperial War Museum (UK), and the Indian Institute of Heritage, is spread over five days. Beginning this year, the course duration is extended by one additional day to include a practical session on conservation. The programme also introduces both theoretical and practical modules on firearms conservation, further enhancing its scope and relevance.