Modern instruments are becoming more and more sophisticated and hence expensive.  With limited resources available for the higher education system, liberal purchase of instruments is not possible and hence, the need for bringing them to a common pool in the Universities for their better use.  Also, expensive instruments available, often remained unutilized for want of maintenance facilities and trained technicians to look after them.  The University Grants Commission has launched a scheme of University Science Instrumentation Centres in the Universities to create essential facilities where all major instruments in the University could be centralized for maximum utilization with workshop facilities supported by qualified personnel with different specializations for fabrication, repair and maintenance of all types of instruments. USICs in the Universities were established during 5th, 6th and 7th plan periods with the financial support of UGC with guidelines prescribing the objectives, functions, status of USICs.  The USICs are normally included in the regular plan periods for development like other departments.  Any upgradation or additional grants to USICs will be treated outside the plan period.

        USICs are categorized in three levels Viz., USIC Level - I, Level - II and Level - III.  There are 32 Level - I, 23 Level - II and 9 Level - III USICs in the country.  The USIC Level - I was established in Andhra University in the year 1976.  Upgraded to Level - II in 1980 and Level - III in 1990.