Indian Army

Service Corps

The Indian Army Service Corps (IASC) is

a corps and an arm of the Indian Army
which handles its logistic support
function. It is the oldest and the largest
administrative service in the Indian Army.
While the history of supply and transport
services is as old as the history of
organized warfare itself it was in 1760
that the very rudimentary supply and
transport organizations of the three
presidencies of the East India Company
were brought under the council of a
single authority.[1]
 Indian Army Service Corps

Emblem of Indian Army Service Corps

Active 1760–Present

Country  United Kingdom

 India

Allegiance  British India

(1760–1947)

 India (1947–
Present)

Branch  British Indian

Army

 Indian Army

Role Military Logistics

Regimental Centre Bengaluru,
Karnataka

Motto(s) Seva Asmākam

Dharma (transl. 
Service is our duty)

Anniversaries December 8 (Corps

Raising Day)

Engagements First World War

Second World War

Second Sino-
Japanese War

Sino-Indian War of
1962

Indo-Pakistani War
of 1947

Indo-Pakistani War
of 1965

Indo-Pakistani War
 of 1971

Indo-Pakistani War
of 1999
Decorations • PVSM-15

• MVC-1

• AVSM-33

• VrC-14

• KC-4

• AC-1

• SC-21

• SM-114

• DSOs-4

• MCs-25

• MMs-67

• IDMs-4

• IDSMs-34

• CBs-4

• CIEs-8

 • CBEs-13

• OBEs-60

• MBEs-161

• BEMs-15

• OBIs-185

• Jagirs-5

Battle honours Colonels of the

Regiment- Maj. Gen.
Arvind Katoch, Lt.
Gen. MKS Yadav

Commanders
Director General Lt. Gen. Manoj
Kumar Singh Yadav

SM

Insignia
Flag
Role

Indian Mule Corps in Alexandria about to embark for Gallipoli, c. 1915

1992 postal stamp

The ASC is mainly responsible for the
provisioning, procurement and
distribution of Supplies of food ration,
fresh & dry eatable items, FOL(Fuels, oil,
lubricants), Hygiene Chemicals and items
of Hospital Comforts to Army, Air Force
and when required for Navy and other
para military forces. The operation of
Mechanical Transport except first line
transport and fighting vehicles and the
provision and operation of first and
second line Animal Transport is also the
responsibility of the ASC. The other
responsibilities include carriage and
distribution of ammunition including
mines, forward of the Corps Maintenance
Area in the field in case of plains, and
forward of Divisional Maintenance Area
in case of mountain formation, packing
of commodities for supply, loading of
aircraft and ejection of loads, training
and provisioning of clerks for all
branches of staff at formation
headquarters and the training and
provisioning of catering staff in the army.
This Corps is a versatile one designed for
the role with wide parameters for
multifarious activities of immediate
concern to the troops. The Corps also
handle postal services in forward areas.

History
The origin of the corps go back to 1760
when a Commissariat used to exist in the
administrative component of the armies
three Presidencies of Bengal, Madras
and Bombay. In 1878 the separate
Commissariats were amalgamated into a
single entity and then in 1901 it was
renamed the Supply and Transport
Corps. During the First World War the
corps became a permanent component
of the British Indian Army and was
renamed the Indian Army Service Corps in
1923. In 1935 the corps was granted the
'Royal' prefix and became known as
Royal Indian Army Service Corps
(RIASC).
Passing out parade, Army Service Corps Centre, Bengaluru

After India gained independence in 1947,

the corps underwent further expansion
and by 1948 Indian Catering Corps and
Indian Army Corps of Clerks were
amalgamated into the corps. The Food
Testing Laboratories were also placed
under the control of RIASC. On 8
December 1950, after India became a
republic, the corps dropped the use of
the 'Royal' prefix and was once again
renamed the Indian Army Service Corps.
Since that day the corps has celebrated
its Raising Day on 8 December. A
proposal for the award of regimental
colours to the Corps was initiated in 1952
and was approved in October 1967. To
coincide with the Colour presentation
first ever Reunion of ASC was also held.
The new Corps Colours were presented
by the President of India, Dr Zakir
Hussain to the Corps on 8 December
1967 on the 207th Corps Anniversary, at
ASC Centre (South), Bangalore. Lt SSK
Raheja had the rare and enviable privilege
and honour of being selected as the
Colour Ensign, he received the Corps
Colours from the President. The second
regimental Colours were presented on
the occasion of Third Reunion by Gen OP
Malhotra, COAS on 8 December 1979.

See also
Indian Army Pioneer Corps

References
1. Army Service Corps (https://indianar
my.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTe
mpSimple.aspx?MnId=5HhSr/AG1H5
RTyk5kRhwBw==&ParentID=yaIizpW
dub5E+Z6omrga3Q==)

External links
Official website of the Indian Army (htt
p://indianarmy.nic.in)
Retrieved from
"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
title=Indian_Army_Service_Corps&oldid=113815
1184"

This page was last edited on 8 February 2023, at

08:25 (UTC). •
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