Indian Army Service Corps

Logistics support arm of the Indian Army

Indian Army Service corps

Insignia 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-

Lt. Gen. B K Repswal
Lt. Gen. P M Singh

Lieutenant Ayushman Rana
Commanders
Director General| Lt Gen Preet Mohinder Singh, VSM
Insignia
Flag|

Military unit

The Indian Army Service Corps (IASC) is a administrative 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]

## History

[edit]

Passing out parade, Army Service Corps Centre, Bengaluru Indian Mule Corps in Alexandria about to embark for Gallipoli, c. 1915 1992 postal stamp

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).

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 Husain, 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.

## Role

[edit]

The ASC is mainly responsible for the provisioning, procurement and distribution of Supplies of food ration, fresh & dry edible 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.

## See also

[edit]

* Indian Army Pioneer Corps

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Army Service Corps

## External links

[edit]

* Official website of the Indian Army

* v
* t
* e

Arms and services of Indian Army

Combat
arms|

| Infantry regiments|

* Mechanised Infantry
* Guards
* Parachute
* Punjab
* Madras
* Grenadiers
* Maratha LI
* Naga
* Rajputana Rifles
* Rajput
* Jat
* Sikh
* Sikh LI
* Dogra
* Garhwal Rifles
* Kumaon
* Assam
* Bihar
* Mahar
* J&K Rifles
* J&K LI
* 1 GR
* 3 GR
* 4 GR
* 5 GR
* 8 GR
* 9 GR
* 11 GR
* Ladakh Scouts
* Arunachal Scouts
* Sikkim Scouts

|

Other combat arms|

* Artillery
* Armoured
* Army Aviation
* Army Air Defence
* Engineers
* Madras
* Bengal
* Bombay
* Signals
* Intelligence

Support
services|

| Corps|

* Education
* Military Music Wing
* Medical
* Ordnance
* Postal Service
* Army Service Corps
* Electronics and Mechanical Engineers
* Military Police
* Remount and Veterinary
* Pioneer
* Defence Security Corps

|

Administrative corps|

* Judge Advocate General's Department
* Military Engineer Services
* Military Farms Service
* Military Nursing Service
* Territorial Army
* National Cadet Corps

*[transl.]: translation
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template