Army Postal Service Corps - a small yet significant service component of the Indian Army traces its lineage to the Field Post Office that accompanied the Expeditionary Force to Persia in the year 1856. The personnel provided by the Department of Post during the Second World War were granted combatant status.

Earlier, APS functioned as a wing of the Army Service Corps. It was given independent status on 01 March, 1972 in recognition of its specific role in boosting and improving the communication network of the Indian Armed Forces. The Soldier's mail never misses him wherever he is placed-be it  on  the  dizzy heights of snowbound Siachen, amidst the scorching sands of the Thar, or even in the impenetrable forests of Arunachal. The personnel of the Corps move closely not only with the Army but also the Air Force and the  Para Military Forces providing much needed postal services to boost their morale.

Over the years, the Corps introduced and enlarged the scope and dimension of the service to include Postal Life Insurance, Savings Bank and now virtually encompasses the entire range of Postal services available in Civil  Post Offices. The work relating to Postal Life Insurance and Savings Bank has now been computerized. Automatized handling, has  speeded up transmission of telegrams. The latest inclusion in this field is that 56 APO and 99 APO have been provided with VSAT stations providing the benefits of Satellite Money  Order Service to the troops.

Army Postal Service also provides an excellent coverage for mails to Indian segments  of UN Contingents. APS elements have accompanied UN Missions to Mozambique, Somalia, Rwanda and are presently deployed with the contingents at Angola. The Corps has earned international acclaim for providing fast and uninterrupted mail service to our troops in distant lands.

Philatelic activity of the Department of Post also reflects the significant role of our defence forces through stamps on various significant themes. APS, on its own, also brings out a good number of special APS first day covers to commemorate landmarks in the history of Battalions, Regiments. Squadrons and Flag Ships of the Defence Forces like Centenary, Reunion and other momentous occasions and achievements.

The Department of Post is happy to release a special commemorative stamp to  mark  the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Army Postal Service Corps.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India