Army Postal Service Day 1980

The Army Postal Service (APS), functions as a government-operated military mail system in India. A primary feature of APS systems is that normally they are subsidized to ensure that military mail posted between duty stations abroad and the home country (or vice versa) does not cost the sender any more than normal domestic mail traffic. In some cases, Indian military personnel in a combat zone may post letters and/or packages to the home country for free, while in others, senders located in a specific overseas area may send military mail to another military recipient, also located in the same overseas area, without charge. Officers are deputed primarily from the Indian Postal Service and from the Army Corps. Army Postal Service is the only service that enables civil service officers to work in the armed forces.

APS as the Base Circle of India Post enjoys unique access to the largest Postal System in the world. This synergy enables APS to extend almost all the services of India Post to the Armed Forces personnel serving in India and in UN Missions.

This cover was issued on 1.2.1980 by APS to celebrate APS Day 1980. The cover shows an APS bunker in Sikkim, whereas the maxicard has a photo of the Indian FPO No.44 at Mosul in Iraq during the Second World War. The cancellation on the cover is also very striking.