The Indian Army Corps of Engineers is a combat support arm which provides combat engineering support, develops infrastructure for armed forces and other defence organisations and maintains connectivity along the borders, besides helping the civil authorities during natural disasters.

The origin of the Corps dates back to 1780 when the two regular pioneer companies were raised in the Madras Presidency Army.

Subsequently, the Group of Madras, Bengal and Bombay Sappers were formed in their respective presidencies.

Engineer Groups initially consisted of field companies (a sub-unit organisation that exists to this day).

From 1942-1945 officers of the Indian Railways were recruited into this Corps to participate in Britain's Burma Campaign.

Vast holdings had to be carefully delineated and mapped out, to plan the correct form of commercial extraction.

Corps of Engineers played a very important role on "OP Vijay" the Kargil war.

The unit was awarded COAS Unit Citation of war The Military Engineer Services (MES) are responsible for the design, construction and maintenance of all works, buildings, airfields, dock installations, etc., together with accessory services such as military roads, water and electricity supply, drainage, refrigeration, furniture, required by the Army, Navy, Air Force & Coast Guard in India.

[5][6] It is one of the largest construction and maintenance agencies in India with a total annual budget to the tune of ₹ 13,000 crores.

It has a large number of units and sub-units spread across the entire country to provide engineering support to various formations of Army, Air Force, Navy and DRDO.

MES is an inter services organisation under the Ministry of Defence and has both Army and Civilian components of officers (mainly IDSE) and other subordinate staff.

[7] Lt Gen PS Bhagat of the Corps remains the first Indian Officer to have won the Victoria Cross in the Second World War.

Later, during operations in Kashmir soon after Independence, Major Rama Raghoba Rane was awarded the Param Vir Chakra for making a passage through enemy minefields while crawling in front of a tank.

9 Engineer Regiment became one of the youngest Engineer Regiment in world history to enter the battlefield and got as many as 12 decorations including 01 Mahavir Chakra, 03 Vir Chakra, 04 Sena Medal, 04 Mention in Dispatch at the "Battle of Basantar" in 1971.

[11] Engineer regiments that served with the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka included the 3, 4, 8, 16, 51, 53, 110, 115 and 270.