- Vande Mataram is the National Song
- It is composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterjee.
- It was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.
- It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana.
- The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.
- Why in news? The Madras High Court ordered that “Vande Mataram” must be played and sung in all schools, colleges and universities at least once a week.