Overview

• The Union Cabinet approved country-wide celebrations to mark the 150th year of the national song.
• Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision following a Cabinet meeting in New Delhi.
• The Constituent Assembly had accorded 'Vande Mataram' the status of national song.
• 'Vande Mataram' was composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, according to the India.gov portal.
• Reports note the song holds equal status with the national anthem, though details on the celebration schedule and funding were not provided.