India Marks 150 Years of Vande Mataram on 80th Independence Day

# India Marks 150 Years of Vande Mataram on 80th Independence Day ### Why in News? India's **80th** **Independence Day** celebrations highlighted **150 years** of the national song **Vande Mataram**, alon**gsi**de a focus on youth participation. ### Why is Vande Mataram important? - **Vande Mataram** was composed by **Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay** and later included in his novel Anandamath. - The song became closely associated with India's freedom movement and was adopted as the National Song in **1950**. - The **2026** **Independence Day** programme at the **Red Fort** gave the song special prominence to mark its 150-year commemoration. ### Exam Connect - **Vande Mataram** → **Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay** - **National Song** → **Vande Mataram** - **Independence Day** ceremony → **Red Fort**, Delhi