National Song Status: Adopted on January 24, 1950, by the Constituent Assembly of India , it shares equal status with the national anthem. First Public Performance: Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram for the first time at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. The National Song of India , "Vande Mataram," holds a special place in the hearts of every Indian citizen. Know the lyrics & importance of Vande Mataram. Download National Song of India UPSC Notes! During a session of the Indian National Congress in 1896, Rabindranath Tagore hummed a tune that he had composed; in time, the song ‘Vande Mataram’ assumed the status of India ’s freedom anthem, and ever since it has reverberated across the annals of India ’s history. Tagore’s stint marked ... Vande Mataram is the national song of India , adopted in 1950, based on a poem by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. It is a patriotic ode to the motherland, sung in Sanskrit and translated by Aurobindo Ghosh.