Vande Mataram the Government may authorise as occasion arises, and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause) I hope this will satisfy members. In 2017, the Supreme Court of India declared that there is no concept of national song of India as per the Constitution. The court also declined a petition from a BJP spokesperson Ashwini Upadhyay that wanted the court to direct the Central government to promote Vande Mataram and to frame a national policy for
Jana Gana Mana of the Congress party session started with a prayer in Bengali to praise God (song of benediction). This was followed by a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V. Then another song was sung welcoming King George V." ("Amrita Bazar Patrika", Dec.28,1911)<br> Even the report of the annual session of the Indian National Congress of December 1911 stated this difference: "On the first day of 28th annual session of the Congress, proceedings started after singing Vande Mataram. On the second day the work began after singing a patriotic song by Babu Ravindranath Tagore. Messages from well wishers were then read