The concluding programme was attended by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, board members, director generals and other senior railway officials. Winners of the competitions received awards and certificates of merit in recognition of their participation and achievements.
The year-long celebrations aimed to highlight national unity, patriotism and India's cultural heritage through the national song. The Ministry organised the programme in four phases, beginning with mass singing on November 7, 2025, followed by an essay competition in January 2026 and a quiz competition and Tiranga Rally in August 2026. The fourth phase concluded with the felicitation of winners.
The first phase began on November 7, 2025, with a mass singing programme held in the conference room at Rail Bhavan in New Delhi. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also participated in the event.
Through the initiative, railway officers and employees expressed their respect for the national song and remembered its role in India's freedom movement and its contribution to promoting national unity.
The second phase featured an essay competition organised at the Railway Board on January 22, 2026. The topic was ‘Vande Mataram: The Spirit of Unity in Diversity of India’.
The competition provided participants with an opportunity to express their views on the significance and message of the national song. Key themes included India's diversity, unity and national spirit.
The third phase was held on August 10, 2026, with a quiz competition at the Railway Board. Participants were asked questions related to the 150-year journey of Vande Mataram.
A Tiranga Rally was also organised within the Rail Bhavan premises as part of this phase. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw led the rally, which was attended by Railway Board Chairman and CEO Satish Kumar, board members, director generals and other senior officials.
The events highlighted the history of the national song and its contribution to India's freedom struggle.
The fourth phase of the celebrations was organised from November 1 to 7, 2026. As part of this phase, a cultural programme was held at Rail Bhavan on November 5, during which winners of the essay competition conducted in the second phase and the quiz competition organised in the third phase were felicitated.
The winners received awards and certificates of merit. The Railway Board Cultural Group was also recognised for its contribution to the successful organisation of the year-long celebrations. The group received an award along with a certificate of merit.
According to the Ministry of Railways, Vande Mataram inspires values of unity, dedication and collective effort. These values are also reflected in the functioning of Indian Railways.
The Ministry stated that the celebrations provided an opportunity for railway officials to reaffirm their commitment to performing their duties with dedication, integrity and efficiency. Officials reiterated their efforts to contribute towards taking Indian Railways to new heights.
Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and is believed to have been written on November 7, 1875, on the occasion of Akshaya Navami. The song was first published in the literary magazine ‘Bangadarshan’ as part of his novel ‘Anandamath’.
Over time, Vande Mataram became an important slogan of India's freedom movement and played a role in fostering unity and patriotism among the people.
Recognising its historical significance, the Central Government launched year-long celebrations across the country from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026, to mark 150 years of the national song. The four-phase programme organised by the Ministry of Railways formed part of this nationwide initiative.
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