Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Jana Gana Mana
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is from Indian polity and culture. Every country has a national anthem that is performed at official ceremonies, in schools, and at international events. In India, it is essential for citizens and students to know the correct national anthem and distinguish it from other patriotic songs that are popular but do not have official status as the national anthem.
Given Data / Assumptions:
The question lists four well known songs and asks which one is the National Anthem of India:
- Ae Mere Pyare Watan
- Maa Tujhe Salaam
- Aisa Desh Hai Mera
- Jana Gana Mana
It is assumed that the learner is familiar with Indian patriotic songs and has learned the national anthem in school, as it is often sung during assembly, national festivals, and formal events.
Concept / Approach:
The national anthem of India is Jana Gana Mana, originally composed in Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore. The first stanza of this composition was adopted as the national anthem by the Constituent Assembly in 1950. Ae Mere Pyare Watan, Maa Tujhe Salaam, and Aisa Desh Hai Mera are popular patriotic songs from films and music albums, but they are not the official national anthem. Therefore, the correct conceptual approach is to identify Jana Gana Mana as the anthem recognised in the Constitution and in official notifications.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Indian national anthem begins with the words Jana Gana Mana and was written by Rabindranath Tagore.
Step 2: Recognise that this anthem is sung during national functions such as Republic Day, Independence Day, and at the beginning of certain public events and matches.
Step 3: Identify that Ae Mere Pyare Watan is a patriotic song from a Hindi film and not an official anthem.
Step 4: Note that Maa Tujhe Salaam and Aisa Desh Hai Mera are modern patriotic songs but do not have any constitutional or official status as the national anthem.
Step 5: Match this understanding with the options and select Jana Gana Mana as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative verification comes from remembering that the Constitution of India and government notifications explicitly mention Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem, while another Tagore composition, Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, is honoured as the national song. None of the other songs listed in the options are mentioned in constitutional documents as having such status. School textbooks, official ceremonies, and recorded versions issued by institutions such as All India Radio all use Jana Gana Mana as the anthem. This repeated official recognition confirms it beyond doubt.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ae Mere Pyare Watan: A moving patriotic song from cinema, but it does not have official status as the national anthem.
Maa Tujhe Salaam: A patriotic song popularised by a music album, widely loved but not adopted as the national anthem.
Aisa Desh Hai Mera: Another patriotic film song, again lacking formal recognition as the anthem.
Common Pitfalls:
Most learners know the correct answer easily, but confusion can arise if they mix up concepts of national anthem, national song, and patriotic songs used in films or albums. Some may wrongly think Maa Tujhe Salaam is official because of its popularity. To avoid such mistakes, remember that only Jana Gana Mana holds the formal title of national anthem, while Vande Mataram is the national song, and other compositions remain popular patriotic works without constitutional status.
Final Answer:
The song that has been adopted as the National Anthem of India is Jana Gana Mana.
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