January 24, 1950: India's Pivotal Day - National Anthem & First President Adopted

• January 24, 1950, two days before Republic Day, was a landmark date for independent India, establishing its 'voice' and 'head'.
• The Constituent Assembly officially adopted 'Jana Gana Mana', composed by Rabindranath Tagore, as India's national anthem.
• First sung at the 1911 Congress Calcutta session, the 52-second anthem unites India's diverse cultural and geographical identity.
• On the same day, Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of independent India, providing stability to the new republic.
• Dr. Rajendra Prasad served two consecutive terms, a unique achievement in Indian presidential history.

Why It Matters: January 24, 1950, marked India's adoption of its national anthem and election of its first President.