Vande Mataram Bill Passed in Rajya Sabha: The Rajya Sabha has passed the “Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026”. Under this amendment, laws related to insulting “Vande Mataram” will get legal protection. After the implementation of this new law, anyone who intentionally insults “Vande Mataram” or obstructs the singing of the national anthem can be punished with imprisonment for up to 3 years, fine or both.
The ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ will now give legal protection to the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’. According to the bill, intentionally insulting or obstructing the national anthem will now be considered a criminal offence. The bill was passed amid opposition and uproar from the opposition parties. The government has said that the aim behind this is to provide legal protection to symbols related to national honour.
This amendment expands the scope of the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971’. Till now, the national flag, the Constitution and the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ were legally protected under this act. Now, the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ has also been included in it. The act of intentionally preventing, obstructing or insulting the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ will be punishable under this bill. This bill has been passed at a time when various programs are being organized on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram’.
Opposition’s confusion during the debate on the bill?
As soon as the afternoon session of the Rajya Sabha began, opposition parties started raising slogans demanding answers from Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the alleged police action against the NEET paper leak protesters in Delhi. Deputy Speaker Harivansh appealed to the protesting members to maintain discipline and decency in the House. The protest continued even after that. Despite this uproar, the Deputy Speaker continued the proceedings and started the discussion on the bill. Later, when Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale was speaking on the bill, the opposition parties walked out of the House.
What are the provisions in the new law?
The amendment bill aims to provide legal protection to the national anthem on par with the national flag, the Constitution and the national anthem. According to the law, insulting ‘Vande Mataram’, intentionally obstructing its singing, or any act that brings down national honour will come under the ambit of the law. The bill provides for a maximum imprisonment of three years for offences of insulting national symbols.