Rajya Sabha Passes the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026

The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. Introduced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the Bill extends the same statutory protection enjoyed by the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, to the National Song, Vande Mataram.

About the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026

What It Is

The Bill amends the existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, a law that penalises disrespect shown toward national symbols like the Flag, the Constitution, and the National Anthem. The 2026 amendment widens this coverage to bring Vande Mataram, India's National Song, formally within its scope.

Aim

The legislation is meant to fix a gap that had persisted in the 1971 Act, which never carried specific penal clauses safeguarding the National Song. Through this move, the government intends to fulfil the assurance given by Constituent Assembly President Dr. Rajendra Prasad on 24 January 1950, when he stated that Vande Mataram would hold equal honour and status alongside Jana Gana Mana.

Key Features of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026

1. Section 3 Replaced: The original Section 3 has been substituted to bring both the National Anthem and National Song under identical legal protection.
2. Offence Defined: It becomes a punishable offence for anyone who deliberately stops the National Anthem or National Song from being sung, or disrupts a gathering singing either.
3. Punishment Prescribed: Violators face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.
4. Historical Grounding: The Bill references Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's composition, later part of Anandamath, and its role in energising the freedom movement.

Significance of Vande Mataram Bill 2026

The Bill formally elevates Vande Mataram to the same legal standing as the National Anthem under the 1971 Act, while also reviving discussion around how such legal mandates sit alongside the freedoms guaranteed under Article 19