Parliament on Wednesday passed a bill making insulting the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence. After being passed in the Rajya Sabha, this bill was passed amidst a lot of noise by the Lok Sabha on Thursday after some debate. This bill – The Prevention of Insults to National Honor (Amendment) Bill, 2026 – was passed by the Rajya Sabha a day earlier. With its passage in the Lok Sabha, the proposed amendment is now closer to becoming law.
In the Lok Sabha, the bill was passed by voice vote amid protests from opposition members who demanded a discussion on police action against students protesting against the NEET paper leak. Despite legal work being conducted in the House, the noise continued.
Vande Mataram Bill gets approval from Parliament
This law makes changes to the National Anthem by amending the Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971. Vande Mataram Tries to bring it within its scope. Currently, this law provides for a prison sentence of up to three years for insulting national symbols like the Constitution, the national flag and the national anthem. Once it is implemented, disrespect, obstruction or disturbance during the singing of Vande Mataram will attract the same punishment — jail up to three years, fine, or both.
This bill is part of the efforts of the Central Government to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875 and was first published in his novel Anandamath in 1882. In the last few months, the Central Government has issued instructions to the states regarding singing of national songs at government functions.
In the Rajya Sabha on 29 July, the bill was passed after a debate which saw heated debate between the ruling party and the opposition. Members of Congress and other opposition parties walked out during the discussion.
The bill was introduced on July 24
Responding to the debate in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said the bill aims to protect the country’s honor and cultural heritage, and described Vande Mataram as a symbol of India’s freedom struggle and national consciousness.
Many members from different parties spoke on the bill. Some supported strict rules to prevent insult to national symbols, while others expressed concern over the need for consensus and debate.
This bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 24 July and was passed on 29 July. The bill was approved by the Lok Sabha on July 30. Its passing has happened at a time when there are continuous obstructions in both the Houses regarding the NEET paper leak issue, due to which the proceedings have been stalled for more than a week.
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