Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, July 20, during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
The legislation aims to extend the same statutory protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram, that is currently accorded to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Once enacted, insulting or obstructing the singing of Vande Mataram will become a punishable offence, with penalties including imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.
At present, the law mandates respect for the National Anthem, requiring people to stand during its rendition and prohibiting acts of insult or disruption. The proposed amendment will bring Vande Mataram under the same legal framework that safeguards other national symbols, including the National Flag and the Constitution.
The move comes amid heightened focus on national symbols and cultural identity, with the government emphasising parity between the anthem and the national song.
