Rajya Sabha passes bill on insults to Vande Mataram

The Rajya Sabha passed a bill on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, criminalizing insults to the national song, Vande Mataram, granting it the same legal protection as the national anthem. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Amendment Bill, 2026, was passed by voice vote amid protests and a walkout by opposition parties.

The bill amends the 1971 Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, which previously covered only the national anthem, the national flag, and the Constitution. The new amendment extends the law's provisions to Vande Mataram, making it a punishable offence to intentionally prevent its singing or cause a disturbance to any assembly engaged in singing it. Conviction carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a fine, or both. A second conviction mandates a minimum jail term of one year.

The bill was introduced in the Upper House on July 24. During the debate, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai presented the government's case, stating the amendment reflects the country's commitment to its cultural heritage and freedom struggle. He accused the main opposition Congress party of insulting Vande Mataram through what he termed "appeasement...