The Parliament of India passed The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, criminalizing insults to the national song "Vande Mataram" [1, 3].
This legislative move elevates the statutory protection of the national song to the same level as the national anthem. By doing so, the government seeks to prevent disturbances during the song's rendition and protect what it defines as national honour [1, 2].
The Lok Sabha passed the amendment on Thursday via a voice vote that took 15 minutes [1, 4]. This followed the approval of the bill by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday [1, 4].
Under the new law, any person who insults or obstructs the national song may face a penalty of up to three years in prison or a fine [2, 3]. The amendment specifically targets actions that disturb the rendition of the song, or show disrespect toward it [1, 2].
The bill, formally titled The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aims to create a legal framework that ensures the song is treated with the same reverence as other national symbols [3].
Legislators in New Delhi finalized the process this week, marking a significant shift in how the state penalizes perceived disrespect toward national identifiers [1, 2].
“The bill criminalises insulting or obstructing the national song “Vande Mataram””
This amendment expands the scope of India's national honour laws, moving from the protection of the national anthem to include the national song. By introducing criminal penalties including imprisonment, the state is tightening the legal boundaries around patriotic expression and the mandatory respect afforded to state symbols.
