New Delhi: The Central Government on Friday introduced The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha, proposing to make insults to the National Song, Vande Mataram, a criminal offence. The proposed legislation aims to extend the same statutory protection currently enjoyed by the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, to the National Song.
The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai amid repeated disruptions in Parliament during the first week of the Monsoon Session. If enacted, the legislation would amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, prescribing a punishment of up to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both for acts deemed to insult Vande Mataram.
According to the proposed amendment, intentionally preventing the singing of the National Song or causing disturbances to an assembly engaged in singing it would become a punishable offence. The government has argued that the move is intended to ensure equal legal respect and protection for one of India’s most significant national symbols.
The introduction of the Bill came on a day when parliamentary proceedings were largely overshadowed by political deadlock. Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha began their sittings by paying tribute to members of the Armed Forces who laid down their lives during the 1999 Kargil War, ahead of Kargil Vijay Diwas, observed annually on July 26.
Soon after the tributes, Opposition members resumed protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak controversy. The protests led to repeated adjournments of both Houses, limiting legislative business for much of the day.
In the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appealed to the Opposition to allow discussions to proceed, stating that Parliament should not remain paralysed due to political disagreements. He urged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to encourage constructive participation in debates.
Rahul Gandhi later criticised the proceedings, alleging that he was denied an opportunity to respond after being named during the discussion. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said parliamentary norms required that he be allowed to speak, but claimed his microphone was switched off before he could reply. He reiterated the Opposition’s position that it would not participate in discussions until the Education Minister resigned.
Despite disruptions, the Rajya Sabha resumed business later in the afternoon, allowing the introduction of the amendment Bill. The move immediately drew objections from Opposition parties.
Speaking during the discussion, CPI(M) MP John Brittas argued that the Constituent Assembly had consciously distinguished between the National Anthem and the National Song during the framing of the Constitution. He maintained that if the framers had intended both to enjoy identical constitutional and legal status, they would have explicitly provided for it. Opposition members questioned the necessity of extending identical statutory protection to Vande Mataram, citing historical and constitutional considerations.
The Bill will now undergo further stages of parliamentary scrutiny before it can become law.
The Monsoon Session, meanwhile, continues to witness intense political confrontations, with the government seeking to advance its legislative agenda while the Opposition remains focused on pressing for accountability over the NEET controversy.
