New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a landmark piece of legislation that extends legal protection to Vande Mataram, India’s national song, by criminalising the intentional disruption or prevention of its singing. The Bill was approved through a voice vote after most Opposition members staged a walkout, protesting the government’s refusal to allow a discussion on the recent police action against students demonstrating over alleged paper leaks.
The amendment seeks to strengthen the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which already criminalises insults directed at the National Flag, the Constitution of India, and the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. With the latest amendment, the government has placed Vande Mataram under a similar legal framework, recognising its historic contribution to India’s freedom movement and national identity.
Under the provisions of the amended law, any person who intentionally prevents the singing of Vande Mataram or deliberately causes a disturbance to an assembly engaged in singing the national song can face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. The legislation is intended to deter deliberate acts of disrespect and reinforce the symbolic importance of the song in the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
The Bill was originally introduced in the Upper House by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on July 24, and was taken up for discussion during Wednesday’s proceedings.
However, the debate was overshadowed by continuous protests from Opposition MPs. Members demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah address the House regarding the recent Delhi Police action against students and young protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar over alleged paper leak controversies. As slogans echoed through the House, the Deputy Chairman, Harivansh, proceeded with the legislative business despite repeated interruptions.
Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan, who was scheduled to initiate the debate on the Bill, joined fellow Opposition members in the protest. Observing that the member was unwilling to participate in the discussion, the Chair invited BJP MP Radha Mohan Das Agrawal to speak instead.
During the debate, Nityanand Rai strongly defended the amendment, describing it as far more than a routine legislative change. He stated that the Bill represented the government’s commitment to strengthening national consciousness, preserving India’s cultural heritage, and honouring the ideals that inspired the freedom struggle.
Rai traced the historical significance of Vande Mataram, recalling that it was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875. He said the composer had envisioned the song becoming a unifying mantra for generations of Indians. The minister also referred to historical developments surrounding the song, noting that Jawaharlal Nehru, while serving as Congress President in 1937, had limited its official use to the first two stanzas. Rai further stated that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, during his tenure as Congress President in 1938, encouraged musician Timir Baran Bhattacharya to prepare a complete musical rendition of the song.
Highlighting the constitutional history of the issue, Rai cited Dr Rajendra Prasad’s statement in the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, in which he said that Vande Mataram should receive honour equal to that accorded to Jana Gana Mana. The minister argued that the amendment fulfils that long-standing sentiment by providing the national song with explicit statutory protection.
The minister also criticised the Congress party for opposing the legislation, alleging that resistance to the Bill amounted to disrespecting national pride. He asserted that India’s youth, workers and women would support stronger legal safeguards for national symbols.
Despite the government’s arguments, several Opposition leaders voiced reservations about the legislation and the manner in which it was passed. Manoj Kumar Jha of the Rashtriya Janata Dal argued that reverence for national symbols cannot be imposed through legislation. He remarked that for the first time he was witnessing a situation where the national song and the national anthem appeared to be placed in comparison with one another, adding that genuine respect arises voluntarily rather than through legal compulsion.
Biju Janata Dal MP Sulata Deo supported the cultural importance of the national song but observed that many legislators themselves could not sing it correctly. She suggested that Vande Mataram should be played regularly in Parliament as well as in state legislative assemblies to encourage familiarity and respect.
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party MP Sanjay Singh announced his party’s support for the Bill but called upon the government to ensure equally strict action against those who insult the National Anthem or the Tricolour, arguing that all national symbols deserve the same level of protection and respect.
Throughout the proceedings, senior Opposition leaders including Pramod Tiwari, Sagarika Ghose, and Tiruchi Siva repeatedly demanded the presence of the Home Minister. However, the Chair declined to permit discussions unrelated to the Bill, leading to continued protests before the legislation was finally passed.
While supporters of the Bill view it as an important step towards preserving the legacy of the freedom movement and promoting respect for the national song, critics have questioned whether legal penalties are the most effective means of fostering patriotism.
