Rajya Sabha Passes Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026

31 July 2026National

The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by a voice vote on 29 July 2026 (amid Opposition walkouts). The Bill amends the parent Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 to extend its penal provisions to acts of intentional disrespect, obstruction or insult towards the national song ##Vande Mataram## - placing it on the same legal footing as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. It was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 24 July 2026 as Bill No. LIX of 2026. Under the parent Act, offences are punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or fine, or both, and a second/subsequent conviction carries a minimum of one year's imprisonment. The Minister of State for Home said the amendment reflects the nation's collective commitment to its cultural heritage and the ideals of the freedom struggle. Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his 1882 novel Anandamath, was adopted as the National Song by the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.

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Vande Mataram written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay (1882, in novel Anandamath) | Adopted as National Song on 24 January 1950 | National Honour Act enacted 1971 | Jana Gana Mana (Tagore) adopted as National Anthem 24 Jan 1950

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Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, criminalising intentional insult to Vande Mataram. • The Bill amends the 1971 Act, giving Vande Mataram the same legal protection as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. • Vande Mataram - written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in Anandamath (1882) - was adopted as India's National Song on 24 January 1950.

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