Rajya Sabha passes bill making insult to Vande Mataram a criminal offence

The Rajya Sabha passed a Bill extending legal protection to Vande Mataram. The move criminalises certain acts of obstruction or disrespect and may trigger debate over its interpretation.

In Short

• The amendment widens the 1971 law protecting India's key national symbols
• Intentional obstruction of the song's singing can invite criminal prosecution
• The Bill was debated amid uproar over police action on NEET protesters

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, bringing Vande Mataram under the ambit of the law and making certain acts of disrespect towards the national song a criminal offence.

The bill was taken up for consideration and passage in the Upper House amid noisy scenes, with Opposition members raising slogans and demanding a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged use of police force against demonstrators protesting the NEET paper leak in the national capital. The Opposition later staged a walkout during the discussion on the legislation.

The amendment expands the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which currently provides legal protection to the National Flag, the Constitution and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. With the latest changes, Vande Mataram will also receive statutory protection under the Act.

Under the proposed law, intentional prevention or obstruction of the singing of Vande Mataram, as well as acts amounting to insult or disrespect towards the national song, will be treated as criminal offences. The legislation also covers desecration of or disrespect towards the country's national symbols and provides for punishment of up to three years' imprisonment.

The government introduced the amendment during the 150th anniversary commemorations of Vande Mataram, following earlier efforts to encourage its singing at official functions. The song, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later included in his novel Anandamath, emerged as a powerful symbol of India's freedom movement and is officially recognised as the country's national song.

The legislation is expected to spark debate over how terms such as "insult" and "obstruction" will be interpreted and whether the law clearly distinguishes between deliberate disruption of the singing of Vande Mataram and an individual's decision not to participate.

- Ends