The Indian Parliament has passed a bill making any insult to the national song, Vande Mataram, a punishable offence. The bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha via voice vote amid Opposition uproar.
The Indian Parliament has passed a bill making any insult to the national song, Vande Mataram, a punishable offence. The bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha via voice vote amid Opposition uproar. The government said the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, would accord Vande Mataram the same status as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The bill seeks to make any insult to the national song a punishable offence, and it has been welcomed by many as a step towards protecting national pride. The bill will now be sent to the Rajya Sabha for further discussion.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to amend a 1971 law. The Bill criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, giving it legal sanctity at par with the national anthem. The Bill was passed through a voice vote following a walkout by Opposition members. The Bill states that preventing the singing of the national song can be punished with imprisonment of up to three years or a fine or both.
The Rajya Sabha passed a bill proposing up to three-year jail term and/or fine for preventing or disturbing the rendition of 'Vande Mataram'. The opposition parties, including Congress, TMC, DMK, RJD, Left, and Sena UBT, staged a walkout in view of the bill. The bill aims to make provisions for registration after a delay of more than two years more stringent, in a bid to encourage citizens to report such events on time. Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai introduced the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid protests by opposition parties.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (PONH) Bill. The bill allows for imprisonment up to three years or a fine for preventing the singing of the national song 'Vande Mataram'. Opposition members walked out in protest, demanding Home Minister Amit Shah's statement on the pellet gun issue.
Vande Mataram Bill passed in Rajya Sabha amid heated debate. Oppn says ‘reverence can’t be legislated’ New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid a heated debate, with the Opposition questioning the intent of the Bill and maintaining that reverence to the national song doesn’t come through legislation. The government said that opposing the national song Vande Mataram amounts to boosting the morale of the “ Bharat tere tukde honge gang”. The Act penalises insults to the national flag, the Constitution of India, and the n.
The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to accord Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as the national anthem. The bill amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, extending the Act's penal provisions to acts of intentional disrespect towards Vande Mataram.