Union Home Minister Amit Shah will introduce legislation to make insulting or disrupting the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ a punishable offense.
The move seeks to align the legal protections of the national song with those already afforded to the national anthem. By extending these protections, the government aims to prevent deliberate disruption and ensure the song is treated with the same legal sanctity as the anthem.
The proposed legislation is titled the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 [2]. According to reports, the bill is scheduled for introduction during the current Monsoon Session of Parliament. While some reports indicate the bill will be tabled in the Rajya Sabha [1], others suggest it is listed for the Lok Sabha [3].
Under the new provisions, individuals found insulting or disrupting the national song could face significant legal consequences. The amendment would make such acts criminal, with potential imprisonment terms of up to three years [4].
This amendment modifies the existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. The current act focuses on the national anthem, the national flag, and the Constitution. The 2026 amendment expands this scope specifically to include ‘Vande Mataram’, a song that has historically played a central role in India's independence movement and national identity.
The introduction of the bill comes as part of a broader effort by the center to strengthen laws regarding national symbols. The government said that the legal framework must evolve to protect these symbols from public disrespect.
“insulting or disrupting the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ a punishable offense”
This legislative shift represents a tightening of legal controls over national expressions of patriotism. By criminalizing the disruption of 'Vande Mataram', the Indian government is elevating the song's status to a legal equivalent of the national anthem, potentially increasing the state's power to prosecute dissent or protests that occur during the song's performance.
