The Indian government will introduce a bill to make any insult or obstruction of the national song "Vande Mataram" a criminal offense [1].
This legislative move aims to elevate the legal status of the national song to match the statutory protections already afforded to the national anthem. By doing so, the government seeks to prevent any form of disrespect or interference during the performance of the song.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the government will table the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha [1]. The introduction is scheduled for Monday, July 20, 2026 [2], which marks the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament [3].
The proposed amendment focuses on the legal consequences for those who obstruct or insult the song. Under the current framework, the national anthem holds a specific legal status that mandates respect; this bill extends that comparable protection to "Vande Mataram" [1].
The bill will be presented in the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi [1]. The move comes as part of a broader effort to ensure that national symbols are treated with uniform legal reverence across the country [4].
Government officials said that the goal is to ensure the national song is not subjected to the same types of disruptions or insults that the law currently prohibits for the anthem [4]. The bill's passage would establish a clear legal mandate for the treatment of the song in public and official settings.
“The government will introduce the "Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill"”
This legislative shift indicates a tightening of legal standards regarding national symbols in India. By equating the national song with the national anthem in terms of criminal liability for insults, the government is expanding the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, potentially increasing the legal risks for public dissent or non-compliance during official ceremonies.
