President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on Tuesday to a bill providing legal protection to India's national song, Vande Mataram [1].
The move elevates the legal status of the song to be on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. This change ensures that any intentional insult or disruption of the national song now carries criminal penalties [1], [2].
The legislation is known as the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 [1]. By signing the bill, the president has codified the requirement for respect toward Vande Mataram, mirroring the existing protections afforded to the national anthem [2].
Under the new law, the act of intentionally disrupting the song during official or public performances may lead to legal prosecution. The amendment seeks to standardize the way national symbols are protected under Indian law, creating a uniform legal framework for both the anthem and the song [1].
President Murmu signed the measure in New Delhi [1]. The bill had been designed specifically to criminalize the disruption of the song, ensuring that its performance is not hindered by intentional interference [2].
“President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on Tuesday to a bill providing legal protection to India's national song.”
This legislative shift formalizes the state's approach to national symbolism by removing the legal distinction between the national anthem and the national song. By criminalizing insults to Vande Mataram, the Indian government is strengthening the legal mechanisms used to enforce patriotic conduct and protect cultural symbols from public disruption.
