The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has been passed by Parliament, amending the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The legislation, which was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24, 2026, extends the penal provisions of the principal Act to the national song, 'Vande Mataram'. The original Act criminalises insults to the national flag, the Constitution of India, and the national anthem.
Expansion of Offences to the National Song
Under the amended Act, the existing prohibitions—which cover intentionally preventing the singing of the national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) or causing disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing—now apply equally to the national song (Vande Mataram).
Penalties and Punishment
Offences under the amended provisions are punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. For a second and every subsequent conviction, the Act prescribes a minimum imprisonment of one year. The amendment ensures that the legal protection afforded to the national anthem is now statutorily mirrored for the national song, closing a legislative gap that had been the subject of judicial and public discourse.
The passage of this Bill marks a significant step in the statutory recognition of national symbols, reinforcing the legal framework designed to preserve their dignity and respect.
