Amit Shah to Introduce Bill Granting Equal Legal Protection to ‘Vande Mataram’ in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, July 2026 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha on Monday during the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The proposed legislation seeks to provide the National Song, Vande Mataram, with the same legal protection currently enjoyed by the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, under Indian law.

The amendment proposes changes to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, making any deliberate insult to or disruption of the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence. If approved by Parliament, the National Song will receive legal safeguards equivalent to those extended to the National Anthem, the National Flag and other symbols of national importance.

Under the proposed provisions, any individual found guilty of intentionally preventing, disrupting or insulting the singing of Vande Mataram could face imprisonment for up to three years, a monetary fine, or both. The penalties mirror those already prescribed under the existing law for offences involving the National Anthem.

Currently, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act requires citizens to show due respect to the National Anthem by standing during its rendition and prohibits any intentional act that interrupts or insults its performance. However, although Vande Mataram has long been recognised as India’s National Song, it has not enjoyed the same statutory protection.

The proposed amendment aims to bridge this legal gap by bringing the National Song within the ambit of the Act. Once enacted, any deliberate attempt to obstruct or disturb its rendition during public gatherings or official ceremonies will attract the same legal consequences as similar offences involving the National Anthem.

According to the draft legislation, the amendment specifically provides for imprisonment of up to three years, along with a fine, for anyone who intentionally prevents or disrupts the singing of Vande Mataram or causes disorder during any event where the National Song is being performed.

The legislative initiative follows a directive issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on July 9 to all states and Union Territories. The advisory instructed authorities to ensure strict compliance with the protocol that Vande Mataram be played before Jana Gana Mana whenever both are performed during official government functions.

The government maintains that the amendment is intended to reinforce respect for national symbols and strengthen the spirit of patriotism and national unity. Supporters of the Bill argue that extending equal legal recognition to the National Song reflects its historical and cultural significance in India’s freedom movement and national identity.

The Bill is expected to be taken up for discussion during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. If passed by both Houses and subsequently receiving the President’s assent, the amended law will formally place Vande Mataram under the same legal framework that safeguards India’s most revered national symbols.