Parliament clears bill to make insult to Vande Mataram criminal offence

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24 and passed on July 29. A day later, the Lok Sabha cleared the bill.Lokn Sabha on Thursday cleared the Vande Mataram bill. (PTI photo)Parliament on Wednesday cleared a bill to make insult to the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence, with the Lok Sabha passing the legislation amid din following a brief debate.The bill — The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 — had already been approved by the Rajya Sabha a day earlier. With its passage in the Lower House, the proposed amendment now moves closer to becoming law.In the Lok Sabha, the bill was taken up and passed through a voice vote amid protests by Opposition members, who have been demanding a discussion on police action against students protesting the NEET paper leak. The noisy scenes continued even as the House proceeded with legislative business.The legislation seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to include the national song Vande Mataram under its ambit. At present, the law provides penal provisions for disrespecting national symbols such as the Constitution, the national flag and the national anthem, with punishment of up to three years’ imprisonment. In the Rajya Sabha on July 29, the bill was passed after a debate that saw sharp exchanges between the treasury benches and the Opposition. Members of the Congress and other Opposition parties staged a walkout during the discussion.Replying to the debate in the Upper House, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the bill was aimed at protecting the country’s “honour and cultural heritage”, describing Vande Mataram as a symbol of India’s freedom struggle and national consciousness. Several members across parties spoke on the bill. While some backed stricter provisions to prevent disrespect to national symbols, others flagged concerns over the need for broader consensus and debate.The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24 and passed on July 29. The bill was cleared by Lok Sabha on July 30. Its passage comes amid continued disruptions in both Houses over the NEET paper leak issue, which has stalled proceedings for over a week.- EndsPublished By: Prateek ChakrabortyPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 15:48 IST