Rajya Sabha passes bill to make insult of Vande Mataram criminal offence

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the bill to make insult to the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence.Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha speaks in the House during the Monsoon session of Parliament. (Sansad TV/ PTI Photo)The upper house of the Parliament took up the discussion over the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 -- which was listed for consideration and passing in the list of business. The bill was first tabled on Friday (July 24) by minister of state (MoS) for home affairs Nityanand Rai.The discussion witnessed protests and sloganeering from the opposition parties, seeking a response from Union Home Minister Amit Shah over alleged police force against NEET paper leak demonstrators in the national capital.The Opposition also staged a walkout amid discussion over bill.The proposed amendment seeks to expand the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, by bringing within its ambit acts of intentionally obstructing the rendition of the national song or creating disturbances during its singing.The bill seeks to make desecration of or disrespect towards the country's national symbols, including the national flag, the Constitution, and the national anthem, a criminal offence, with a provision of up to three years' imprisonment.