 Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session){kind=link}
The Central government is set to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, aiming to extend legal protection to Vande Mataram, India’s National Song.
The proposed amendment, which has received Union Cabinet approval, seeks to bring Vande Mataram under the ambit of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. If passed by Parliament and approved by the President, intentionally insulting the National Song or deliberately disrupting or preventing its rendition could attract a punishment of up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both—the same legal protection currently provided to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
At present, the Act protects the National Flag, the Constitution of India, and the National Anthem from acts of intentional disrespect. The amendment would mark the first time that Vande Mataram receives explicit statutory protection.
The move comes as part of the Centre’s broader initiative to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram, recognising its significant role in India’s freedom movement. The government has been encouraging educational institutions, ministries and public bodies to organise events highlighting the song’s historical importance.
Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published in his 1882 novel Anandamath, Vande Mataram became a powerful symbol of India’s independence struggle. It was adopted as the National Song by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, alongside Jana Gana Mana as the National Anthem. Only the first two stanzas of the song have official recognition.
The proposed amendment does not make singing Vande Mataram compulsory. Instead, it focuses on penalising deliberate acts of insult or disruption during its rendition. The Bill is expected to be debated during the Monsoon Session beginning July 20 and must be passed by both Houses of Parliament before becoming law.