NEW DELHI — President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, granting India's national song, “Vande Mataram”, the same statutory protection as the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”, according to reports published on Tuesday.
The legislation amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which previously criminalised specified acts involving the national flag, Constitution and national anthem. The amendment extends the law's provisions on preventing or disturbing the singing of the national anthem to the national song.
Under the amended provision, anyone who intentionally prevents the singing of the national anthem or national song, or causes disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing, can face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. The provision applies to both “Jana Gana Mana” and “Vande Mataram”.
The bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on July 24 by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai. The upper house passed it on July 29 after a debate marked by opposition protests and a walkout. The Lok Sabha subsequently cleared the legislation, completing Parliament's approval before it was sent to the president.
The amendment gives “Vande Mataram” statutory protection that it did not previously have under the 1971 law. Parliamentary research group PRS Legislative Research said the existing legislation penalised intentionally preventing the singing of the national anthem or disturbing an assembly engaged in its singing, with a maximum sentence of three years, a fine, or both.
The legislation comes as the government has increased the prominence of “Vande Mataram” at official functions. Reports said the Home Ministry has issued protocols concerning its rendition, while the national song is scheduled to be performed before the national anthem during Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort this year.
“Vande Mataram”, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, has long been recognised as India's national song. The Constituent Assembly accorded it a status of honour alongside the national anthem in January 1950, although the two songs have distinct official designations.
With Murmu's assent, the parliamentary measure has completed the presidential stage of enactment, extending the criminal provisions of the national-honour law to intentional obstruction or disturbance of the singing of “Vande Mataram”.
