The Centre is set to introduce a Bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament to give the national song Vande Mataram the same statutory protection as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. If passed, intentionally insulting or disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram could attract a jail term of up to three years, a fine, or both.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has been listed for introduction, consideration and passing during the Monsoon Session, which begins on July 20.
Amendment to Extend Existing Legal Protection
The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which currently penalises disrespect to the national flag, the Constitution and the national anthem.
According to the proposed amendment, anyone who intentionally prevents or disrupts the singing of either the national anthem or the national song, or causes disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing, could face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.
The Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill notes that while Vande Mataram has long been accorded equal honour with the national anthem, there is currently no specific legal provision protecting its singing.
“At the meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on January 24, 1950, its President Dr. Rajendra Prasad stated that the song Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it,” the Bill states.
Move Comes During 150th Anniversary Commemoration
The proposed law comes at the end of the year-long commemoration marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875 and later published in his novel Anandmath.
The Union Cabinet approved the proposal earlier this year after nationwide celebrations marking the song’s 150th anniversary. The government has said the legislation is intended to formally recognise the national song’s status and provide it with legal protection similar to that enjoyed by the national anthem.
The issue was also discussed in Parliament during special debates held in both Houses in December 2025.
Other Key Bills on Government’s Agenda
The Lok Sabha Secretariat’s legislative agenda also includes several other important Bills for the Monsoon Session.
Among them is the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes to empower the government to seize the assets of NGOs found violating provisions of the FCRA.
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, is also scheduled for consideration. It proposes stricter rules for delayed registration of births and deaths by requiring approval from a first-class judicial magistrate in cases where registration is sought after two years.
The government also plans to take up the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace the University Grants Commission (UGC), the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) with a unified higher education regulatory body.
Additionally, Parliament is expected to consider the Income-Tax (Amendment) Bill relating to tax exemptions for foreign investors and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at modernising the MSME regulatory framework.
