The Lok Sabha passed the Vande Mataram Bill 2026, making intentional insults or disruption of the National Song a criminal offence. The legislation, already approved by the Rajya Sabha, now awaits Presidential assent to become law, granting legal protection to Vande Mataram.
The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, widely referred to as the Vande Mataram Bill, paving the way for granting legal protection to the National Song, Vande Mataram, similar to the safeguards already available to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The legislation was approved by a voice vote after a brief discussion in the Lower House despite persistent protests and disruptions by Opposition members.
The Bill had already received approval from the Rajya Sabha a day earlier, bringing it one step closer to becoming law. It will now be sent to the President for assent, after which it will officially come into force across the country.
The proposed legislation amends the existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act and seeks to make any intentional disruption, obstruction, or prevention of the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offence. Once enacted, deliberate acts considered insulting to the National Song will attract legal action, placing it on par with the National Anthem in terms of statutory protection.
Proceedings in the Lok Sabha remained turbulent throughout the debate as Opposition parties continued their protests over alleged police excesses during demonstrations linked to the NEET paper leak controversy. Amid the noisy atmosphere, the House proceeded with the discussion and subsequently cleared the Bill through a voice vote.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) strongly opposed the legislation, arguing that it was being introduced without adequate debate and consultation. DMK MP Kanimozhi alleged that the Bill was being imposed on the people and accused the government of using the issue to create divisions.
She maintained that India’s founding leaders had deliberately adopted only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram as the National Song after careful consideration and consensus. According to her, the government was attempting to use legislation to advance a divisive political agenda. She further stated that passing such an important Bill amid continuous disruptions was against parliamentary traditions and called on the government to hear the voices of all stakeholders before moving forward.
On the other hand, BJP MP Sambit Patra strongly defended the legislation, stating that Parliament had already held extensive discussions over the years regarding the status and significance of Vande Mataram. He argued that the amendment merely provides the National Song with the legal recognition and protection it had long deserved.
Patra also criticised previous Congress governments, claiming that despite more than seven decades of Independence, the National Song had not been accorded statutory protection. He asserted that the new law would enable citizens to accord equal respect to both the National Anthem and the National Song.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai also supported the Bill during the debate. He said the Congress leadership under Jawaharlal Nehru had adopted a truncated version of Vande Mataram for political reasons and described the amendment as a necessary course correction. According to him, the National Song represents India’s pride and cultural heritage and would further strengthen the vision of “Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat.”
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With both Houses of Parliament now having approved the legislation, the Vande Mataram Bill, 2026 awaits only Presidential assent before becoming law. Once notified, intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of Vande Mataram, as well as deliberate acts deemed insulting to the National Song, will become punishable offences under the amended law, marking a significant change in India’s legal framework governing national symbols.
