Bill proposes 3-year jail for disrupting Vande Mataram rendition
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The government plans to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Parliament's Monsoon session starting July 20, 2026. It seeks to make disruption of Vande Mataram singing a punishable offense with up to three years imprisonment.
Background
Currently, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, under Section 3, only penalizes insults to the National Anthem. There is no specific legal provision to prevent insults to the singing of Vande Mataram, the national song. The bill aims to fill this gap.
Key facts
The bill proposes to amend Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to include the national song (Vande Mataram) alongside the national anthem.
Punishment: imprisonment up to three years, or fine, or both for intentionally preventing or disrupting the singing of the national anthem or national song.
For subsequent offenses, minimum imprisonment of one year.
The bill mandates that Vande Mataram must be sung in full at all state events and civil investiture ceremonies.
The statement of objects and reasons cites the Constituent Assembly meeting of January 24, 1950, where President Rajendra Prasad declared Vande Mataram shall be honored equally with Jana-Gana-Mana.
The bill is to be introduced in the Monsoon session of Parliament starting July 20, 2026.
The bill is titled 'Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026'.
Prelims pointers
- Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
- Section 3 of the Act
- National song: Vande Mataram
- National anthem: Jana-Gana-Mana
- Constituent Assembly meeting: January 24, 1950
- President Rajendra Prasad
- Monsoon session of Parliament 2026
Mains angles
- GS2 Polity: Amendment to existing law, fundamental duties, and national symbols.
- GS2 Governance: Balancing national honor with freedom of speech and expression.
- GS2 Constitution: Significance of Constituent Assembly debates on national symbols.