Vande Mataram Bill Seeks Protection under National Honour Act, 1971

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 24th July 2026 by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. popular as Vande Mataram Bill, it proposes to amend Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to bring the National Song, Vande Mataram, within the scope of the provision that currently protects only the singing of the National Anthem. 

This article throws some light upon the crucial aspects covered under the Vande Mataram Bill. 

Background 

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill to protect Vande Mataram, the 1971 Act presently punishes anyone who intentionally prevents the singing of the National Anthem or causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in singing it. There is, however, no specific legal provision addressing insults to the singing of Vande Mataram. 

The Statement under Vande Mataram Bill recalls that at a meeting of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950, its President, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, stated that Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and noted for its role in the Indian freedom struggle, was to be honoured equally with Jana-Gana-Mana and hold equal status with it. 

Key Provisions under Vande Mataram Bill 

The Bill substitutes the existing Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 with a new provision. Under the proposed section, whoever intentionally: 

• prevents the singing of the National Anthem or the National Song, or
• causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing, 

shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. 

This mirrors the punishment already prescribed under the existing law for offences relating to the National Anthem, extending the same penal consequence to the National Song. 

Existing Provision Being Replaced 

The current Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, reproduced in the Vande Mataram Bill's annexure, reads: "Whoever intentionally prevents the singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both." This provision does not presently make reference to the National Song.