New Delhi, July 24 -- Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on Friday tabled the National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, also known as the Vande Mataram Bill, in the Rajya Sabha on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, amid sloganeering by Opposition MPs over the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) paper leak issue.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, and aims to accord the singing of Vande Mataram the same legal protection currently granted to the National Anthem.

CPI MPs P Sandosh Kumar and John Brittas opposed the introduction of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Kumar, while speaking against the Bill, said that he respected Vande Mataram but oppose...