India, July 29 -- The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, as the opposition staged a walkout. The bill, which moves to make insult or obstruction to the national song a criminal offence, will now be sent to the Lok Sabha for consideration.

If passed in the Lok Sabha, the bill will then be sent to the President for assent before being implemented as a law.

The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, commonly known as the 'Vande Mataram' bill, will extend statutory protection to the national song. Earlier, the bill applied only to the tricolour, the constitution, and the National Anthem.

Following the home ministry's directive in 2025 regarding Vand...