Guwahati, July 30 -- The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to make the insult or disrespect of the national song, Vande Mataram, a punishable offence. The legislation was cleared after an Opposition walkout, ending more than a week of legislative disruptions in the Upper House.

The bill was passed by a voice vote after members of the Opposition, led by the Congress, staged a walkout while continuing their protest over the alleged police action against students demonstrating against the NEET paper leak in Delhi.

For over a week, proceedings in the Rajya Sabha had been repeatedly disrupted as Opposition members demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah make a...