India, July 17 -- The Central government is set to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, aiming to make insulting or deliberately disrupting the singing of 'Vande Mataram' a punishable offence.

The proposed legislation has already received Union Cabinet approval and is scheduled to be introduced in the Lok Sabha when the session begins on July 20.

At present, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 provides legal protection for the National Anthem, National Flag and the Constitution. The amendment seeks to extend similar legal protection to 'Vande Mataram', India's national song, by making intentional acts of insult or obstruction d...