New Delhi, July 24 -- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was on Friday introduced in the Rajya Sabha. The bill seeks to make the intentional obstruction of or disturbance during the singing of the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence, bringing it under the same legal protection currently accorded to the National Anthem under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The Bill moved by union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai for introduction was passed through a voice vote amid noisy scenes in the Upper House after he moved for leave to introduce the legislation. The introduction went ahead despite objections from Opposition members, who contended that the proposed law r...