President Murmu gives assent to Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) gave her assent to a legislative amendment that criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song "Vande Mataram," granting it the same legal protections as the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana." The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, became law following the President’s approval, a move that aligns the national song with the anthem in terms of legal safeguards. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on July 30, 2026, while the Rajya Sabha cleared it a day earlier. The legislation expands the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, which previously prohibited acts such as preventing the singing of the national anthem or causing disturbances during its performance. Under the amended law, similar penalties now apply to disruptions of "Vande Mataram" singing. Offenses under the new provisions carry a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, with repeat offenders facing a minimum of one year’s imprisonment. The amendment marks a significant shift in legal recognition of "Vande Mataram," which has historically held a revered status in India’s cultural and political landscape. The Bill explicitly states that the song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, is to be accorded equal status with the national anthem. This recognition was affirmed by Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of the Constituent Assembly, who declared in 1950 that "Vande Mataram" would be honored equally with "Jana Gana Mana." The Union Home Ministry announced that "Vande Mataram" will be sung for the first time at the Independence Day function from the ramparts of the Red Fort.#president_droupadi_murmu #red_fort #union_home_ministry #bankim_chandra_chatterjee
