Chennai, Aug 12:
President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides legal protection to the national song Vande Mataram and makes its insult a punishable offence.
The Bill, passed by the Rajya Sabha on July 29 and the Lok Sabha on July 30, seeks to extend to Vande Mataram the same legal protection accorded to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
Under the amended law, preventing or disrupting the singing of Vande Mataram could attract imprisonment of up to three years and a fine.
The legislation also provides that Vande Mataram should be sung before Jana Gana Mana at government functions and other events covered by the law.
The Centre has introduced the measures as part of celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. All six stanzas of the song are to be sung at government functions.
At the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on August 15, Vande Mataram is scheduled to be performed in full before Jana Gana Mana.