# India Vande Mataram legislation

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/india-vande-mataram-legislation
> Updated: 2026-07-31T04:42:24.000Z. Sources: 30. Developments: 2.

In late July 2026 India’s Parliament approved an amendment to the 1971 Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, extending criminal penalties to the national song Vande Mataram. The Rajya Sabha passed the amendment on 29 July and the Lok Sabha cleared it on 30 July, both by voice vote, amid loud opposition protests and walkouts. The bill makes intentional obstruction, insult or disturbance of Vande Mataram punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, with a mandatory minimum of one year for repeat convictions. The government framed the change as fulfilling the Constituent Assembly’s 1950 decision to honour Vande Mataram on par with the national anthem and the flag. Opposition parties, especially the DMK, denounced the legislation as a Hindutva‑driven, undemocratic imposition. After passage the bill was sent to the President of India for assent and will become law thereafter.

## Claims

- The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on 29 July 2026. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The Lok Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on 30 July 2026 by voice vote amid opposition protests. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The amendment adds the national song Vande Mataram to the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The amendment makes intentional obstruction or disruption of Vande Mataram singing a criminal offence punishable by up to three years imprisonment, a fine, or both. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The amendment extends legal protection previously limited to the national flag, constitution, and national anthem to also include Vande Mataram. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- After passage by both houses, the bill will be sent to the President of India for assent before becoming law. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai defended the bill, saying it gives Vande Mataram status equal to the national anthem. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- Opposition members, including DMK MP Kanimozhi, protested the bill, calling it undemocratic and a Hindutva agenda. (corroborated by 13 sources)
- The government argues the amendment fulfills the Constituent Assembly's 1950 decision to honour Vande Mataram equally with the national anthem. (corroborated by 10 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-07-31: Ram Gopal Yadav condemns amendment to Vande Mataram bill

Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav condemned the Vande Mataram amendment, defended its historic value, praised Modi’s anti‑paper leak bill, and objected to Telangana CM’s remarks on engineers.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ram-gopal-yadav-condemns-amendment-to-vande-mataram-bill

### 2026-07-30: India's Parliament passes Vande Mataram Bill, criminalising insults to national song

India’s Parliament passed the 2026 amendment extending criminal penalties to insults of the national song Vande Mataram, equating it with the anthem; the bill cleared both houses amid opposition protests and is

28 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/indias-parliament-passes-bill-criminalising-insults-to-vande-mataram

---
Cite as: India Vande Mataram legislation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/india-vande-mataram-legislation