President Murmu also emphasised the legacy of Vande Mataram
New Delhi: The President has approved the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, giving legal protection to India’s National Song Vande Mataram under the existing law that safeguards national symbols. With the new amendment coming into force, deliberate attempts to stop the singing of Vande Mataram or create disturbance during its rendition will now be treated as a punishable offence under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The amended law provides Vande Mataram with statutory protection similar to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Any person who intentionally prevents the singing of the National Song or disrupts an assembly engaged in its rendition may face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.
Before this amendment, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, mainly covered offences related to the National Flag, the Constitution of India and the National Anthem. The 2026 amendment expands the legal framework by including the National Song within the scope of offences against national symbols.
The amendment replaces the existing provisions under Section 3 of the 1971 Act and extends the same penal mechanism that was earlier applicable only to the National Anthem. The punishment under the amended law remains unchanged. A person found guilty of intentionally obstructing the singing of the National Anthem or National Song, or disturbing a gathering during such rendition, can be punished with imprisonment for a term extending up to three years, a monetary penalty, or both.
The new legislation does not make singing Vande Mataram compulsory for citizens, schools or institutions. The amendment only criminalises intentional acts of insult, obstruction or disruption during its rendition.
The legal change focuses on protecting the dignity of the National Song and preventing deliberate disturbances, similar to the safeguards already available for the National Anthem. The government has maintained that the purpose of the amendment is to recognise the historical importance of Vande Mataram and provide it with a legal status comparable to the National Anthem in matters related to protection from insult.
The amendment bill was earlier passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Monsoon Session before being sent to the President for final approval. After receiving presidential assent, the legislation has now become enforceable law across India.
The move marks a significant expansion of the statutory framework dealing with national symbols and introduces a new legal mechanism for handling offences related to the National Song.
Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and was first published in his famous novel Anandamath. The song played a major role during India’s freedom struggle and became a symbol of nationalism and resistance against colonial rule. The Constituent Assembly officially adopted Vande Mataram as India’s National Song on January 24, 1950.
However, only the first two stanzas of the composition received official recognition as the National Song. The complete composition contains additional verses that include references to Hindu religious imagery and deities, which has been a subject of public discussion and legal debate over the years.
The issue of singing the complete version of Vande Mataram had earlier triggered debate after the Union government issued guidelines related to the rendition of the song at official programmes and educational institutions. The move led to legal challenges, with petitioners questioning whether all stanzas could be made mandatory, especially considering that some verses contain religious references.
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to entertain a petition challenging such guidelines, observing that no punishment was prescribed for not singing Vande Mataram. The court noted that the existing instructions did not make singing all stanzas compulsory in schools.
Similar matters have also been examined by different High Courts, where questions were raised regarding the interpretation and implementation of government guidelines related to the National Song.
The new law places Vande Mataram within the same legal protection framework as the National Anthem for offences involving deliberate obstruction and disturbance. Legal experts believe the amendment strengthens the statutory mechanism for protecting national symbols by expanding the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act. However, the law continues to focus on intentional acts of disrespect and does not impose a general legal obligation on individuals to sing the National Song.
The amendment is expected to influence future cases involving allegations of disruption or insult related to Vande Mataram and will become an important part of India’s legal framework governing national honour and symbols.
