Parliament set to take up Bills to amend FCRA, prevent insult to Vande Mataram, Pg1

Key Highlights:

• The Parliament is set to consider the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aiming to make intentional insult or disruption during the singing of Vande Mataram a punishable offense.
• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill is also listed for the upcoming Monsoon Session.
• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan Bill, 2025, which proposes a single higher education regulator, is under review by a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
• Other new bills include amendments to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, Income Tax Act, Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act.

Detailed Insights:

• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which currently protects the National Flag and National Anthem.
• This amendment would extend similar legal protection to the National Song Vande Mataram, which was adopted on January 24, 1950, and holds equal status with the National Anthem.
• The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill will modify the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 1976, which governs the acceptance and utilization of foreign funds by organizations in India.
• The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhisthan Bill, 2025 aims to establish the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA), an apex body to replace existing higher education regulators like the University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
• This proposed overhaul of the higher education regulatory framework aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill will introduce stricter provisions for delayed registration under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which mandates compulsory registration and has seen recent amendments for a national digital database.
• Notably, the 130th and 131st Constitutional Amendment Bills, concerning automatic removal from public office for jailed individuals and Lok Sabha delimitation for women's reservation, respectively, are not on the current legislative agenda.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: A law prohibiting desecration or insult to India's national symbols like the National Flag and National Anthem.
• Vande Mataram: India's National Song, adopted in 1950, holding equal status with the National Anthem.
• Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA): Legislation regulating the acceptance and use of foreign contributions by individuals and organizations in India.
• Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan (VBSA): A proposed single apex body to regulate higher education in India, replacing multiple existing regulators.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A comprehensive framework guiding the development of education in India, advocating for a unified higher education regulator.
• Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969: An Act mandating the compulsory registration of births and deaths across India to ensure uniformity and vital statistics compilation.