RS Passes Bill to Criminalise Disrespect to Vande Mataram, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on Wednesday.
• The Bill aims to criminalize acts causing obstruction in the singing of the National Song, Vande Mataram.
• It proposes to amend the existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
• The Bill was passed by voice vote in the absence of Opposition members, who had walked out.

Detailed Insights:

• The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 extends penal provisions to include disrespect towards Vande Mataram.
• The original Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 already covers disrespect to the National Flag, Constitution, and National Anthem.
• Vande Mataram was penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, with two stanzas adopted as the National Song in 1937 by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• The Bill will now proceed to the Lok Sabha for further consideration and passage.
• Government ministers emphasized the Bill's significance as representing India’s soul, national awareness, and cultural heritage.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: An Indian parliamentary act that prohibits disrespect to national symbols like the National Flag and Constitution.
• Vande Mataram: India's National Song, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, which played a significant role in the Indian independence movement.
• Rajya Sabha: The upper house of the Indian Parliament, representing the states and union territories.