Parliament’s Monsoon Session began on Monday with the government listing a bill that would, for the first time, give the national song “Vande Mataram” the same legal shield already enjoyed by the national anthem. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to move the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Rajya Sabha, a step that has already drawn sharp reactions from opposition benches even before formal debate has begun.
What happened
The bill was listed for introduction, consideration and passing on the Rajya Sabha’s official agenda for July 20, the opening day of the 25-day Monsoon Session that runs till August 13. It proposes to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 — the law that currently criminalises disrespect toward the National Flag, the Constitution and the National Anthem, “Jana Gana Mana” — by extending identical protection to “Vande Mataram.”
Under the existing Act, intentionally preventing the singing of the national anthem or disturbing an assembly engaged in singing it can draw up to three years in prison, a fine, or both. The amendment would apply the same penalty structure to any intentional insult, obstruction or disruption of “Vande Mataram.” The Bill has already cleared the Union Cabinet and was formally listed for introduction, consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha’s List of Business for Monday.
The move follows a July 9 directive from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs instructing all states to ensure “Vande Mataram” is played before “Jana Gana Mana” whenever both are performed at official government functions — an order the ministry said it wanted strictly enforced.
Background
“Vande Mataram,” written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and first published in his 1882 novel “Anandmath,” was accorded the status of India’s National Song on January 24, 1950, alongside the adoption of “Jana Gana Mana” as the National Anthem. Unlike the anthem, however, it has never carried the same statutory backing under the 1971 Act, meaning acts of disrespect toward it have not so far been legally punishable in the way disrespect to the anthem is.
The push to elevate its legal status comes roughly eight months after Parliament marked the song’s 150th anniversary with a dedicated debate in the Rajya Sabha, during which Shah described it as the anthem that “awakened India’s cultural nationalism” during the freedom struggle. That debate was itself contested by opposition MPs, who argued the discussion was being used to score political points ahead of state elections rather than out of genuine commemorative intent — a dispute over motive that has resurfaced now that the government has translated the sentiment into hard law.
Official response and reaction
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Seth welcomed the legislation, saying the fuller version of the song was “not previously recited” as widely as it is “now being sung everywhere,” and that the party supported the bill on that basis. A BJP spokesperson went further, accusing the Congress of resenting the move rather than joining what he called celebrations of the song’s 150-year legacy.
The opposition’s response has been considerably more critical. CPI(M) MP John Brittas wrote to Shah ahead of the bill’s introduction asking that it be withdrawn, arguing it breaks from the constitutional settlement that has long governed the distinct status of the National Anthem and the National Song. Separately, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut used the moment to needle the government rhetorically, telling reporters outside Parliament that he would challenge the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to recite “Vande Mataram” “without a teleprompter” — a jab aimed at questioning the sincerity behind the legislative push rather than the song itself.
The bill’s introduction is unfolding against a heavily charged first day of the session more broadly: adjournment motions have already been moved by Congress MPs on the 2026 NEET-UG paper leak and on alleged irregularities in Ram Temple donations, while security around the Parliament complex has been tightened in view of a separate protest march planned for Monday.
What’s next
As a Bill listed for introduction, consideration and passing on the same sitting day, the legislation could move relatively quickly through the Rajya Sabha before making its way to the Lok Sabha, though the pace will depend on how much floor time opposition parties are able to claim for their own listed motions. If it clears both Houses and receives presidential assent, “Vande Mataram” will for the first time carry the same statutory protection as the National Anthem, with intentional insult or obstruction of its singing becoming a criminal offence carrying up to three years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both.
The bill is one of several contentious items on a packed 19-sitting agenda that also includes the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, and legislation to expand the Supreme Court’s sanctioned strength — all set against a session opposition leaders have already signalled they intend to use to press the government on unrelated national issues, from education policy to allegations around temple finances.
Sources: Rajya Sabha’s official List of Business, July 20, 2026 (primary parliamentary document listing the Bill for introduction); ANI (Amit Shah to introduce Bill criminalising insults to ‘Vande Mataram’, July 19–20, 2026, including MP reactions); IANS wire report, July 20, 2026.
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