President Droupadi Murmu grants assent to bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram
President Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which provides the national song Vande Mataram with legal protections equivalent to those of the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The legislation, which was passed by both houses of Parliament in late July, makes the intentional obstruction of the song or its insult a punishable offence.
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What Happened
President Droupadi Murmu signed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, into law on Tuesday. The bill received approval from the Rajya Sabha on July 29 and the Lok Sabha on July 30. The new legislation extends the legal protections previously reserved for the national anthem to the national song Vande Mataram, criminalising any intentional interference with its singing or acts of disrespect toward it.
This amendment modifies the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to ensure that Vande Mataram receives equal legal status to Jana Gana Mana. Under the new provisions, those who obstruct the singing of the song or show it disrespect face potential legal penalties. According to reports, the Ministry of Home Affairs has also indicated that all six stanzas of the song will be performed at the Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations.
Key Facts
- President Droupadi Murmu granted assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Tuesday.Source not recorded
- The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha on July 29 and the Lok Sabha on July 30.Source not recorded
- The legislation amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.Source not recorded
- Vande Mataram now holds legal status equivalent to the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.Source not recorded
- Intentional obstruction or insult of Vande Mataram is now a punishable offence.Source not recorded
The Timeline12
Every article on this story, in the order it was filed. We do not rank the outlets.
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CoverageWhat we read
Language reach
Dailies carrying this story, against the dailies we read in each language.
- English4 of 9
- Hindiहिन्दी1 of 2
- Bengaliবাংলা1 of 2
- Marathiमराठी1 of 2
- Tamilதமிழ்1 of 2
- Kannadaಕನ್ನಡ1 of 1
- Odiaଓଡ଼ିଆ1 of 2
- Malayalamമലയാളം1 of 2
Regional reach
Where this story reached, and where it did not. National mastheads and wire agencies circulate everywhere and are counted separately, not drawn on the map.
- None carried this
- No source registered
- 1 outlet
- 2 or more
- NorthCarried1 of 4
- WestCarried1 of 5
- Central IndiaNot carried0 of 1
- EastCarried2 of 5
- North-eastNot carried0 of 2
- SouthCarried4 of 10
15 of the 26 states we read have local coverage. Spread across the country, with no regional concentration. Also carried by 4 national mastheads.
About This Analysis
One summary, built from every source. No single newsroom's voice.
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Paksh: the sides a story is told from. 11 newsrooms filed on this one, and every filing is listed above.