Rajya Sabha passes Bill to make insult to 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, bringing Vande Mataram under its ambit and making certain acts of disrespect towards the national song a criminal offence.

The move comes during the 150th anniversary commemorations of Vande Mataram and follows earlier government efforts to promote its singing at official functions.

The Bill seeks to make the intentional prevention or obstruction of the singing of Vande Mataram, as well as acts amounting to an insult to the national song, punishable under law.


The amendment expands the scope of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which currently provides legal protection to the Indian National Flag, the Constitution and the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later included in his novel Anandamath, Vande Mataram became a rallying cry during India's freedom movement and is recognised as the country's national song.

The proposed legislation is expected to renew debate over how "insult" and "obstruction" are defined and whether the law distinguishes between deliberate disruption and an individual's decision not to participate in the singing of the national song.