New Delhi (TIP):The Centre is set to introduce a Bill in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 20 that seeks to make insulting or obstructing the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ a punishable offence, marking a significant step towards strengthening legal protection for India’s national symbols.
The proposed Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, which has already received the approval of the Union Cabinet, aims to amend the existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 by extending its provisions to cover the national song. At present, the Act primarily provides legal safeguards against disrespect shown to the National Flag and the National Anthem.
According to the legislative agenda for the upcoming session, the Bill will be among several important pieces of legislation slated for introduction in the Lok Sabha.
The proposed amendment follows guidelines issued earlier by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which made it mandatory for ‘Vande Mataram’ to be played or sung at official government functions where the National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana’, is performed. The government has maintained that the move is intended to accord greater respect to the national song and ensure uniform observance of official ceremonial protocols across the country.
The amendment is expected to make deliberate acts of insulting the national song, preventing its rendition, or obstructing those participating in its singing punishable under law. While the exact provisions of the Bill will become clear once it is introduced in Parliament, officials indicated that it seeks to place the national song within the broader legal framework protecting India’s national honours.
The government believes the legislation will reinforce respect for national symbols and provide legal clarity regarding conduct during official ceremonies.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 currently criminalises intentional insults to the National Flag, the Constitution of India and the National Anthem. Violations can attract imprisonment, fines or both.
By incorporating provisions relating to ‘Vande Mataram’, the government seeks to bridge what it views as a legal gap in the protection available to one of India’s most revered patriotic compositions.
Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s and later included in his novel Anandamath, ‘Vande Mataram’ played a pivotal role during India’s freedom movement and inspired generations of nationalist leaders and freedom fighters. It was accorded the status of the National Song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950, while ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was adopted as the National Anthem.
The proposed legislation follows recent government directives requiring the national song to be sung or played at official events alongside the National Anthem. The Home Ministry’s guidelines were issued to ensure greater uniformity in official ceremonies and to promote awareness of the national song’s historical significance.
Government sources said the amendment would complement these administrative instructions by providing statutory backing against acts deemed disrespectful to ‘Vande Mataram’.
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