President Murmu Grants Assent to Bill Giving Vande Mataram Same Legal Protection as National Anthem
President Droupadi Murmu has granted assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which amends Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The amendment criminalises the intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song, “Vande Mataram”. It is to be noted that this legislation extends the same legal protection to the national song, “Vande Mataram”, as is currently afforded to the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”.