The Lok Sabha on Thursday (July 30, 2026) passed amid din the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making intentional insult to Vande Mataram a punishable offence. With the Rajya Sabha having cleared the legislation earlier, both Houses have now passed the Bill amid continuing Opposition protests that have repeatedly disrupted the Monsoon Session.

The legislation was cleared after a symbolic debate lasting barely 15 minutes. The Bill was passed by voice vote after the Opposition’s amendments were rejected, with only two members participating in the brief debate.

DMK member A. Raja, who had moved an amendment to the Bill, protested against the legislation and later tore a document and threw it towards the Well of the House as Opposition members continued to raise slogans after the Bill was passed. 

Parliament Monsoon Session: Follow LIVE updates on July 30, 2026

“Today is a very dangerous day for the Parliament of this country,” he said while moving the amendment which was defeated by a voice vote.

DMK member K. Kanimozhi opposed the Bill, calling it a “Hindutva agenda” being brought in under the guise of nationalism. She said the legislation was “against federalism” and argued that nationalism could not be imposed through law.

“You cannot impose nationalism by bringing a law, the song goes against the secularism of the country. The founding fathers had the wisdom to stop only with two stanzas, but today you are trying to polarise the country by making it compulsory and making it a criminal offence if we do not sing all the six stanzas,” Ms. Kanimozhi said.

Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home Nityananda Rai said the legislation would accord Vande Mataram a status on a par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. 

“For ek Bharat, shreshtha Bharat (one India, best India), we need complete (all six stanzas) Vande Mataram,” Mr. Rai said, ending his reply with a chant of “Vande Mataram”.

Mr. Rai accused the Congress of having failed to accord the national song its due respect during its 76 years in power and alleged that it had instead pursued “appeasement politics”. 

BJP member Sambit Patra also accused the Congress of having denied Vande Mataram the respect it deserved as the national song.

The existing Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act prohibits intentionally preventing the singing of the national anthem or causing disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing. Such offences are punishable with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both.

A second and subsequent conviction attracts a minimum one-year jail term. The amendment extends these provisions to Vande Mataram.

The Bill was taken up after the Lok Sabha was adjourned twice, at 11 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., as Opposition members continued their protests. The Question Hour could not be conducted for the eighth consecutive sitting.

Opposition parties have been protesting against the police action against students demonstrating over the NEET-UG controversy. Members of the Samajwadi Party raised the issue of alleged irregularities involving donations to the Ram temple.

The House was adjourned for the day shortly after the passage of the Bill. It is the first legislation to be passed by both Houses during the ongoing Monsoon Session, which has been marked by repeated disruptions.