President Droupadi Murmu has given her assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, giving Vande Mataram the same statutory legal protection as the National Anthem and making deliberate insult or disruption during its singing a punishable offence.
The legislation, passed by Parliament last month amid protests and political differences over the move, extends to the National Song the penal provisions that already apply to the National Anthem under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
