The government on Friday introduced the National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, popularly referred to as the Vande Mataram Bill, in the Rajya Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to grant the national song Vande Mataram the same legal protection that is currently available to the National Anthem under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
The Bill was tabled by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai on behalf of Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid noisy protests by Opposition MPs over the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak issue.