President Murmu gives assent to Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram

August 11, 2026 5:09 PM

President Murmu gives assent to Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday gave assent to a Bill that criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, giving it the same legal protection currently accorded to the national anthem, a government statement said. With the president’s assent, The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has become a law. The Lok Sabha had passed the Bill on July 30, while the Rajya Sabha had cleared it a day earlier. The ...

Lok Sabha passes Bill criminalising insults to Vande Mataram

July 30, 2026 6:19 PM

Lok Sabha passes Bill criminalising insults to Vande Mataram

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to make intentional insults to or obstruction of the rendition of the National Song, Vande Mataram, a punishable offence. The Bill was passed by a voice vote amid noisy protests by the Opposition. The legislation had already been cleared by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. With the approval of both Houses of Parliament, the Bill now awaits the President's assent before becoming law. T...

Centre issues detailed protocol for rendition of Vande Mataram at government/public events

February 11, 2026 1:32 PM

Centre issues detailed protocol for rendition of Vande Mataram at government/public events

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued comprehensive guidelines formalising the official protocol for the rendition of Vande Mataram, outlining when and how India’s national song should be performed at government and public functions. The Ministry forwarded the “Orders relating to the National Song of India” for strict compliance and necessary instructions to concerned agencies. The MHA guidelines seek to standardise the ceremonial status of Vande Mataram, originall...

PM Modi launches year-long commemoration of ‘Vande Mataram’ at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium

November 7, 2025 1:17 PM

PM Modi launches year-long commemoration of ‘Vande Mataram’ at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the year-long commemoration of India’s National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. Marking the 150th anniversary of the iconic composition by Bankimchandra Chatterji, the Prime Minister also released a commemorative stamp and coin and launched a dedicated portal to honour the milestone. The celebrations witnessed the mass singing of the full version of ‘Vande Mataram’ across public places nationwid...