President Murmu Gives Assent To Bill Criminalising Insult To Vande Mataram

Current Context:  On 11 August 2026, President Droupadi Murmu gave assent to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, turning it into law. The amendment extends legal protection already available to the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, to the National Song, Vande Mataram.

Key Points:

• The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill on 29 July 2026, followed by the Lok Sabha on 30 July 2026. President Murmu gave her assent on 11 August 2026.
• It amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 by bringing Vande Mataram within the ambit of Section 3.
• Earlier, Section 3 primarily prohibited intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or disturbing an assembly engaged in its singing. The same protection is now extended to Vande Mataram. 
• Intentionally preventing the singing of Vande Mataram or causing disturbance to an assembly singing it can attract imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. Subsequent convictions can carry a minimum imprisonment of one year.
• Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and played an important role in India's freedom movement.
• The Constituent Assembly's President Dr Rajendra Prasad, on 24 January 1950, stated that Vande Mataram should be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana because of its historic role in the freedom struggle. 
• In a 28 January 2026 order, the Union Home Ministry prescribed protocols for the National Song. When Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana are both performed, Vande Mataram is to be sung or played first.
• The prescribed rendition contains six stanzas and lasts about 3 minutes and 10 seconds. 
• The Home Ministry also announced that Vande Mataram would be sung from the Red Fort during the Independence Day function for the first time in 2026. 

Question: 

Q1.Which Act was amended in 2026 to extend legal protection against intentional disruption of the singing of Vande Mataram?
a) National Symbols Protection Act, 1950
b) Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
c) Official Secrets Act, 1923
d) Representation of the People Act, 1951

Answer: b) President Droupadi Murmu gave assent on 11 August 2026 to the amendment extending protection under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to Vande Mataram. I