Amid Opposition protest, Rajya Sabha passes Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram

4 min readNew DelhiJul 30, 2026 03:21 AM IST Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh conducts the proceedings of the House on Wednesday. (ANI)The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed a Bill that criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song, Vande Mataram, thereby according it legal sanctity at par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeks to amend a 1971 law by the same name, which makes insults towards the national anthem, national flag and the Constitution a criminal offence.The Bill was passed through a voice vote following a walkout by nearly all opposition members. When the upper House proceedings resumed at 2pm, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh invited members to begin a