Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:06pm on 29 Jul 2026,Wednesday India
The Rajya Sabha debated the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to extend legal protection to the national song Vande Mataram by making its intentional insult or disruption a punishable offence under the 1971 Act. The government argued the Bill would strengthen respect for a symbol of India's freedom movement and place it on par with other protected national symbols. Opposition MPs questioned the need for new legislation, arguing existing laws are sufficient and expressing concerns over its potential impact on freedom of expression and misuse. The debate reflected sharp political differences before the Bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha. (PC: PTI)
