Centre to Introduce Bill Criminalising Insults to National Song Vande Mataram in Monsoon Session
The Union government is set to table the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The Bill seeks to make any deliberate insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offence, granting it statutory protection similar to that of the national flag and the national anthem.
Alongside this, the government has listed three other new Bills for introduction: the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026; and the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The Monsoon Session coincides with a planned protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, organised by supporters of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP). The protesters are demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In anticipation of the march, the Delhi Police have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the area to maintain public order.
The session is expected to see further legislative business as the government pushes its agenda. The opposition has indicated it will raise issues related to the protest and other pressing matters during the session.
