What happened in the Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 while Opposition members were absent during the vote. Opposition members walked out from the House after slogans demanding an apology from Amit Shah, who is the Union Home Minister. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale spoke after the slogans.
The Rajya Sabha passed the Bill by voice vote. After special mentions were permitted by the presiding member, the House adjourned. The next stage for the Bill is Lok Sabha consideration and passage.
Background and earlier legal position
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The amendment focuses on national-symbol protection for Vande Mataram, described as the National Song. Vande Mataram is credited to Bankim Chatterjee and dated to 1875. Earlier national-song adoption covered two stanzas.
What changes under the 2026 amendment Bill
Related current affairs
- Amid uproar, Parliament passes Bill making insult to National Song punishable
- RS passes Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram
- Govt. to move Bill in RS to make insult to the National Song a criminal offence
- Amid Opp protests, House clears Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram
- ‘National Song shows India must embrace cultural nationalism’
- Letters to the Editor (Vande Mataram/Jana Gana Mana and anthem rendition principle)