New Delhi. On the fifth day of the monsoon session of Parliament today, amidst sloganeering and uproar by the opposition, the government introduced the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honor (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ in the Rajya Sabha. The purpose of this bill, introduced in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai, is to make any kind of obstruction or insult to the singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ a criminal offence. This bill will amend the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act, 1971’. Under this Act, insulting or disrespecting the country’s national symbols such as the national flag, the Constitution and the national anthem will be an offense punishable with a prison sentence of up to three years, a fine or both.
After the introduction of this bill, the opposition started a sharp protest and ruckus in the Upper House. Due to the uproar by the opposition members, the Deputy Speaker announced the adjournment of the House proceedings till Monday. Let us tell you that after the passing of the ‘Prevention of Insults to National Honor (Amendment) Bill, 2026’ bill, ‘Vande Mataram’ will be able to get the same status as the national anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in terms of giving legal protection and respect.
Let us tell you that in the NEET paper leak case, Congress is adamant on demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and all the opposition parties together are obstructing the proceedings of Parliament. Earlier, Congress had demanded from the government that the NEET paper leak issue should be discussed in Parliament. When the government accepted this demand, now Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and other leaders put a new condition that there will be no discussion in the House until the Education Minister resigns. However, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has many times called upon the opposition to stop creating ruckus and not impose conditions.
