# Vande Mataram now protected like national anthem; Lok Sabha opens with song 2026-08-13T00:57:35+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Parliament has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to Vande Mataram a criminal offence on par with the national anthem. President Droupadi Murmu has given assent, and the law punishes intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song. On August 13, Lok Sabha opened its final Monsoon Session sitting with six stanzas of Vande Mataram, a first for the House. PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi attended a full House, which was later adjourned sine die amid repeated disruptions by the Opposition over issues including police action on NEET paper leak protesters. ## Coverage - thehansindia.com - indiatoday.in Tags: Bill, India, law, national honour, Parliament, Vande Mataram Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/parliament-passes-bill-protecting-vande-mataram-from-insult/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/parliament-passes-bill-protecting-vande-mataram-from-insult/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.