New Delhi, July 19 :
The Union Government has listed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 for introduction in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, July 20, as part of the House’s List of Business for the opening day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
According to the Rajya Sabha agenda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will seek the House’s permission to introduce the Bill to further amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The proposed legislation is aimed at strengthening the existing law relating to the protection of national honour.
The List of Business also includes oath or affirmation by newly elected members, obituary references, and the laying of papers on the Table of the House, including statements on Bills passed during the previous session and copies of recently promulgated ordinances.
The proposed amendment is expected to be among the key legislative items taken up in the Rajya Sabha as Parliament begins its Monsoon Session on Monday. According to reports, the Bill seeks to extend statutory protection to the national song “Vande Mataram”, making intentional obstruction or insult to its singing a punishable offence on par with protections currently available to the National Anthem under the 1971 Act.(KNC)