Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Introduced: Insult to Vande Mataram Now Punishable with 5 Years Imprisonment

Lok Sabha Passes Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 Criminalising Insult to Vande Mataram

The Lok Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which criminalises insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram'. The Bill, cleared amidst Opposition protests, extends the same level of legal protection to Vande Mataram as is currently given to the National Anthem.

President Assents to Bill Criminalising Insult to Vande Mataram, Amending Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act

President Droupadi Murmu has given assent to a Bill that amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act to criminalise intentional disruption or prevention of singing 'Vande Mataram', granting it legal protection equal to the national anthem. This is a significant legal change for national symbols and carries direct UPSC prelims and mains implications.

Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act Amended: Insulting 'Vande Mataram' Now Punishable by 3 Years

Parliament has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to the national song 'Vande Mataram' punishable with up to three years imprisonment. The amendment expands the 1971 Act, but data shows extremely low conviction rates (60 convictions out of 1,102 arrests between 2014-2024), raising concerns about misuse and a contradiction with the government's decriminalisation agenda under the Jan Vishwas Act.

Parliament Passes Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026; JMFC for Delays Over 2 Years

Rajya Sabha passed the Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 by voice vote, making a Judicial Magistrate (First Class) order mandatory for birth and death registrations delayed beyond two years. This reform targets misuse like ghost voters and unauthorised registration of children born elsewhere. Aspirants must remember the two-year threshold and the shift from executive to judicial authorisation.

2026 Amendment Penalises Disruption of Vande Mataram Singing (Up to 3 Years Jail); Bijoe Emmanuel Case Protects Silent Dissent

The 2026 amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act gives Vande Mataram the same criminal protection as the national anthem, but it does not compel singing. The Supreme Court's Bijoe Emmanuel ruling protects the right to remain silent if participation conflicts with conscience. This has implications for freedom of religion (Articles 25-26) and freedom of speech (Article 19(1)(a)).

FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 Sent to 31-Member JPC; Report Due by Winter Session 2026

The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, has been referred to a 31-member Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) amid strong opposition protests. The bill proposes tighter government oversight over foreign funding of NGOs and a designated authority to manage assets of defunct organisations. The government denies it targets minorities, while the JPC must submit its report by the first week of the 2026 Winter Session.

FCRA Amendment Bill 2026: Govt to Drop Retrospective Clause, Likely Introduced August 12

The Centre has assured to drop the retrospective clause from the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, after concerns from Christian organisations. Mizoram CM Lalduhoma met Home Minister Amit Shah, who confirmed the clause will be removed, and the Bill is likely to be taken up in Lok Sabha on August 12.

Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026: Judicial Magistrate Mandated for Delays Over 2 Years

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill 2026, passed in Lok Sabha, tightens verification norms: delays beyond two years now require a judicial magistrate's order instead of an executive magistrate. This amendment aims to curb fraudulent birth certificates, which have become near-conclusive proof for Aadhaar, passports, voter IDs, and school admissions. The bill raises concerns over accessibility for legitimate citizens, especially in remote areas.