An amendment to bring the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, under which the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ receives protection under the law, just like the national anthem does. In so doing, any deliberate interference, or lack of respect when it is rendered, might be turned into a punishable offence. The goal of the decision is to improve the position of the national song and guarantee equal respect nationwide. The amendment will boost legal actions pertaining to national symbols and will ensure their significance in public and formal occasions.
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- This proposal has been endorsed by the Union Cabinet to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, to incorporate Vande Mataram as a part of this bill.
- The amendment attempts to bring the national song on the same legal platform as the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
- Any deliberate interference, disturbance or disrespect during singing the Vande Mataram can be punishable by law.
- The penalties proposed are likely to be comparable to the penalties proposed in case of insulting the national anthem, which may include imprisonment for up to three years.
- The purpose of the move is to make national symbols respected and to guarantee that the uniform behaviour in relation to official and public events is achieved.
- The amendment also indicates the attempt by the government to give statutory support to the national song that previously did not have specific legal protection under the Act.
- This is instead of the previous guidelines issued by the government as to what ought to be done during the rendition of Vande Mataram, such as standing in respect.
- The work, Vande Mataram, by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, plays an important role in the freedom movement in India, and was chosen as the country’s national anthem in 1950.
- The amendment will only take effect once the Parliament enacts the bill, which will be legally binding in the entire country of India.
- Generally, the action is regarded as a step towards enhancing the national identity, respect, and legal clarity with respect to the symbolic heritage of the country.
PYQs on Vande Mataram
| Exam & Year | Question | Options | Correct Answer |
| SSC CGL 2018 | Who is the author of Vande Mataram? | (A) Rabindranath Tagore (B) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (C) Sarojini Naidu (D) Subhas Chandra Bose | (B) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee |
| RRB NTPC 2019 | Vande Mataram was first sung at which session of the Indian National Congress? | (A) 1885 Bombay (B) 1896 Calcutta (C) 1905 Bengal (D) 1911 Delhi | (B) 1896 Calcutta Session |
| UPSC Prelims 2014 | The song Vande Mataram is a part of which novel? | (A) Anandamath (B) Gitanjali (C) Godan (D) Durgesh Nandini | (A) Anandamath |
| SSC CHSL 2020 | In which year was Vande Mataram first sung at an INC session? | (A) 1882 (B) 1896 (C) 1901 (D) 1915 | (B) 1896 |
| RRB Group D 2022 | Who first sang Vande Mataram at the 1896 INC Session? | (A) Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (B) Rabindranath Tagore (C) Lata Mangeshkar (D) Jawaharlal Nehru | (B) Rabindranath Tagore |
| SSC MTS 2021 | When was Vande Mataram adopted as the National Song of India? | (A) 15 August 1947 (B) 24 January 1950 (C) 26 January 1950 (D) 2 October 1948 | (B) 24 January 1950 |
| UPSC Prelims 2017 | Vande Mataram became a symbol during which movement? | (A) Swadeshi Movement (B) Non-Cooperation Movement (C) Civil Disobedience Movement (D) Quit India Movement | (A) Swadeshi Movement |
| SSC CPO 2019 | Vande Mataram was originally written in which language? | (A) Hindi (B) Bengali (C) Sanskrit (D) Sanskritised Bengali | (D) Sanskritised Bengali |
| RRB NTPC 2020 | Which Act deals with insults to national symbols like the National Anthem? | (A) IPC (B) Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (C) RTI Act (D) IT Act | (B) Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 |
| SSC GD 2023 | Vande Mataram gained prominence during which phase? | (A) Revolt of 1857 (B) Swadeshi Movement (C) Emergency (D) Green Revolution | (B) Swadeshi Movement |
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Conclusion – Vande Mataram Insult Law
The proposed legislation to criminalise the act of disrespecting Vande Mataram is indicative of the government’s perception that it should increase the protection offered under the law to promote the protection of national symbols. The amendment lays stress on respect and dignity in its rendering by matching it with provisions that are parallel under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. At the time of its enactment, it is hoped that it will facilitate awareness creation, uniformity of conduct, and reinforcement of the cultural and historical significance of the national song throughout the country.
